Country Profile: Zimbabwe
Full country name: Republic of Zimbabwe
Area: 390,580 sq km
Capital City: Harare
Head of State: President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Border Countries
South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana.
Climate
The dry winter months are May to October; the hotter, wetter season is from November to April.
Geography
Zimbabwe is divided into three provinces: Mashonaland, Matabeleland and the Midlands. The people are Shona (76%), Ndebele (18%), Tonga (2%), Shangaan (1%), Venda (1%), European and Asian. The most widely spoken languages in Zimbabwe are English (official), Shona and Ndebele. The capital city is Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru are the next biggest cities. Northern Mashonaland is the driest part of the country and often experiences water shortages.
History
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that kept power in the hands of the white minority. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation’s first prime minister, has been the country’s only ruler (as president since 1987) since independence. The main opposition is the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai. The most recent election (March 2005) is still being contested by the MDC.
Culture
Zimbabwe has a very high standard of education with over 90% of the population over 15 being able to read English.
With Victoria Falls, the beautiful sights of the Kariba, Nyanga National Park and the breathtaking Highlands, Zimbabwe has always had a thriving tourist industry.
Zimbabwe also has a long history of theatre and the arts. Since 1999 Harare has hosted HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts) and in the beautiful Highlands the Chimanimani Arts Festival and the Inxusa Festival in Bulawayo have also celebrated Zimbabwe’s cultural and artistic excellence.
Women’s rights in Zimbabwe
Emily with Musasa
The high levels of poverty and HIV transmission currently impacting Zimbabwe disproportionately affect women. In sub-Saharan Africa young women are 2.5 times more likely than men to become infected with HIV. The women’s movement in Zimbabwe is small, but very active. The focus of WOMANKIND’s work in Zimbabwe is violence against women, women’s access to justice and increasing women’s political participation. Our partners often collaborate to challenge embedded gender stereotypes and attitudes about violence against women.
We work with three partners: Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA), The Musasa Project and WiPSU.
Zimbabwe Partner Pages >>
