See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day

For information about the March 2008 presidential elections, see Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008. The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on March 29, 2008.

Zimbabwe Republic of Zimbabwe
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unity, Freedom, Work"
Anthem: Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe  (Shona) Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe  (Sindebele) "Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"
Capital (and largest city)		Harare (formerly Salisbury) 17°50′S, 31°3′E
Official languages		English
Recognised regional languages		Shona, Sindebele
Demonym		Zimbabwean
Government		Presidential Republic
-	President	Robert Mugabe
-	Vice President	Joseph Msika Joice Mujuru
-	President of the Senate	Edna Madzongwe
-	Speaker of Parliament	John Nkomo
Independence		from the United Kingdom
-	Rhodesia	November 11, 1965
-	Zimbabwe	April 18, 1980
Area
-	Total	390,757 km² (60th) 150,871 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	13,010,0001 (68th)
-	Density	33/km² (170th) 85/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$5. The flag of Zimbabwe was adopted on April 18, 1980. The soapstone bird featured on the flag represents a Statuette of a bird The Coat of Arms of Zimbabwe was adopted on September 21, 1981, one year and five months after the national flag was adopted A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe (" Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe " "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" is the national anthem of Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe (" Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe " "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" is the national anthem of The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken The Demographics of Zimbabwe are the condition and overview of Zimbabwe's peoples Harare (həˈrɑreɪ or /həˈrɑri/ formerly Salisbury) is the Capital of Zimbabwe. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its This page contains a list of presidents of Zimbabwe. Canaan Banana was a "figurehead" president but Mugabe has been an executive Timeline Joseph Msika (born December 6 1923) has served as Vice President of Zimbabwe since 23 December 1999. Joice Mujuru (born April 15, 1955 as Joice Mugari is a Zimbabwean politician currently serving as one of two Vice-Presidents of Zimbabwe along with The Senate of Zimbabwe is the Upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. Edna Madzongwe (born July 11 1943) is the President of the Senate of Zimbabwe. The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a legislative body John Landa Nkomo (born August 22 1934) is a Zimbabwean politician Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 1 billion (178th)
-	Per capita	$188 (178th)
Gini (2003)		56. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth 8 (high)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 513 (medium) (151st)
Currency		Dollar ($) (ZWD)
Time zone		CAT (UTC+2)
-	Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+2)
Internet TLD		.zw
Calling code		+263
1 Estimates explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The dollar is the Currency of Zimbabwe. It is subdivided into 100 cents. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Central Africa Time, or CAT, is a time zone used in central and southern Africa. Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E

Zimbabwe (pronounced /zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, and formerly Southern Rhodesia, the Republic of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe Rhodesia, is a landlocked country in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British Colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence Zimbabwe Rhodesia (zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ rəʊˈdiːʒə officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from June 1, A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is the fourth-longest River in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa The official language of Zimbabwe is English. South African English ( SAE, en-ZA) is a Dialect of English spoken in South Africa and in neighbouring countries with a large number However, the majority of the population speaks Shona, which is the native language of the Shona people; the other native language of Zimbabwe being Sindebele, which is spoken by the Matabele people. Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples Shona (ˈʃoʊnə is the name collectively given to several groups of people in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele.

From circa 1250–1629, the area that is known as Zimbabwe today was ruled under the Mutapa Empire, also known as Mwene Mutapa, Monomotapa or the Empire of Great Zimbabwe, which was renowned for its gold trade routes with Arabs. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding However, Portuguese settlers destroyed the trade and began a series of wars which left the empire near collapse in the early 17th century. In 1834, the Ndebele people arrived while fleeing from the Zulu leader Shaka, making the area their new empire, Matabeleland. This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele. The Zulu ( IsiZulu: amaZulu) are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10-11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal Shaka (sometimes spelled Tshaka, Tchaka or Chaka; ca 1787 – ca Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe currently divided into two provinces Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. In the 1880s, the British arrived with Cecil Rhodes's British South Africa Company. Cecil John Rhodes, PC DCL (5 July 1853 &ndash 26 March 1902 was an English -born Businessman mining Magnate, and Politician The British South Africa Company (BSAC was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd In 1898, the name Southern Rhodesia was adopted.

As colonial rule was ending throughout the continent, and as African-majority governments assumed control in neighbouring Northern Rhodesia and in Nyasaland, the white-minority Rhodesia government led by Ian Smith made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by The History of Malawi covers the area of present-day Malawi. The region was once part of the Maravi Empire. Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID ( 8 April 1919 &ndash 20 November 2007) served as the Prime Minister of the British The Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom deemed this an act of rebellion, but did not re-establish control by force. The white-minority government declared itself a "republic" in 1970. It was not recognised by the UK or any other state except white-minority-governed South Africa. A civil war ensued, with Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU and Robert Mugabe's ZANU using assistance from the governments of Zambia and Mozambique. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo ( June 19, 1917 &ndash July 1, 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union

On 18 April 1980, the country attained recognised independence and along with it a new name, Zimbabwe, new flag, and government led by Robert Mugabe of ZANU. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against White minority rule in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Canaan Banana served as the first president with Mugabe as prime minister. Canaan Sodindo Banana (5 March 1936 10 November 2003 served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 18 April 1980 until 31 December 1987 In 1987, the government amended the constitution to provide for an executive president and abolished the office of prime minister. The constitutional changes went into effect on 1 January 1988, establishing Robert Mugabe as president. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar)

Under the leadership of Mugabe, land issues, which the liberation movement promised to solve, re-emerged as the vital issue in the 1990s. Beginning in 2000, Mugabe began an effort to redistribute land from white holders (predominantly large farms) to 250,000 Africans.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a hard currency shortage, which has led to hyperinflation and chronic shortages in imported fuel and consumer goods. Hard currency or strong currency, in Economics refers to a globally traded Currency that can serve as a reliable and stable Store of value. Certain figures in this article use Scientific notation for readability Mugabe's critics blame his programme of land reform. However, Mugabe claims that massive financial isolation through American, British and EU legislation such as the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA) of 2001 is the actual cause of hyperinflation. Under ZDERA, the United States is prohibited from supporting any efforts by the International Monetary Fund and other financial institutions to extend loans, credit or debt cancellation to the government of Zimbabwe. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic As Zimbabwe needs to import all its energy, and oil is paid for in US dollars, this made the country vulnerable to financial sanctions like ZDERA.

Zimbabwe's current economic and food crisis, described by some observers as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since independence, has been attributed, in varying degrees, to government economic mismanagement, government prohibitions on relief efforts from foreign NGOs, a drought affecting the entire region, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ^[1]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 Pre-colonial era 2.2 Colonial era (1888–1965) 2.3 UDI and civil war (1965–1979) 2.4 Independence (1980) 2.5 Decline 3 Geography 4 Administrative divisions 5 Government and politics 6 Human rights 7 Military 7.1 Zimbabwe National Army 8 Economy 9 Demographics 9.1 Refugee crisis 10 Education 11 Culture and recreation 11.1 Food 11.2 Birthplace of Scouting 12 Tourism 13 National symbols, insignia and anthems 13.1 Zimbabwe Bird 13.2 Balancing Rocks 13.3 National anthem 14 See also 15 References 16 External links 16.1 Government 16.2 News 16.3 Directories 16.4 Tourism 16.5 Other 16.6 Online Entertainment

Etymology

The name Zimbabwe derives from "Dzimba dza mabwe" meaning "great stone house" in the Shona language. Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples ^[2] Its use as the country's name is a tribute to Great Zimbabwe, site of the capital of the Empire of Great Zimbabwe. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day In other languages, such as German, the initial Z is replaced with an S so as to produce the same sound in the phonics of the said language; for example Zimbabwe is spelled "Simbabwe". The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Z is the twenty-sixth and last letter of the modern Latin alphabet. S is the nineteenth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled ess or occasionally es (ɛs generally es- ^[3]

History

Main article: History of Zimbabwe

Pre-colonial era

Stone Age hunters, related to today's Khoisan people, occupied the area about 5000 years ago or earlier. The history of Zimbabwe began with the end of the Bush War and the transition to Majority rule in 1980 The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric time period during which Humans widely used stone for toolmaking Khoisan (increasingly commonly spelled Khoesan or Khoe-San) is the name for two major Ethnic groups of Southern Africa. They depicted scenes of life in rock paintings across Zimbabwe; these are known as the Bushman paintings. ^[4] Iron Age Bantu-speaking peoples began migrating into the area around AD 300, eventually displacing the earlier hunters. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people These included the ancestors of the Shona, who account for roughly four-fifths of the country's population today. Shona (ˈʃoʊnə is the name collectively given to several groups of people in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. ^[5][6]

By the Middle Ages, there was a Bantu civilization in the region, as evidenced by ruins at Great Zimbabwe and other smaller sites, whose outstanding achievement is a unique dry stone architecture. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day Around the early 10th century, trade developed with Phoenicians on the Indian Ocean coast, helping to develop Great Zimbabwe in the 11th century. Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The state traded gold, ivory, and copper for cloth and glass. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many It ceased to be the leading Shona state in the mid-15th century. In 1837-8, the Shona were conquered by the Ndebele, who arrived from south of the Limpopo and forced them to pay tribute and concentrate in northern Zimbabwe. This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele. ^[7]

Colonial era (1888–1965)

In 1888, British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes obtained a concession for mining rights from King Lobengula of the Ndebele peoples. An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome Cecil John Rhodes, PC DCL (5 July 1853 &ndash 26 March 1902 was an English -born Businessman mining Magnate, and Politician The Rudd Concession was a written Mining concession or agreement that Charles Rudd secured from Lobengula, King of Matabeleland Lobengula Kumalo (1845–1894 was the second and last king of the Ndebele people usually pronounced Matabele in English ^[8] Cecil Rhodes presented this concession to persuade the government of the United Kingdom to grant a royal charter to his British South Africa Company (BSAC) over Matabeleland, and its subject states such as Mashonaland. The British South Africa Company (BSAC was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe currently divided into two provinces Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. Mashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people. Permission was sought by Rhodes to negotiate similar concessions covering all territory between the Limpopo River and Lake Tanganyika, then known as 'Zambesia'. The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. Lake Tanganyika is a large Lake in central Africa (3° 20' to 8° 48' South and from 29° 5' to 31° 15' East In accordance with the terms of aforementioned concessions and treaties, ^[9] Cecil Rhodes promoted the colonisation of the region's land, and British hegemony over labour, precious metals and other mineral resources. ^[10] In 1895 the BSAC adopted the name 'Rhodesia' for the territory of Zambesia, in honor of Cecil Rhodes. In 1898 'Southern Rhodesia' became the official denotation for the region south of the Zambezi,^[11] which later became Zimbabwe. Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British Colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa, and known today as Zimbabwe The region to the north was administered separately by the BSAC and later named Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa.

The Shona staged unsuccessful revolts (known as Chimurenga) against encroachment upon their lands, by clients of BSAC and Cecil Rhodes in 1896 and 1897. Chimurenga is a Shona word for 'struggle' The word's modern interpretation has been extended to describe a struggle for human rights political dignity and social justice specifically ^[12] Following the failed insurrections of 1896-97 the Ndebele and Shona groups became subject to Rhodes's administration thus precipitating European settlement en masse which led to land distribution disproportionately favouring Europeans, displacing the Shona, Ndebele, and other indigenous peoples.

Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony in October 1923, subsequent to a 1922 referendum. A self-governing colony is a Colony with an elected Legislature, in which Politicians are able to make most decisions without reference to the The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Rhodesians served on behalf of the United Kingdom during World War II, mainly in the East African Campaign against Axis forces in Italian East Africa. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The East African Campaign refers to the battles fought in East Africa during World War II. The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries Italian East Africa ( Italian: Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI was a short-lived (1936-1941 Italian Colony in Africa consisting of

In 1953, in the face of African opposition,^[13] Britain consolidated the two colonies of Rhodesia with Nyasaland (now Malawi) in the ill-fated Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland which was dominated by Southern Rhodesia. The History of Malawi covers the area of present-day Malawi. The region was once part of the Maravi Empire. The Republic of Malawi (məˈlɑːwi or; formerly Nyasaland) is in southern Africa. Constitutional origins It was commonly understood that Southern Rhodesia would be the dominant territory in the federation — economically electorally and militarily Growing African nationalism and general dissent, particularly in Nyasaland, admonished Britain to dissolve the Union in 1963, forming three colonies. African nationalism is the Nationalist political movement for one unified Africa, or the less significant objective of the acknowledgment of African Tribes On November 11, 1965, the prime minister of Southern Rhodesia Ian Smith unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID ( 8 April 1919 &ndash 20 November 2007) served as the Prime Minister of the British The Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration Although Smith's declaration was not recognized by the United Kingdom nor any other significant power, Southern Rhodesia dropped the designation 'Southern', and claimed nation status as the Republic of Rhodesia in 1970. Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence ^[14][15]

UDI and civil war (1965–1979)

After the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), the British government requested United Nations economic sanctions against Rhodesia as negotiations with the Smith administration in 1966 and 1968 ended in stalemate. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence ( UDI) of Rhodesia from the United Kingdom was signed on November 11, 1965 by the administration The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country (or group of countries on another for a variety of reasons Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence The Smith administration declared itself a republic in 1970 which was recognised only by South Africa,^[16][17] then governed by its apartheid administration. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Over the years, the guerrilla fighting against Smith's UDI government intensified. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc As a result, the Smith government opened negotiations with the leaders of the Patriotic Fronts—Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against White minority rule in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Zimbabwe African People's Union is a defunct militant Communist organization and political party that fought for the National liberation of Zimbabwe from ZANU was led by Robert Mugabe and ZAPU was led by Joshua Nkomo. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo ( June 19, 1917 &ndash July 1, 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union

In March 1978, with his regime near the brink of collapse, Smith signed an accord with three black leaders, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who offered safeguards for white civilians. Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born on 4 April 1925) served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster As a result of the Internal Settlement, elections were held in April 1979. The Internal Settlement was the agreement between Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith and Abel Muzorewa in 1978. The Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election of April 1979 was held under the internal settlement negotiated by the Rhodesian Front government of Ian Smith intended The United African National Council (UANC) party won a majority in this election. The United African National Council (UANC is a political party in Zimbabwe. On June 1, 1979, the leader of UANC, Abel Muzorewa, became the country's prime minister and the country's name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa (born on 4 April 1925) served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia from the Internal Settlement to the Lancaster Zimbabwe Rhodesia (zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ rəʊˈdiːʒə officially the Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, was an unrecognized state that existed from June 1, The internal settlement left control of the country's police, security forces, civil service, and judiciary in white hands. It assured whites of about one-third of the seats in parliament. It was essentially a power-sharing arrangement which did not amount to majority rule. ^[18] However, on June 12, the United States Senate voted to end economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives

Following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Lusaka from 1-7 August 1979, the British government invited Muzorewa and the leaders of the Patriotic Front to participate in a constitutional conference at Lancaster House. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, abbreviated to CHOGM, is a biennial Summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau of the country at an elevation The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Lancaster House is a Mansion in the St James's district in the West End of London. The purpose of the conference was to discuss and reach agreement on the terms of an independence constitution, and that elections should be supervised under British authority to enable Rhodesia to proceed to legal independence and the parties to settle their differences by political means. Lord Carrington, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, chaired the conference. Peter Alexander Rupert Carington 6th Baron Carrington and Baron Carington of Upton The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a member of the United Kingdom Government heading the ^[19] The conference took place from 10 September–15 December 1979 with 47 plenary sessions. Events 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul meet in the Council of Agde. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) On December 1, 1979, delegations from the British and Rhodesian governments and the Patriotic Front signed the Lancaster House Agreement, ending the civil war. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The Lancaster House Agreement ended biracial rule in Zimbabwe Rhodesia following negotiations between representatives of the Patriotic Front (PF consisting of ZAPU A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state ^[20]

Independence (1980)

Britain's Lord Soames was appointed governor to oversee the disarming of revolutionary guerrillas, the holding of elections and the granting of independence to an uneasy coalition government with Joshua Nkomo, head of ZAPU. Canaan Sodindo Banana (5 March 1936 10 November 2003 served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 18 April 1980 until 31 December 1987 Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Arthur Christopher John Soames Baron Soames, GCMG, GCVO, CH, CBE, PC ( October 12, 1920 &ndash September In the free elections of February 1980, Mugabe and his ZANU won a landslide victory. ^[21] Mugabe won the re-election.

In 1982, Joshua Nkomo was ousted from his cabinet, sparking fighting between ZAPU supporters in the Ndebele-speaking region of the country and the ruling ZANU. Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo ( June 19, 1917 &ndash July 1, 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union A peace accord was negotiated in 1987, resulting in ZAPU's merger (1988) into the ZANU-PF.

Decline

Land issues, which the liberation movement had promised to solve, re-emerged as the vital issue for the ruling party beginning in 1999. The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF is a Zimbabwean Political party that was the ruling government in Zimbabwe Despite majority rule and the existence of a "willing-buyer-willing-seller" land reform programme since the 1980s, ZANU (PF) claimed that whites made up less than 1% of the population but held 70% of the country's commercially viable arable land (though these figures are disputed by many outside the Government of Zimbabwe). A small number of people of European ethnic origin ( Whites) first came as settlers to the African country now known as Zimbabwe during the late nineteenth century In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for Politics of Zimbabwe takes place in a framework of a Semi-presidential system Republic, whereby the President is the Head of Mugabe began to redistribute land to blacks in 2000 with a compulsory land redistribution. Land reform in Zimbabwe began after the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979 in an effort to more equitably distribute land between the historically disenfranchised Charges that the programme as a whole is designed to reward loyal Mugabe deputies have persisted in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the process.

The legality and constitutionality of the process has regularly been challenged in the Zimbabwean High and Supreme Courts; however, the policing agencies have rarely acted in accordance with court rulings on these matters. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (or ZRP) is the national police force of Zimbabwe, known until July 1980 as the British South Africa Police. The chaotic implementation of the land reform led to a sharp decline in agricultural exports, traditionally the country's leading export producing sector. ^[22] Mining and tourism have surpassed agriculture. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture As a result, Zimbabwe is experiencing a severe hard-currency shortage, which has led to hyperinflation and chronic shortages in imported fuel and consumer goods. Certain figures in this article use Scientific notation for readability Fuel is any material that is burned or altered in order to obtain energy In 2002, Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations on charges of human rights abuses during the land redistribution and of election tampering . Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. ^[23]

Following elections in 2005, the government initiated "Operation Murambatsvina", a purported effort to crack down on illegal markets and homes that had seen slums emerge in towns and cities. Operation Murambatsvina ( English: Operation Drive Out Trash or Operation Drive Out Rubbish) also officially known as Operation Restore Order This action has been widely condemned by opposition and international figures, who charge that it has left a substantial section of urban poor homeless. The Zimbabwe government has described the operation as an attempt to provide decent housing to the population although they have yet to deliver any new housing for the forcibly removed people. ^[24].

Zimbabwe's current economic and food crisis, described by some observers as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since independence, has been attributed in varying degrees, to a drought affecting the entire region, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the government's price controls and land reforms. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ^[25]

Life expectancy at birth for males in Zimbabwe has dramatically declined since 1990 from 60 to 37, the lowest in the world. Life expectancy for females is even lower at 34 years. ^[26] Concurrently, the infant mortality rate has climbed from 53 to 81 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same period. Currently, 1. 8 million Zimbabweans live with HIV.

On March 29, 2008, Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election, The three major candidates were Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Simba Makoni, an independent. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF is a Zimbabwean Political party that was the ruling government in Zimbabwe Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( English ˈtʃæŋgəˈraɪ Shona ts͡ɸaŋgiˈra The Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC) is a Zimbabwean Political party. Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni (born March 22 1950) is a Zimbabwean politician and was a candidate for the March 2008 presidential election The results of this election were withheld for several weeks, following which it was generally acknowledged that the MDC had achieved a significant majority of seats. A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate The presidential election is the subject of a separate article. The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on March 29, 2008.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, surrounded by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west, Zambia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east and northeast. Geographic coordinates: Zimbabwe is a Landlocked country in southern Africa lying wholly within the tropics In Computer graphics, a raster graphics image or bitmap, is a Data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of Pixels The Map Library should not be confused with the Map Library of The British Museum. Topography ( topo-, "place" and graphia, "writing" is the study of Earth 's Surface features or those of Planets A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa Zimbabwe also meets Namibia to the west at a single point. Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa on the Atlantic coast To the south, Zimbabwe is separated from South Africa by the Limpopo River. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. The north-western border is defined by the Zambezi River. The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is the fourth-longest River in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa Zimbabwe's highest peak is Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani), at 2,592 m (8,504 ft);^[27] it lies within the Nyanga National Park in the east of the country. Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe at 2592 m (8504 ft Nyanga National Park lies at the northern end of Zimbabwe 's Eastern Highlands. The lowest point of Zimbabwe is the junction of the Runde and Save rivers at 162 m (531 ft). The Runde River (formerly Lundi River is a river in southeastern Zimbabwe. The Save (or Sabi) is a river of southeastern Africa flowing through Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination on the Zambezi. The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders is a Waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between

Zimbabwe's climate is largely tropical, however this is moderated by altitude. It has a short rainy season which lasts about four months between November and March. The terrain of Zimbabwe is mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld) and a mountainous range in the east.

Natural hazards in Zimbabwe include recurring droughts and unpredictable rainfall, though severe storms are rare. There are several environmental issues in Zimbabwe including deforestation, soil erosion, land degradation, air pollution and water pollution. Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort Water pollution is the contamination of Water bodies such as Lakes Rivers Oceans and Groundwater caused by human activities The black rhinoceros herd—once the largest concentration of the species in the world—has fallen significantly. The Black Rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) also colloquially Black Rhino, is a species of Rhinoceros, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa ^[28] Poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution. Some of these problems have been worsened by the current political crisis, whereby Zimbabweans are cutting down forests for firewood or for sale. ^[29]

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Zimbabwe, Districts of Zimbabwe, and Municipalities of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is divided into eight provinces and two cities with provincial status. |||} Zimbabwe is divided into 8 Provinces and 2 cities with provincial status Bulawayo (city Harare (city Manicaland |||} The Provinces of Zimbabwe are divided into 59 districts and 1200 municipalities |||} The Districts of Zimbabwe are divided into 1200 municipal wards |||} Zimbabwe is divided into 8 Provinces and 2 cities with provincial status Bulawayo (city Harare (city Manicaland |||} Zimbabwe is divided into 8 Provinces and 2 cities with provincial status Bulawayo (city Harare (city Manicaland ^[29] These are territorial divisions for the purposes of administrative, political and geographical demarcation. The provinces are subdivided into 59 districts and 1,200 municipalities. Zimbabwe's provinces are Bulawayo (city), Harare (city), Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Midlands. |||} The Provinces of Zimbabwe are divided into 59 districts and 1200 municipalities |||} The Districts of Zimbabwe are divided into 1200 municipal wards Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, after the capital Harare, with a population of 676000 (UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator Zimbabwe 2005 now estimated Harare (həˈrɑreɪ or /həˈrɑri/ formerly Salisbury) is the Capital of Zimbabwe. Manicaland is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 36459 km² and a population of approximately 1 Mashonaland Central is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 28347 km² and a population of approximately 998265 ( 2002) representing about 8 Mashonaland East is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 32230 km² and a population of approximately 1 Mashonaland West is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 57441 km² and a population of approximately 1 Masvingo is a Province in Zimbabwe found in the south-eastern section of the landlocked country Matabeleland North is a province in western Zimbabwe. It borders the provinces of Midlands and Mashonaland West to the east and northeast respectively and the Matabeleland South is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 54172 km² and a population of approximately 650000 (2002 The names of the provinces are generally generated from the Mashonaland and Matabeleland divide which existed before colonisation. Mashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people. Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe currently divided into two provinces Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. These two lands were the tribal homes of the Shona people and the Matabele people. Shona (ˈʃoʊnə is the name collectively given to several groups of people in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele. The provinces have regional capitals and these are generally, on the whole, in the centre of the province but not always the largest town/city in the province. ^[30]

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a parliamentary government. Politics of Zimbabwe takes place in a framework of a Semi-presidential system Republic, whereby the President is the Head of A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Under constitutional changes in 2005, an upper chamber, the Senate, was reinstated. An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. The Senate of Zimbabwe is the Upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. ^[31] The House of Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament. The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe is the Lower chamber of the country's Bicameral Parliament. A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house.

President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front has been the dominant political party in Zimbabwe since independence. The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF is a Zimbabwean Political party that was the ruling government in Zimbabwe ^[32] In 1987 then-prime minister Mugabe revised the constitution and made himself president. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity His ZANU party has won every election since independence. In particular, the elections of 1990 were nationally and internationally condemned as being rigged, with the second-placed party, Edgar Tekere's Zimbabwe Unity Movement, winning only 16% of the vote. Edgar Zivanai Tekere (born April 1 1937) is a Zimbabwean Politician. ^[33] Presidential elections were again held in 2002 amid allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and fraud. ^[34] General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 30 March 2008. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. ^[35] The official results required a runoff between Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, however the MDC challenged these results, claiming widespread election fraud by the Mugabe government. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( English ˈtʃæŋgəˈraɪ Shona ts͡ɸaŋgiˈra The runoff is in fact going ahead, and is scheduled for June 27, 2008.

The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai is the largest opposition party. The Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC) is a Zimbabwean Political party. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( English ˈtʃæŋgəˈraɪ Shona ts͡ɸaŋgiˈra The MDC is currently split into two factions. One faction, led by Welshman Ncube contested the elections to the Senate, while the other, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, opposed to contesting the elections, stating that participation in a rigged election is tantamount to endorsing Mugabe's claim that past elections were free and fair. Welshman Ncube (born July 7, 1961) is a Zimbabwean politician and the Secretary-General of the faction of the Movement for Democratic Change However, the opposition parties have resumed participation in national and local elections as recently as 2006. The two MDC camps had their congresses in 2005 with Morgan Tsvangirai being elected to lead the main splinter group which has become more popular than the other group. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( English ˈtʃæŋgəˈraɪ Shona ts͡ɸaŋgiˈra Mutambara, a robotics professor and former NASA robotics specialist has replaced Welshman Ncube who was the interim leader after the split. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Welshman Ncube (born July 7, 1961) is a Zimbabwean politician and the Secretary-General of the faction of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai did not participate in the Senate elections, while the Mutambara faction participated and won five seats in the senate. The Mutambara faction has however been weakened by defections from MPs and individuals who are disillusioned by their manifesto. As of 2007, the Tsvangirai-led MDC has become the most popular, with crowds as large as 20,000 attending their rallies as compared to between 500–5,000 for the other splinter group. ^[36] There is wide disagreement in Zimbabwe and neighbouring states as to whether a divided MDC can win presidential elections against a disciplined ruling party. The opposition continues to be weak in rural areas, where a large number of the population of Zimbabwe resides.

The 2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections were held on March 31 and multiple claims of vote rigging, election fraud and intimidation were made by the MDC and Jonathan Moyo, calling for investigations into 32 of the 120 constituencies. A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 31, 2005 to elect members to the Zimbabwe House of Assembly. Jonathan Nathaniel Moyo (born 12 January 1957) is a political figure in Zimbabwe. ^[37] Jonathan Moyo participated in the elections despite the allegations and won a seat as an independent member of Parliament.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Zimbabwe

There are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe administration and his party, ZANU-PF. There are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe administration and his party ZANU-PF. The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF is a Zimbabwean Political party that was the ruling government in Zimbabwe

According to human rights organisations such as Amnesty International^[38] and Human Rights Watch^[39] the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the protection of the law. Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to Human Rights Watch is a United States -based international Non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on Human rights. Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a Human rights concept which is respected in the Constitutions of numerous Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the Freedom of association, is the Individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively The rule of law, in its most basic form is the principle that no one is above the law There are assaults on the media, the political opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders. The news media refers to the section of the Mass media that focuses on presenting current News to the public In Politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the Government, party or group Civil society is composed of the totality of voluntary civic and social organizations and institutions that form the basis of a functioning Society as opposed to the force-backed Human rights defender is a term used to describe people who individually or with others act to promote or protect human rights

Opposition gatherings are frequently the subject of brutal attacks by the police force, such as the crackdown on a March 11, 2007 Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rally. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC) is a Zimbabwean Political party. In the events, party leader Morgan Tsvangirai and 49 other opposition activists were arrested and severely beaten by the police. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai ( English ˈtʃæŋgəˈraɪ Shona ts͡ɸaŋgiˈra After his release, Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC that he suffered head injuries and blows to the arms, knees and back, and that he lost a significant amount of blood. ^[40] The police action was strongly condemned by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the European Union and the United States. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. Ban Ki-moon (born 13 June 1944 Korean: 반기문 Hanja: 潘基文 is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[40] While noting that the activists had suffered injuries, but not mentioning the cause of them,^[41] the Zimbabwean government-controlled daily newspaper The Herald claimed the police had intervened after demonstrators "ran amok looting shops, destroying property, mugging civilians, and assaulting police officers and innocent members of the public". The Herald is a government owned daily newspaper published in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The newspaper also argued that the opposition had been "wilfully violating the ban on political rallies". ^[41]

There is also an abuse of human rights in the media. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC is the state-controlled broadcaster in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government suppresses freedom of the press and freedom of speech. ^[38] It has also been repeatedly accused of using the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, as a propaganda tool. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC is the state-controlled broadcaster in Zimbabwe. Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people ^[42] Newspapers critical of the government, such as the Daily News, closed after bombs exploded at their offices and the government refused to renew their license. ^[43][44] BBC News, Sky News and CNN have also been banned from filming or reporting from Zimbabwe. Sky News is a rolling TV news channel providing 24 hour news coverage including the latest breaking news Cable News Network, usually referred to by its Initialism CNN, is a major English language Television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner They continue to report on happenings within Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries like South Africa. ^[45]

Military

Main article: Military of Zimbabwe

The existence of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Chapter X, 96 (1), which states that,

“

For the purpose of defending Zimbabwe, there shall be Defence Forces consisting of an Army, an Air Force and such other branches, if any, of the Defence Forces as may be provided for by or under an Act of Parliament. The armed forces of Zimbabwe are composed of an army (ZNA and an air force (AFZ The armed forces of Zimbabwe are composed of an army (ZNA and an air force (AFZ [46]

”

The ZDF was set up by the integration of three belligerent forces, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army, (ZIPRA) on one side and the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) on the other at the end of the Liberation Struggle in 1980. Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ( ZANLA) was the militant wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant Communist organization and participated Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army ( ZIPRA) was the armed wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union, a militant Communist organization in Rhodesia The Rhodesian Bush War, also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe Liberation Struggle, was a war which lasted from July 1964 to 1979 and The Integration period saw the formation of The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) as separate entities under the command of Rtd General Solomon Mujuru and the late Rtd Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai respectively. The Zimbabwe National Army or ZNA was created in 1980 from elements of the Rhodesian Army integrated to a greater or lesser extent with combatants from the ZANLA The Air Force of Zimbabwe ( AFZ) is the Air force of Zimbabwe. Solomon Mujuru, also known as Rex Nhongo (born May 1, 1949) led Robert Mugabe 's guerrilla forces during the independence war Air Chief Marshal ( Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a senior Air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force (RAF Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai ( 8 October 1948 &ndash 25 August 2005) born Thomas Mberikwazvo, was a Zimbabwean The integration commanders handed over the Zimbabwean flags to then Lieutenant General Vitalis Zvinavashe, who later became the first Commander Defence Forces (1993), and Air Marshal Perrance Shiri in 1992, and subsequently in the ZNA to then Lieutenant General Constantine Chiwenga in 1993. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the This article is about the air force rank Air marshal (or Sky marshal) is also the term given to federal security agents who travel undercover aboard commercial Air Marshal Perence Shiri (born 11 January 1955) is the current commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and a member of the Joint Operations Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the

The approval of the Defence Amendment Bill saw the setting up of a single command for the Defence Forces in 1993. Rtd General Vitalis Zvinavashe became the first commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, with the commanders of both the Army and the Air Force falling under his command. Following his retirement in December 2003, General Constantine Chiwenga, was promoted and appointed Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Lieutenant General P. V. Sibanda replaced him as Commander of the Army. ^[46]

The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000. The air force has about 5,000 men assigned. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police) is also part of the defence force of Zimbabwe and numbers 25,000. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (or ZRP) is the national police force of Zimbabwe, known until July 1980 as the British South Africa Police. ^[47]

In 1999, the Government of Zimbabwe sent a sizeable military force into the Democratic Republic of Congo to support the government of President Laurent Kabila during the Second Congo War. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (République démocratique du Congo often referred to as DR Congo, DRC or RDC, and formerly known or referred to Laurent-Désiré Kabila ( November 27, 1939 – January 16, 2001) was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The Second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Those forces were largely withdrawn in 2002.

Zimbabwe National Army

Main article: Zimbabwe National Army

The Zimbabwe National Army or ZNA was created in 1980 from elements of the Rhodesian Army, integrated to a greater or lesser extent with combatants from the ZANLA and ZIPRA guerrilla movements (the armed wings of, respectively, ZANU and ZAPU). The Zimbabwe National Army or ZNA was created in 1980 from elements of the Rhodesian Army integrated to a greater or lesser extent with combatants from the ZANLA Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ( ZANLA) was the militant wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant Communist organization and participated Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army ( ZIPRA) was the armed wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union, a militant Communist organization in Rhodesia Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against White minority rule in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Zimbabwe African People's Union is a defunct militant Communist organization and political party that fought for the National liberation of Zimbabwe from

Following majority rule in early 1980, British Army trainers oversaw the integration of guerrilla fighters into a battalion structure overlaid on the existing Rhodesian armed forces. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. A battalion is a Military unit of around 500-1500 men usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel For the first year a system was followed where the top-performing candidate became battalion commander. If he or she was from ZANLA, then his or her second-in-command was the top-performing ZIPRA candidate, and vice versa. ^[48] This ensured a balance between the two movements in the command structure. From early 1981 this system was abandoned in favour of political appointments, and ZANLA/ZANU fighters consequently quickly formed the majority of battalion commanders in the ZNA. Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army ( ZANLA) was the militant wing of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant Communist organization and participated The Zimbabwe African National Union was a militant organization that fought against White minority rule in Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African

The ZNA was originally formed into four brigades, composed of a total of 29 battalions. A brigade is a Military unit Echelon: is The brigade support units were composed almost entirely of specialists of the former Rhodesian Army, while unintegrated battalions of the Rhodesian African Rifles were assigned to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Brigades. The Rhodesian African Rifles, or RAR was the oldest regiment in the Rhodesian Army, dating from the formation of the 1st Rhodesian Native Regiment in 1916 during the The notorious Fifth Brigade was formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1984 after allegations of brutality and murder during the Brigade's occupation of Matabeleland in what has become known as Gukurahundi (Shona: "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains"). The Fifth Brigade was an Elite unit of specially-trained Zimbabwean soldiers Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe currently divided into two provinces Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. The Gukurahundi ( Shona: "the early rain which washes away the Chaff before the spring rains" refers to an armed conflict between the Zimbabwe Government Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples ^[49][50]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Zimbabwe

The government of Zimbabwe faces a variety of economic problems after having abandoned earlier efforts to develop a market-oriented economy. The economy of Zimbabwe is collapsing under the weight of economic mismanagement resulting in 85% unemployment and spiraling Hyperinflation. Problems include a shortage of foreign exchange, soaring inflation, and supply shortages. The foreign exchange ( currency or forex or FX) market refers to the market for currencies. Zimbabwe's involvement from 1998 to 2002 in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (République démocratique du Congo often referred to as DR Congo, DRC or RDC, and formerly known or referred to ^[51]

Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe. ^[52] Zimbabwe is the biggest trading partner of South Africa on the continent. ^[53] The downward spiral of the economy has been attributed mainly to mismanagement and corruption of the Mugabe regime and the eviction of more than 4,000 white farmers in the controversial land redistribution of 2000. ^{[54][55][56][57]} Since this land redistribution began, agricultural exports, especially tobacco, have declined sharply. The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force released a report in June 2007, estimating 60% of Zimbabwe's wildlife has died since 2000. The report warns that the loss of life combined with widespread deforestation is potentially disastrous for the tourist industry. ^[58]

Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to an official estimated high of 100,580. 2% in January 2008,^[59] a state of hyperinflation. Certain figures in this article use Scientific notation for readability Local residents have largely resorted to buying essentials from neighbouring Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana is a Landlocked nation in Southern Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Zambia (ˈzæmbɪə is a Landlocked country in Southern Africa. IMF economists estimated inflation at about 150,000% in Dec 2007.

In 2005, the government, led by central bank governor Gideon Gono, started making overtures that white farmers could come back. Gideon Gono (born November 29 1959) is the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ and former CEO of the Jewel Bank, formerly There were 400 to 500 still left in the country, but much of the land that had been confiscated was no longer productive. ^[60] In January 2007, the government even let some white farmers sign long term leases. ^[61] But, the government reversed course again and started demanding that all remaining white farmers leave the country or face jail. ^[62][63]

In August 2006, a new revalued Zimbabwean dollar was introduced, equal to 1000 of the prior Zimbabwean. The exchange rate fell from 24 old Zimbabwean dollars per U.S. dollar (USD) in 1998 to 250,000 prior or 250 new Zimbabwean dollars per USD at the official rate,^[64] and an estimated 120,000,000 old or 120,000 revalued Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar on the parallel market,^[65] in June 2007. The dollar is the Currency of Zimbabwe. It is subdivided into 100 cents. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been

On June 21, 2007, the U. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell, told The Guardian newspaper that inflation could reach 1. Christopher William Dell is a career United States Foreign Service officer who served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe from The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. 5 million per cent (1,500,000%) by the end of the year. The current official inflation rate is above 26,000%^[66] and the black-market exchange rate is Z$3,650,000 to the pound. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency ^[67][68] On July 13, 2007, the Zimbabwe government said it had temporarily stopped publishing (official) inflation figures, a move that observers said was meant to draw attention away from runaway inflation which has come to symbolize the country's unprecedented economic meltdown. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to ^[69]

Mugabe points to foreign governments and alleged "sabotage" as the cause of the fall of the Zimbabwean economy, as well as the country's 80% formal unemployment rate. ^[70] Critics of Mugabe's administration, including the majority of the international community, blame Mugabe's controversial programme which sought to seize land from white commercial farmers. Mugabe has repeatedly blamed sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union and the United States for the state of the Zimbabwean economy. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in According to the United States, however, these sanctions target only seven specific businesses owned or controlled by government officials and not ordinary citizens. ^[71] During a meeting of the Southern African Development Community in 2007, a call was issued for the sanctions to be removed. The Southern African Development Community ( SADC) is an Inter-governmental organization. ^[72] It should be noted that Rhodesia had a successful export-led economy despite harsh sanctions applied to the whole nation by the UK and other world powers.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Zimbabwe

According to the United Nations World Health Organization, the life expectancy for men is 37 years and the life expectancy for women is 34 years of age, the lowest in the world in 2006. The Demographics of Zimbabwe are the condition and overview of Zimbabwe's peoples The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security ^[73] An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service. ^[74] Zimbabwe has a very high HIV infection rate. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome In 2006, the HIV rate was estimated to be 20. 1% for people aged 15–49. ^[75] UNESCO reported a decline in HIV prevalence among pregnant women from 26% in 2002 to 21% in 2004. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 ^[76] Zimbabwe's total population is 12 million. ^[77]

English is the official language of Zimbabwe, though less than 2. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them 5%, mainly the white and Coloured (mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. In the South African Namibian Zambian Botswanan and Zimbabwean context the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense The rest of the population speak Shona (76%) and Ndebele (18%). Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken ^[78] Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956. Solomon Mangwiro Mutswairo (born April 26, 1924) is a Zimbabwean novelist and poet ^[79] English is spoken primarily in the cities, but less so in rural areas. Radio and television news is now broadcast in English, Ndebele, and Shona.

Sixty two percent of Zimbabweans attend Christian churches. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings ^[80] The largest Christian churches are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist^[81] and Methodist. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations However like most former European colonies, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. Besides Christianity, ancestral worship is the most practiced non-Christian religion which involves ancestor worship and spiritual intercession; the Mbira Dza Vadzimu, which means "Voice of the Ancestors", an instrument related to many lamellophones ubiquitous throughout Africa, is central to many ceremonial proceedings. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality Lamellophone (also spelled " Lamellaphone " also referred to as Linguaphone (from "tongue" i Mwari simply means "God the Creator" (musika vanhu in Shona). Around 1% of the population is Muslim. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion ^[82]

Black ethnic groups make up 98% of the population. The majority people, the Shona, comprise 80 to 84%. Shona (ˈʃoʊnə is the name collectively given to several groups of people in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. The Ndebele are the second most populous with 10 to 15% of the population. This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele. ^[83][84] The Ndebele are descended from Zulu migrations in the nineteenth century and the other tribes with which they intermarried. The Zulu ( IsiZulu: amaZulu) are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10-11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal Support for the opposition is particularly strong both from the Ndebele and the Shona majority. Up to one million Ndebele may have left the country over the last five years, mainly for South Africa. Bantus of other ethnicities are the third largest with 2 to 5%. Bantu may refer to Bantu expansion, a series of migrations of Bantu speakers Bantu languages Bantu people ^[84]

Other less populous Zimbabwean ethnic groups include white Zimbabweans, mostly of British origin, but some are of Afrikaner, Portuguese and Dutch origin as well, who make up less than 1. A small number of people of European ethnic origin ( Whites) first came as settlers to the African country now known as Zimbabwe during the late nineteenth century The term Afrikaner people refers to white Afrikaans -speaking people who have been established in Southern Africa since the 17th century and are mainly of northwestern The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. 0%. The white population dropped from a peak of around 296,000 in 1975 to possibly 120,000 in 1999, and was estimated at no more than 50,000 in 2002, possibly much less. ^[85] Most emigration has been to the UK, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Australia and New Zealand. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Mixed race citizens are 0. In the South African Namibian Zambian Botswanan and Zimbabwean context the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense 5% and various Asian ethnic groups, mostly of Indian and Chinese origin, are also 0. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National 5%. ^[86] Asian immigrants are influential in the economic sector.

Refugee crisis

The economic meltdown and repressive political measures in Zimbabwe has led to a flood of refugees into neighbouring countries. An estimated 3. 4 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population, had fled abroad by mid 2007. ^[87] Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa. ^[88]

Apart from the people who fled into the neighbouring countries, an estimated 570,000 people are displaced within the borders of the country, many of whom remain in transit camps and have limited access to assistance. Most of the displaced have been victims of the Operation Murambatsvina in the year 2005 and continuing evictions and violent farm seizures. Operation Murambatsvina ( English: Operation Drive Out Trash or Operation Drive Out Rubbish) also officially known as Operation Restore Order Their plight is virtually impossible to assess, as there has been no national survey of people displaced since 2005. ^[89]

However, these numbers are not solid, and are likely greatly exaggerated, as a study by the Forced Migration Studies Program of Witwatersrand University finds. ^[90]

Education

Main article: Education in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of approximately 90% which is amongst the highest in Africa. Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of approximately 90% which is amongst the highest in Africa traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, ^[91][92][93] However, since 1995 the adult literacy rate of Zimbabwe has steadily decreased which is a trend shared by other African countries. ^[94]

The majority of the wealthier portion of the population send their children to independent schools as opposed to the government-run schools which are attended by the poorer members of the black population as these have lower fee scales. An independent school is a school which is not dependent upon national or local Government for financing its operation and is instead operated by tuition charges gifts and The term public school has two distinct (and virtually opposite meanings depending on the location of usage in the United States, Australia and School education was made free in 1980, but since 1988, the government has steadily increased the charges attached to school enrollment until they now greatly exceed the real value of fees in 1980. The Ministry of Education of Zimbabwe maintains and operates the government schools but the fees charged by independent schools are regulated by the cabinet of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe's education system consists of 7 years of primary and 6 years of secondary schooling before students can enter university in country or abroad. The academic year in Zimbabwe runs from January to December, with three month terms, broken up by one month holidays, with a total of 40 weeks of school per year. National examinations are written during the third term in November, with "O" level and "A" level subjects also offered in June. The General Certificate of Education or GCE is a secondary-level academic qualification that Examination boards in the United Kingdom confer to students The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, ^[95]

There are seven public universities as well as four church-related universities in Zimbabwe that are fully internationally accredited. ^[95] The University of Zimbabwe, the first and largest, was built in 1952 and is located in the Harare suburb of Mount Pleasant. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ, is the first and largest university in Zimbabwe. Mount Pleasant is the name of a residential suburb in the northern part of Harare, Zimbabwe. Notable alumni from Zimbabwean universities include Welshman Ncube; Peter Moyo (of Amabhubesi); Tendai Biti, Secretary-General for the MDC; Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwean poet, novelist and essayist; and Arthur Mutambara, President of one faction of the MDC. Welshman Ncube (born July 7, 1961) is a Zimbabwean politician and the Secretary-General of the faction of the Movement for Democratic Change Tendai Laxton Biti (born 6 August 1966) is the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-Tsvangirai political party in Zimbabwe Chenjerai Hove (born February 9, 1956) is a Zimbabwean Poet, Novelist and Essayist He was educated at the University A poet is a person who writes Poetry. Etymology From the Ancient greek: ποιέω, poieō: "I make or compose" A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story This article is an abbreviated list of Essayists - individuals notable for writing essays on various topics Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara (born 25 May 1966 is a Zimbabwean politician Many of the current politicians in the government of Zimbabwe have obtained degrees from universities in America or other universities abroad. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

The highest professional board for accountants is the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe (ICAZ) with direct relationships with similar bodies in South Africa, Canada, UK and Australia. An accountant is a practitioner of Accountancy, which is the measurement disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers investors The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. A qualified Chartered Accountant from Zimbabwe is also a member of similar bodies in these countries after writing a conversion paper. Chartered Accountant (CA is the title used by members of certain professional Accountancy associations in the British Commonwealth countries and Ireland In addition, Zimbabwean-trained doctors only require one year of residence to be fully-licensed doctors in the United States. The Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) is the highest professional board for engineers. An engineer is a person professionally engaged in a field of Engineering.

However, education in Zimbabwe became under threat since the economic changes in 2000 with teachers going on strike because of low pay, students unable to concentrate because of hunger and the price of uniforms soaring making this standard a luxury. ^[96]

Culture and recreation

Main articles: Culture of Zimbabwe and Art of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe celebrates its independence on April 18, 1980. Zimbabwe has many different Cultures which may include Beliefs and Ceremonies, one of them being Shona. Art includes decorative Esthetics applied to many aspects of life including art objects as such utilitarian objects objects used in religion warfare in Propaganda Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) ^[97] Celebrations are held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare where the first independence celebrations were held in 1980. The National Sports Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe, with a capacity of 60000 people At these celebrations doves are released to symbolise peace and fighter jets fly over and the national anthem is sung. Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe (" Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe " "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" is the national anthem of The flame of independence is lit by the president after parades by the presidential family and members of the armed forces of Zimbabwe. The president also gives a speech to the people of Zimbabwe which is televised for those unable to attend the stadium. ^[98]

Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Zimbabwe. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries The citizens of Zimbabwe have won four medals in the Olympic Games, one in field hockey at the 1980 Summer games in Moscow, and three in swimming at the 2004 Summer games in Athens. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Zimbabwe competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of Zimbabwe competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's

Zimbabwe has also done well in the Commonwealth Games and All-Africa Games in swimming with Kirsty Coventry obtaining 11 gold medals in the different competitions. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational Multi-sport event. Held every four years it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or Pan African Games, are a regional Multi-sport event held every four years organized by the Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance Kirsty Leigh Coventry (born 16 September 1983 in Harare, Zimbabwe) is a Zimbabwean swimmer and world record holder ^{[99][100][101][102]} Zimbabwe has also competed at Wimbledon and the Davis Cup in tennis, most notably with the Black Family, which comprises Wayne Black, Byron Black and Cara Black. The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's Tennis. Wayne Hamilton Black (born November 17, 1973 in Salisbury Rhodesia) is a former professional male Tennis player from Zimbabwe Byron Black (born October 6, 1969 in Salisbury, Rhodesia) is a former touring professional Tennis and Davis Cup player Cara Black (born February 17, 1979 in Harare Zimbabwe) is a professional female Tennis player from Zimbabwe.

Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewelry, and carving. Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal Ornament, such as a necklace ring or bracelet made from Gemstones Among the distinctive qualities are symmetrically patterned woven baskets and stools carved out of a single piece of wood. Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or Shona sculpture has become world famous in recent years having first emerged in the 1940s. Most subjects of carved figures of stylised birds and human figures among others are made with sedimentary rocks such as soapstone, as well as harder igneous rocks such as serpentine and the rare stone verdite. Petroglyphs are Images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising pecking carving and abrading Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a Metamorphic rock, a talc- Schist. Igneous rocks (etymology from Latin ignis, fire are rocks formed by solidification of cooled Magma (molten rock The serpentine group describes a group of common rock-forming hydrous Magnesium Iron phyllosilicate (()3 Minerals they Shona sculpture in essence has been a fusion of African folklore with European influences. Internationally famous artists include Henry Mudzengerere and Nicolas Mukomeranwa. A recurring theme in Zimbabwean art is the metamorphosis of man into beast. Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively ^[103] Zimbabwean musicians like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mutukudzi, the Bhundu Boys and Audius Mtawarira have achieved international recognition. Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo (born 1945 is a Zimbabwean musician known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (born in 1952 in Highfield Harare) is a Zimbabwean musician one of the longest-lasting popular performers from that country The Bhundu Boys were a Zimbabwean band that played a mixture of Chimurenga music with American Rock and roll, Disco, country, and Audius Mtawarira, is a ARIA winning Australian Record producer, composer artist and Songwriter more commonly known as " Audius "

Several authors are well known within Zimbabwe and abroad. Charles Mungoshi is renowned in Zimbabwe for writing traditional stories in English and in Shona and his poems and books have sold well with both the black and white communities. Charles Mungoshi (b1947 is a Writer from Zimbabwe. His works include Short stories and Novels in both Shona ^[104] Catherine Buckle has achieved international recognition with her two books African Tears and Beyond Tears which tell of the ordeal she went through under the 2000 Land Reform. Catherine Buckle or Cathy Buckle is a writer living in Marondera, Zimbabwe. Land reform in Zimbabwe began after the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement in 1979 in an effort to more equitably distribute land between the historically disenfranchised ^[105] Prime Minister of Rhodesia, the late Ian Smith, has also written two books — The Great Betrayal and Bitter Harvest. The Prime Minister of Rhodesia (until 1964 Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia was the Head of government in the Colony of Rhodesia. Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID ( 8 April 1919 &ndash 20 November 2007) served as the Prime Minister of the British The Great Betrayal The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith is a 1997 Autobiography written by Ian Smith covering his time as Premier of the British Bitter Harvest is a 2001 book by Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith. The book The House of Hunger by Dambudzo Marechera won an award in the UK in 1979 and the Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing's first novel The Grass Is Singing is set in Rhodesia. The House of Hunger (ISBN 0-435-90986-X ( 1979) is a Short story collection by the late Dambudzo Marechera. Dambudzo Marechera (Charles William Dambudzo Marechera b in Rusape, Rhodesia, June 4, 1952, d Doris May Lessing, CH, OBE (née Tayler; born 22 October 1919) is a British Writer, author of works such The Grass Is Singing is the first novel published in 1950, by British Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing.

Food

Like many other Africans, a majority of Zimbabweans depend on a few staple foods. "Mealie meal" (cornmeal) is used to prepare bota, a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water to produce a thick paste. Cornmeal is Flour ground from dried corn, and is a common Staple food. Porridge, or porage, is a simple dish made by boiling Oats (normally crushed oats occasionally Oatmeal) or another cereal in Water This is usually flavoured with peanut butter, milk, butter, or, sometimes, jam. Peanut butter is a food paste made primarily from ground roasted Peanuts with or without added oil Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. ^[106] Bota is usually eaten for breakfast. Cornmeal is also used to make sadza, which is usually eaten for dinner, and by many for lunch as well. Sadza is the Shona language name for a cooked pulverized grain meal that is the Staple food in Zimbabwe. Sadza is prepared similarly to bota. However, after the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste. This meal is usually served with greens, (spinach, collard greens), beans, and meat that has been stewed, grilled, or roasted. Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) is a Flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. Collards, also called borekale (from the Dutch boerenkool (farmers' kale are various loose-leafed Cultivars of Brassica oleracea ( Acephala Sadza is also commonly eaten with curdled milk, commonly known as lacto (mukaka wakakora), or a small dried fish called kapenta (matemba). On special occasions, rice and chicken with cabbage salad is served as the main meal. The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from

Graduations, weddings, and any other family gatherings will usually be celebrated with the killing of a goat or cow, which will be braaied (an Afrikaner form of barbecue) for the family. The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat Domesticated from the Wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family The word braaivleis ( is Afrikaans for "roasted meat" The word braai (pronounced "bry" rhyming with the word "cry" plural The term Afrikaner people refers to white Afrikaans -speaking people who have been established in Southern Africa since the 17th century and are mainly of northwestern barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City.

Afrikaner recipes are popular though they are a small group (0. 2%) within the white minority group. Meat, beef and to a lesser extent chicken are especially popular, though consumption has declined under the Mugabe regime due to falling incomes. Biltong, a type of jerky, is a popular snack, prepared by hanging bits of spiced raw meat to dry in the shade. Biltong is a kind of cured meat that originated in South Africa. Jerky is Meat that has been cut into strips trimmed of fat Marinated in a spicy salty or sweet liquid and then dried with low heat (usually under 70°C/160°F ^[107] Boerewors (pronounced [børəvɞɾs] — "Boo-ruh-vorse") is served with sadza. Boerewors is a Sausage dish popular in South African cuisine and Limburgish cuisine It is a long sausage, often well-spiced, composed of beef rather than pork, and barbecued.

Birthplace of Scouting

It was in Matabeleland during the First Chimurenga that Baden-Powell, the Founder of Scouting, and Frederick Russell Burnham, the Father of Scouting, first met and began their life-long friendship. The Second Matabele War, also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion and in Zimbabwe as the First Chimurenga, took place from 1896–97 Frederick Russell Burnham, DSO (May 11 1861 – September 1 1947 was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the In mid-June 1896, during a scouting patrol in Matobo Hills, Burnham taught Baden-Powell woodcraft, the fundamentals of Scouting. The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of Granite Kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of Woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide Youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical mental and spiritual Practiced by frontiersmen of the American Old West and indigenous peoples of North America, woodcraft was generally unknown to the British. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. However, Baden-Powell recognized that wars in Africa were changing markedly and the British Army needed to adapt; so during their joint scouting missions, Baden-Powell and Burnham discussed the concept of a broad training program in woodcraft for young men, rich in exploration, tracking, fieldcraft, and self-reliance. Field craft is a term used especially in British Military circles to describe the basic military skills required to operate stealthily at day or night regardless Later, Baden-Powell wrote a number of books on the subject, and even started to train and make use of adolescent boys, most famously during the Siege of Mafeking, during the Second Boer War. The Siege of Mafeking was the most famous British action in the Second Boer War. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: ^[108][109]

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Zimbabwe

Since the Land Reform programme in 2000, tourism in Zimbabwe has steadily declined. Since the Land Reform programme in 2000, tourism in Zimbabwe has steadily declined The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders is a Waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is the fourth-longest River in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa After rising during the 1990s, (1. 4 million tourists in 1999) industry figures described a 75% fall in visitors to Zimbabwe in 2000. By December, less than 20% of hotel rooms had been occupied. ^[110] This has had a huge impact on the Zimbabwean economy. Thousands of jobs have been lost in the industry due to companies closing down or simply being unable to pay staff wages due to the decreasing number of tourists.

Several airlines have also pulled out of Zimbabwe. Australia's Qantas, Germany's Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines were among the first to pull out and most recently British Airways suspended all direct flights to Harare. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Qantas Airways Limited (ˈkwɔntəs ( is the National airline of Australia. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Austrian Airlines AG is the flag carrier Airline of Austria, headquartered in Vienna. British Airways plc ( is the national Airline and Flag carrier of the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe ^[110][111] The country's flagship airline Air Zimbabwe still flies to the United Kingdom. Air Zimbabwe is the national Airline of Zimbabwe, based in Harare.

Zimbabwe boasts several major tourist attractions. Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, which are shared with Zambia, are located in the north west of Zimbabwe. The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders is a Waterfall situated in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between The Zambezi (also spelled Zambesi) is the fourth-longest River in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa Before the economic changes, much of the tourism for these locations came to the Zimbabwe side but now Zambia is the main beneficiary. The Victoria Falls National Park is also in this area and is one of the eight main National Parks in Zimbabwe,^[112] largest of which is Hwange National Park. See Victoria Falls main article for details of the falls and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for the Zambia national park sometimes incorrectly referred to as Victoria Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie) is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe.

The Eastern Highlands are a series of mountainous areas near the border with Mozambique. "Eastern Highlands" also refers to Eastern Highlands Papua New Guinea. The highest peak in Zimbabwe, Mount Nyangani at 2,593 m (8,507 ft) is located here as well as the Bvumba Mountains and the Nyanga National Park. Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani is the highest mountain in Zimbabwe at 2592 m (8504 ft The Bvumba Mountains or Vumba Mountains lie on the Zimbabwe - Mozambique border approximately 25km south east of Mutare. Nyanga National Park lies at the northern end of Zimbabwe 's Eastern Highlands. World's View is in these mountains and it is from here that places as far away as 60–70 km (37–43 mi) are visible and, on clear days, the town of Rusape can be seen. World's View is a spectacular vista viewed from the northern part of the Eastern Highlands mountain range just North of Nyanga, in eastern Zimbabwe. Rusape is a town in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe with a population of around 20000 As of 2004, situated on the Harare - Mutare

Zimbabwe is unusual in Africa in that there are a number of ancient ruined cities built in a unique dry stone style. The most famous of these are the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo, which have survived from the Monomotapa Empire. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day Masvingo is a town in south-eastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province. Other ruins include Khami Ruins, Zimbabwe, Dhlo-Dhlo and Naletale, although none of these is as famous as Great Zimbabwe. Khami is a ruined city in southern Africa, in what is now western and central Zimbabwe. Dhlo-Dhlo (also Ndlo Dlo or Danamombe) is a Zimbabwean Archaeological site, about eighty kilometres from Gweru, in the direction of Naletale (or Nalatale) are ruins are located about 25 kilometres east of Shangani in Matabeleland north Zimbabwe and just north of the

The Matobo Hills are an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe. The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of Granite Kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. A monadnock or inselberg is an isolated hill knob ridge or small Mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding Plain Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, after the capital Harare, with a population of 676000 (UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator Zimbabwe 2005 now estimated The Hills were formed over 2000 million years ago with granite being forced to the surface, then being eroded to produce smooth "whaleback dwalas" and broken kopjes, strewn with boulders and interspersed with thickets of vegetation. Mzilikazi, founder of the Ndebele nation, gave the area its name, meaning 'Bald Heads'. Mzilikazi (meaning The Great Road) (ca 1790 - 9 September 1868) also sometimes called Mosilikatze was a Southern African king This article relates to the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe For other uses of the term please see Ndebele. They have become famous and a tourist attraction due to their ancient shapes and local wildlife. Cecil John Rhodes and other early white pioneers like Leander Starr Jameson are buried in these hills at a site named World's View. Cecil John Rhodes, PC DCL (5 July 1853 &ndash 26 March 1902 was an English -born Businessman mining Magnate, and Politician Sir Leander Starr Jameson 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, ( February 9, 1853 &ndash November 26, 1917) also known as " ^[113]

National symbols, insignia and anthems

The two main traditional symbols of Zimbabwe are the Zimbabwe Bird and the Balancing Rocks. The stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird is a national emblem of Zimbabwe, appearing on the national flags and coats of arms of both Zimbabwe and Rhodesia, as well as on The Balancing Rocks are a geological formation found in the township of Epworth, southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Other national symbols exist, but have varying degrees of official usage, such as the flame lily and the Sable Antelope. This article is about symbols of nations Many countries it can be used for is Chantal Gloriosa is a Genus of five or six species in the Plant family Colchicaceae, from tropical Africa and Asia. The Sable Antelope ( Hippotragus niger) is an Antelope which inhabits wooded savannah in East Africa south of Kenya, and in

Zimbabwe Bird

Main article: Zimbabwe Bird

The stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird appears on the national flags and coats of arms of both Zimbabwe and Rhodesia, as well as on banknotes and coins (first on Rhodesian pound and then Rhodesian dollar). The stone-carved Zimbabwe Bird is a national emblem of Zimbabwe, appearing on the national flags and coats of arms of both Zimbabwe and Rhodesia, as well as on Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence The dollar ( R$) was the Currency of Rhodesia between 1970 and 1980 The coins of the Rhodesian pound were part of the currency of Southern Rhodesia, which changed its name to Rhodesia, following the break-up of the Federation The coins of the Rhodesian dollar were part of the physical form of Rhodesia 's historical currency the Rhodesian dollar. It probably represents the bateleur eagle. The Bateleur ( Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized Eagle in the bird family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera

The famous soapstone bird carvings stood on walls and monoliths of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe built, it is believed, sometime between the 12th and 15th centuries by ancestors of the Shona. Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a Metamorphic rock, a talc- Schist. The Great Zimbabwe, or "stone buildings" is the name given to hundreds of great stone Ruins spread out over a 500 km² (200 square mile area within the modern-day Shona (ˈʃoʊnə is the name collectively given to several groups of people in Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique. The ruins, which gave their name to modern Zimbabwe, cover some 1,800 acres (7. 3 km²) and are the largest ancient stone construction in Zimbabwe. ^[114]

When the ruins of Great Zimbabwe were excavated by treasure-hunters in the late nineteenth century, five of the carved birds they discovered were taken to South Africa by Cecil Rhodes. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Cecil John Rhodes, PC DCL (5 July 1853 &ndash 26 March 1902 was an English -born Businessman mining Magnate, and Politician Four of the statues were returned to Zimbabwe by the South African government at independence, while the fifth remains at Groote Schuur, Rhodes' former home in Cape Town. Groote Schuur (Dutch for "big barn" is an estate in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the

Balancing Rocks

Main article: Balancing Rocks

Balancing Rocks are geological formations all over Zimbabwe. The Balancing Rocks are a geological formation found in the township of Epworth, southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. They are rocks perfectly balanced without other supports caused by the erosion of softer rock around an ancient granite intrusion that gets left exposed. They are often remarked on and have been depicted on both the paper money of the Zimbabwean dollar and the paper money of the Rhodesian dollar. The dollar ( R$) was the Currency of Rhodesia between 1970 and 1980 The ones found on the current notes of Zimbabwe, named the Banknote Rocks, are located in Epworth, approximately 15 km (9. Epworth is a suburb in south-eastern Harare. It is home to some famous balancing rocks 3 mi) south-east of Harare. ^[115] There are, however, many different formations of the rocks, incorporating single and paired columns of 3 or more rocks. These formations are a feature of south and east tropical Africa from northern South Africa northwards to Sudan. The most notable formations in Zimbabwe are located in the Matobo National Park in Matabeleland. The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of Granite Kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres

National anthem

"Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe" (Shona: "Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe"; Northern Ndebele: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe") is the national anthem of Zimbabwe. Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe (" Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe " "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" is the national anthem of Shona (or chiShona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples The Northern Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken Most countries have Anthems defined as "a song as of praise devotion or patriotism" most anthems are either marches or Hymns in style It was introduced in March 1994 after a nation-wide competition to replace "Ishe Komborera Africa" as a distinctly Zimbabwean song. God Bless Africa (" Ishe Komborera Africa " was formerly the National anthem of Zimbabwe until it was replaced by sn "[[Kalibusiswe Ilizwe The winning entry was a song written by Professor Solomon Mutswairo and composed by Fred Changundega. Solomon Mangwiro Mutswairo (born April 26, 1924) is a Zimbabwean novelist and poet It has been translated into all three of the main languages of Zimbabwe.

Reverse side of the defunct ten cent coin featuring the Zimbabwe Bird

Traditional Zimbabwe Bird design

An example of Balancing Rocks in Epworth

The Flame Lily, national flower of Zimbabwe

See also

• List of rivers
• Place names in Zimbabwe

References

• Zimbabwe:A Rhodesian Mystery, Roger Summers, Thomas Nelson and Sons (Africa) (Pty) Ltd. , Johannesburg 1965. A discussion of the archeology of the Zimbabwe ruins.
• "The Rhodesian Crisis: Tanzania's Role," Chapter Eight, pp. 211 - 250, in Godfrey Mwakikagile, Nyerere and Africa: End of an Era: Expanded Edition - Includes Photos, Second Edition, Protea Publishing, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 2005; also in Godfrey Mwakikagile, Nyerere and Africa: End of an Era, Third Edition, New Africa Press, Pretoria, South Africa, 2006, pp. 226 - 267.

External links

Government

• Parliament of Zimbabwe — official government site
• Zimbabwe Government Online — official government site and mirror site

News

• The New Zimbabwe
• The Zimbabwean
• ZW News
• Zimbabwe Metro - Zimbabwe News tabloid│Zimbabwe News
• Zimbabwe destruction: One man's story, BBC News Online
• AllAfrica.com: Zimbabwe — news headline links
• IFEX: Zimbabwe — press freedom violations
• The Zimbabwe Guardian - Zimbabwe News Online│Zimbabwe News
• IRIN Zimbabwe — humanitarian news and analysis
• No quick fix for Zimbabwe's economy, analysis by Jorn Madslien, BBC News

Directories

• Columbia University Libraries — Zimbabwe directory category of the WWW-VL
• Open Directory Project: Zimbabwe
• Yahoo!: Zimbabwe

Tourism

• Zimbabwe travel guide from Wikitravel
• Travel Overview of Zimbabwe
• Facts about Zimbabwe

Other

• ZimConservation - News and opinions about the wildlife and environment of Zimbabwe
• New Zimbabwe
• Amnesty International annual report 2007 on Zimbabwe
• Kubutana The NGO Alliance Network - an online community for Zimbabwean activists
• Zimbabwe Agricultural Welfare Trust (ZAWT)
• Zimbabwe Protest
• Cato JournalPDF (115 KiB) — in-depth article on Zimbabwe's collapse
• Center for Global Development — costs and causes of Zimbabwe's crisis
• Zimbabwe Rescue
• Crisis in Zimbabwe
• TheGreatZimbabwe
• BBC, Country Profile, Zimbabwe

Online Entertainment

• TZ Radio

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