Zimbabwe ( Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia) is a country in Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia. Zimbabwe geographic coordinates 20 00 S, 30 00 E; area 386,670 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than Montana; land boundaries Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km; coastline 0 km (landlocked); maritime claims none (landlocked); climate tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March); terrain mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east; elevation extremes Inyanga; natural resources coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals; land use 91.34% (2001); irrigated land 1,170 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare; environment current issues deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water;

introduction

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. 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) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 to pressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued their brutal repression of regime opponents. government type parliamentary democracy; capital Harare; administrative divisions 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands; independence 18 April 1980 (from UK); national holiday Independence Day, 18 April (1980); constitution 21 December 1979; legal system mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Zimbabwe population 12,746,990 estimates for this country explici; age structure 3.7% (male 235,478/female 235,756) (2005 est.); median age 19.28 years; population growth rate 0.51% (2005 est.); birth rate 29.74 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 24.66 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population negligible migrant(s)/1,000 population there is an; sex ratio 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 70.32 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 36.11 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 24.6% (2001 est.); hiv people with aids 1.8 million (2001 est.); hiv deaths 170,000 (2003 est.); major infectious diseases schistosomiasis (2004); nationality Zimbabwean; ethnic groups African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%; religions syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%; languages English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects; literacy 87.2% (2003 est.);

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Cities