Until the mid-1990s Zimbabwe boasted one of Africa's strongest economies, with well-developed agricultural and industrial sectors, education, justice and health care. Today however, Zimbabwe faces huge problems, including severe economic instability, hyper-inflation and widepread political fear and violence.
The economic situation is desperate: inflation stands at around 2.2 million per cent, and 80 per cent of the population is unemployed.
Since gaining independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has been led by Robert Mugabe. His 're-election' as President in 2008, came after the opposition candiate withdrew because of political violence. These murders, burnings, lootings and intimidation have impacted most on women and girls.
Fact file
- Over 65% of the Zimbabwean population lives in rural areas with little access to healthcare and basic services.
- This means that almost 30% of births take place with no skilled attendant present
- 12% of Zimbabwean children die before their fifth birthday
- 20.1% of the population lives with HIV and AIDS
- For Zimbabwean women, this means a life expectancy of just 33.5 years
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, young women are 2.5 times more likely than men to become infected with HIV
- 69% of Zimbabwean men reported that they used a condom during their last high-risk sexual encounter, compared to 42% of women
- Child marriage is common in Zimbabwe, and 21% of children (mostly girls) are married before the age of 18
- This increases the risk of contracting HIV and AIDS, and makes it less likely that girls will continue into higher education
- An estimated 80% of marriages in Zimbabwe are ?customary marriages?, in which a woman?s right to inherit property upon the death of her husband can be severely compromised
- Around 18% of women are in polygamous marriages, which further limit a wife?s property rights
- Childless widows are often evicted, as are those who refuse to be physically ?inherited? by a male relative of their late husbands
- The literacy rate in Zimbabwe is high, with a total adult literacy rate of 90%, and 86% among women
- This is a 10% increase in women?s literacy since 1990, although this improvement is gravely threatened by the rise in poverty and internal political upheaval.
Women's vulnerability
Deteriorating economic and political conditions have led to an escalation in violence against women, particularly in temporary resettlement areas. In Zimbabwe, violence against women, in particular domestic violence, is pervasive and widely tolerated. In 1997, a study undertaken by one of WOMANKIND?s partners found that 32% of women surveyed had been victims of some form of physical violence, 37% reported sexual abuse, and 39% were prevented by force from going to work. Sexual violence and other forms of violence against women also contribute to the spread of HIV and AIDS. Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the world, with approximately a quarter of the population living with the disease. Traditional practices such as child marriage and polygamy are other contributing factors to the spread of the pandemic.
The legal status of some marriages is also a source of discrimination for Zimbabwean women. There are three types of marriages, namely civil marriage, registered customary marriage and unregistered customary marriages. Customary marriages are traditional unions, which are sometimes registered, but which often remain informal. The legal status of a marriage determines the rights of a wife after divorce or the death of a spouse. Nearly a fifth of marriages are estimated to be polygamous: some women see polygamy as preferable to monogamy where they might otherwise be socially excluded due to their unmarried status. With the increase in HIV and AIDS-related deaths, many second and third wives are left without any means to support themselves after a husband dies, and no legal claim to family assets or resources. Legal conflicts often arise around custodianship of children, in particular HIV-orphans, when families battle over their legal entitlements, such as pensions, benefits, and inherited property.
Updated 16 July 2008
