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 widepread political fear and violence.
The economic situation is desperate: over 90% of the population is unemployed
and more than 60% depends on humanitarian support for food and healthcare.
Since gaining independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has been led by Robert Mugabe.
His 're-election' as President, in 2008, came after the opposition candidate
withdrew because of political violence. The impact of these murders, burnings,
lootings and intimidation has been felt most by women and girls whose concerns
are often ignored during political crises.
A coalition government, set
up in February 2009 after negotiations brokered by SADC, has a mandate to
address the political and economic crisis.
Fact file
- Over 80% of the Zimbabwean population lives in poverty
- With little access to healthcare, almost 30% of births take place without a skilled attendant
- 12% of Zimbabwean children die before their fifth birthday
- At least 18% of the population lives with HIV and AIDS, though things are improving slowly
- For Zimbabwean women, this means a life expectancy of just 33.5 years — the lowest in the world
- 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 husband
- 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 are poorly represented at cabinet, parliamentary and local-government
level — limiting their capacity to make decisions on issues affecting
them.
Women's vulnerability
Deteriorating economic and political conditions have led to an escalation
in all forms of violence against women. In Zimbabwe, violence against women,
in particular domestic violence, is pervasive and widely tolerated. A 2006
study, carried out by one of WOMANKIND's partners, found that 38% of women
had been victims of some form of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse.
During the 2008 elections, 10,000 women reported experiencing violence — and many more women did not report what happened to them; fearing further violence.
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, which
has affected around a fifth of the population. Traditional practices such
as child marriage and polygamy also contribute to the spread of the pandemic.
The legal status of some marriages is also a source of discrimination. There
are three types of marriages: 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 28 August 2009
