Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Zimbabwe shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Zimbabwe offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Zimbabwe at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Zimbabwe? Wrong! If the Zimbabwe is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Zimbabwe then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Zimbabwe? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Zimbabwe and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Zimbabwe wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Zimbabwe then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Zimbabwe site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Zimbabwe, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Zimbabwe, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Country or territory|native_name =Zimbabwe|conventional_long_name =Republic of Zimbabwe|common_name =Zimbabwe|image_flag =Flag of Zimbabwe.svg|image_coat =Zimbabwe coa.png|image_map =LocationZimbabwe.svg|national_motto ="Unity, Freedom, Work"|national_anthem =Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe(Shona)Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe(Northern Ndebele language)"Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"|official_languages =English language|demonym = Zimbabwean|capital =Harare|leader_title1 =[President of Zimbabwe|leader_name1 =Robert Mugabe|sovereignty_note =from the [United Kingdom, [1965, [1980 ([Dollar sign)|currency_code =ZWD|country_code =ZW|time_zone =Central Africa Time|utc_offset =+2|time_zone_DST =not observed|utc_offset_DST =+2|cctld =.zw: ), 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 River rivers. It borders South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. The name Zimbabwe derives from "Zimba Remabwe" meaning "big house of stone" in the Shona language. Zimbabwe, History Department of UKZN. Its use as the country's name is a tribute to Great Zimbabwe, site of the capital of the Monomotapa. The official language of Zimbabwe is South African English, however the majority of the population speaks Shona language, one of the native languages of Zimbabwe.

From circa 1450–1629 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. 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 (Zimbabwe) people arrived while fleeing from the Zulu leader Shaka, making the area their new empire, Matabeleland. In the 1880s the British arrived with Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company. In 1898 the name Southern Rhodesia was adopted.

In 1965, the then Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Douglas Smith declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) from the United Kingdom, making Rhodesia a republic. In 1979 an agreement was made with Ian Douglas Smith and Abel Muzorewa and this formed Zimbabwe Rhodesia but just a few months later this had to be changed and the Lancaster House Agreement was drawn up. On the 18 April 1980 Zimbabwe won independence and along with it a new name, flag and government, Robert Mugabe's ZANU. The first president was Canaan Banana with Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister but in 1987, the Constitution was amended to provide for an Executive President and the office of Prime Minister was abolished. The constitutional changes came into effect on 1 January 1988 with Robert Mugabe as President.

Under the leadership of current president Robert Mugabe the economy of Zimbabwe declined from one of the strongest in Africa to one of the weakest and political tension has never been higher. In 1999 the Movement for Democratic Change was established and have campaigned for an end to "Mugabe's Reign of Terror". 80% of Zimbabweans are unemployed and inflation has soared to well over 15,000%., BBC News Website.

History Precolonial era There is wide-spread evidence of the presence of Stone Age hunters in Zimbabwe from about 5000 years ago or even earlier. These people were related to today's Khoisan people and were displaced by Bantu people. They painted scenes of life in hundreds of caves across Zimbabwe, the so-called Bushman paintings.Chippindale, Christopher. Pictures in Place: Looking at Pictures in Place. Page 15. Iron Age Bantu-speaking peoples began migrating into the area about 2,000 years ago, including the ancestors of the Shona, who account for roughly four-fifths of the country's population today. By the Middle Ages, there was a Bantu civilization in the region, as evidenced by ruins at Great Zimbabwe, a Shona-speaking state. Around the early 10th century, trade developed with Muslim merchants on the Indian Ocean coast, helping to develop Great Zimbabwe in the 11th century. The state traded gold, ivory, and copper for cloth and glass. It ceased to be the leading Shona state in the mid-15th century.In 1836 the Shona were conquered in southern Zimbabwe by the Ndebele people (Zimbabwe), who forced them to pay tribute and concentrate in northern Zimbabwe. So Who Was Shaka Zulu- Really? Africa Stage

Colonization (1888-1965) In 1888 British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes Rudd Concession from King Lobengula of the Ndebele.Hensman, Howard. Cecil Rhodes: A Study of a Career. Page 106-107. He used this concession to persuade the British government to grant a royal charter to his British South Africa Company (BSAC) over Matabeleland and its subject states such as Mashonaland, and to negotiate similar concessions covering all territory between the Limpopo River and Lake Tanganyika, referred to as 'Zambesia'. Through such concessions and treaties, many of which were deceitful,Parsons, Neil. A New History of Southern Africa, Second Edition, 1993. London: Macmillan. Pages 178-181. he promoted the colonization of the region's land, labor, and precious metal and mineral resources.Bryce, James. Impressions of South Africa. Page 170. In 1895 the BSAC adopted the name 'The Rhodesias#Origin of the name 'Rhodesia'' for Zambesia, after Cecil Rhodes, and in 1898 'Southern Rhodesia' was officially adopted for the part south of the Zambezi, Gray, J. A. (1956). "A Country in Search of a Name." The Northern Rhodesia Journal III (1) (1956). Page 78. which later became Zimbabwe, while the part to the north was administered separately by the BSAC and was later named Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia.

Natives Chimurenga against the encroachment on their lands in 1896 and 1897.Palamarek, Ernie. Hatari. Page 132. Both the Ndebele and Shona became subject to the Rhodes administration. This was the beginning of a larger settlement of white settlers that led to land distribution favouring whites, displacing both the Shona and Ndebele and other black people. The land issue in Zimbabwe remains a controversial issue to this day.

Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing colony British Empire in 1922. In 1953, in the face of African opposition,Parsons (1993). Page 292. Britain joined the two parts of Rhodesia with Nyasaland (now Malawi) in the ill-fated Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland which was dominated by Southern Rhodesian settlers. Growing African nationalism and unrest particularly in Nyasaland forced Britain to dissolve it in 1963, and each of the three countries went their separate ways. On November 11, 1965, Ian Smith Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) from BritainJudd, Denis. Empire: The British Imperial Experience from 1765 to the Present'. Page 372. and Southern Rhodesia dropped the designation 'Southern', becoming the Rhodesia in 1970.Parsons (1993). Pages 318–320.

Settler rule and civil war (1965-1979) The British government requested United Nations economic sanctions against Rhodesia as negotiations with the Smith administration in 1966 and 1968 ended in stalemate. The Smith administration declared itself a republic in 1970, recognized only by the apartheid government of South Africa. Malawi political background Zambia political background NationsEncyclopedia.com, 2003

Guerrilla fighting against the government intensified, and the Smith government opened negotiations with the leaders of the Patriotic Fronts Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), led by Robert Mugabe, and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo.

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. As the result of an Internal Settlement Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election, 1979 were held in April 1979. The United African National Council (UANC) party won a majority in this election. On June 1 1979, UANC's leader, Abel Muzorewa, became the country's prime minister. The country's name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. 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. 1 June 1979 BBC News However, on June 12, the United States Senate voted to end economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

On December 1, 1979 delegations from the British and Rhodesian governments and the Patriotic Front met in London and signed the Lancaster House Agreement, ending the civil war.Preston, Matthew. Ending Civil War: Rhodesia and Lebanon in Perspective. Page 25

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. In the free elections of February 1980, Mugabe and his ZANU won a landslide victory. Mugabe has won re-election ever since.

During the first decade of independence Mugabe used the North Korean trained Zimbabwean Fifth Brigade to silence any opposition from the Ndebele nation in an operation against dissidents referred to as Gukurahundi. Several thousand civilians, mostly Ndebele, were killed or disappeared "Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace. A report on the disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands 1980 – 1989" and have not been accounted for to this date. Allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing have resulted in calls for Mugabe's arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity. Genocide victims want Mugabe punished, Global Policy Forum, 6 January 2002

Land issues, which the liberation movement promised to solve, re-emerged as the vital issue for the ZANU (PF) beginning in 1999. Despite majority rule, and the existence of a "willing buyer-willing seller" land reform programme since the 1980s, ZANU (PF) claimed that whites in Zimbabwe 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). Mugabe began to land reform in Zimbabwe to blacks in 2000 with a compulsory land redistribution; charges that the programme as a whole is designed to reward loyal deputies have persisted in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the process. Despite claims by both the opposition and the government that land reform of one kind or another must take place, the Mugabe led process has been seen as a diversion away from an ill conceived war in the DRC and economic maladministration. The legality and constitutionality of the process has regularly been challenged in the Zimbabwean High and Supreme Courts, however the Zimbabwe Republic Police have rarely acted in accordance with courts' rulings on these matters. The chaotic implementation of the land reform led to a sharp decline in agricultural exports, traditionally the country's leading export producing sector. Mining and tourism have surpassed 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. In 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations on charges of human rights abuses during the land redistribution and of election tampering. Zimbabwe suspended indefinitely from Commonwealth, HumanRightsFirst.org, 8 December 2003

Following elections in 2005, the government initiated "Operation Murambatsvina", a supposed effort to crack down on illegal markets and homes that had seen slums emerge in towns and cities. 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 forcefully removed people. Zimbabwe: Housing policy built on foundation of failures and lies, Amnesty International, 9 August 2006

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. Crisis profile: Zimbabwe's humanitarian situation, July 26, 2005. AlertNet.

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. "Zimbabwe Life Expectancy Lowest In The World", Public Health News, 10 April, 2006 Concurrently, the infant mortality rate has climbed from 53 to 81 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same period. 5.5 million Zimbabweans currently live with HIV. Guardian article, The wasteland - inside Mugabe's crumbling state, March 17, 2007 The Guardian

Government and politics Zimbabwe has a parliamentary government. Under constitutional changes in 2005, an upper chamber, the Senate of Zimbabwe, was reinstated. Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 17) Act, 2005 NGO Network Alliance Project The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe is the lower chamber of Parliament.

President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front has been the dominant political party in Zimbabwe since independence.Mugabe, Robert. (2007). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. In 1987 then-prime minister Mugabe revised the constitution and made himself president. His ZANU party has won every election since independence, with outside observers routinely alleging Political corruption and vote rigging. 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 20% of the vote. Presidential elections were last held in 2002 amid allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and fraud. Zimbabwe: Election Fraud Report, University of Pennsylvania, 18 April 2005 The next Presidential elections are due to be held in 2008, although Mugabe is currently trying to amend the constitution in an attempt to stay in power until 2010. Mugabe could stay on until 2010, South African Mail and Guardian, 21 January 2007

The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai is the largest opposition party. 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. 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. Mutambara, a Robotics Professor and former NASA robotics specialist has replaced Welshman Ncube who was the interim leader after the split. 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. 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 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections, 2005 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. Mugabe's former ally accuses him of foul play, March 12, 2005. Independent Online Zimbabwe. Jonathan Moyo participated in the elections despite the allegations and won a seat as an independent member of Parliament.

Human rights There have been widespread reports of various civil and political human rights abuses throughout Zimbabwe, in particular against opponents of the government. According to human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the rule of law. There are assaults on the mass media, the political opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders.

Media The current Zimbabwean government suppresses freedom of the press and has repeatedly been accused of using the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, as a propaganda tool. ZIMBABWE Press, Media, TV, Radio, Newspapers Press Reference, 2006 Newspapers critical of the government, such as the Daily News, closed after bombs exploded at their offices Zimbabwe newspaper bombed BBC News, 28 January 2001 and the government refused to renew their licence. Zimbabwe: Newspaper Silenced, February 7, 2004. New York Times.

BBC News and CNN have also been banned from filming or reporting from Zimbabwe. Why did Zimbabwe ban the BBC?, April 1, 2005. BBC News.

Geography 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. Zimbabwe also meets Namibia to the west at a single point. To the south, Zimbabwe is separated from South Africa by the Limpopo River. The north-western border is defined by the Zambezi River. Zimbabwe's highest peak is Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani), at 2,592 m (8,504 ft); it lies within the Nyanga National Park in the east of the country. Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination on the Zambezi.

Administrative divisions Zimbabwe is divided into eight Provinces of Zimbabwe and two cities with provincial status. The provinces are subdivided into 59 districts and 1,200 municipalities.

The provinces include:

Districts: see Districts of Zimbabwe

Municipalities: see Municipalities of Zimbabwe

Economy The government of Zimbabwe faces a variety of economic problems after having abandoned earlier efforts to develop a market-oriented economy. Problems include a shortage of Foreign exchange market, soaring inflation, and supply shortages. 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. Organised Violence and Torture in Zimbabwe in 1999, 1999. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.

Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is the biggest trading partner of South Africa south of the equator. Since 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 may negatively impact the tourist industry.

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. "Zimbabwe President Mugabe labels white farmers 'enemies'" - CNN - April 18, 2000Robinson, Simon. "A Tale of Two Countries" - Time (magazine) magazine - Monday, February 18, 2002 "Zimbabwe forbids white farmers to harvest" - USA Today - 06/24/2002 "White farmers under siege in Zimbabwe" - BBC - Thursday, 15 August, 2002

In 2005 the government, led by central bank governor Gideon Gono, started making overtures that white farmers could come back. There were 400 to 500 left still in the country, and much of the lands that had been confiscated were not being re-cultivated.Meldrum, Andrew. "As country heads for disaster, Zimbabwe calls for return of white farmers" - The Guardian - May 21, 2005 In January 2007 the government even let some White farmers sign long term lesses.Timberg, Craig. "White Farmers Given Leases In Zimbabwe" - Washington Post - Saturday, January 6, 2007 But, the government reversed course again and started demanding that all remaining White farmers leave the country or face jail. "Zimbabwe threatens white farmers" - Associated Press - (c/o Washington Post - Monday, February 5, 2007Chinaka, Cris. "Zimbabwe threatens white farmers on evictions" - Reuters - August 8, 2007

Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to an official estimated high of 7,634.8% in August 2007, Reuters. a state of hyperinflation.The IMF predicted inflation will reach 6,430% by the end of 2008. Estimates from private sector economists estimate inflation at about four times the official figures.

On June 21, 2007 the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell, told The Guardian newspaper that inflation could reach 1.5 million per cent (1,500,000%) by the end of the year. The current unofficial inflation rate is above 11,000% and the black-market exchange rate is Z$400,000 to the Pound sterling. US predicts regime change in Zimbabwe as hyperinflation destroys the economy The Guardian The Guardian.

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. The Zimbabwe Situation.

In August 2006 a new revalued Zimbabwean dollar was introduced, equal to 1000 old Zimbabwean dollars. The exchange rate fell from 24 old Zimbabwean dollars per U.S. dollar (USD) in 1998 to 250,000 old or 250 new Zimbabwean dollars per USD at the official rate, RBZ and an estimated 120,000,000 old or 120,000 revalued Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar on the parallel market, Zimbabwe Situation in June 2007.

Mugabe points to foreign governments and alleged "sabotage" as the cause of this, as well as the country's 80% formal unemployment rate. How to stay alive when it all runs out, July 12, 2007. The Economist. Critics of Mugabe's administration, including the majority of the international community, blame Mugabe's controversial program 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. These sanctions only target government officials and not ordinary citizens., U.S. Department of State, 2004 In a recent meeting of the Southern African Development Community, a call was issued for the sanctions to be removed., The Jerusalem Post, 1 April 2007

Demographics and ethnicity 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. An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.Zimbabwe has a very high HIV infection rate. In 2001, it was measured at its highest level ever of 33.7% for people aged 15–49.

Refugee crisis The economic meltdown and repressive political measures in Zimbabwe has led to a flood of refugees into neighboring countries. An estimated 3,4 million Zimbabweans — a quarter of the population — had fled abroad by mid 2007. Refugees flood from Zimbabwe The Observer Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa. Zimbabwean refugees suffer in Botswana and South Africa Sokwanele Civic Action Group

Apart from the people who fled into the neighboring 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. Their plight is virtually impossible to assess, as there has been no national survey of people displaced since 2005.. Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Internal displacement in Zimbabwe

Education Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of approximately 90%. Zimbabwe, CIA World Factbook Botswana Literacy Survey 2003, Central Statistics Office, Botswana. Zimbabweans generally value and pursue academic achievement. President Mugabe has seven non-honorary degrees and the cabinet has several graduates at PhD level. Zimbabwe's despotic leader The Economist.

Universities

Professional bodies 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. A qualified Chartered Accountant from Zimbabwe is also a member of similar bodies in these countries after writing a conversion paper. 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.

Language English language is the official language of Zimbabwe, though less than 2.5%, mainly the white and Coloured (mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. The rest of the population speak Shona language (76%) and Northern Ndebele language (18%). Zimbabwe GAP Adventures Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956. Mother Tongue: Interviews with Musaemura B. Zimunya and Solomon Mutswairo University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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.

Religion Forty to fifty percent of Zimbabweans attend Christianity churches. Around ten percent are Roman Catholics, who have an Archbishop of Harare. However like most former European colony, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, Ancestor worship is the most practiced non-Christian religion which involves ancestor worship and spirituality 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. Mwari simply means God the creator, musika vanhu. Around 1% of the population is Muslim.

Ethnic groups (2005 est.) Black ethnic groups total 98% of the population:

Other Zimbabwean ethnic groups:

Culture Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe, although rugby union and cricket also have a following, traditionally among the white minority.

Zimbabwe celebrates its national holiday on April 18, the day it gained independence in 1980.

Arts Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewelry, and carving. Among the distinctive qualities are symmetrically patterned woven baskets and stools carved out of a single piece of wood. Shona sculpture in essence has been a fusion of African folklore with European influences. Also, a recurring theme in Zimbabwean art is the metamorphosis of man into beast.

Zimbabwean musicians like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mutukudzi, the Bhundu Boys and Audius Mtawarira have achieved international recognition. (and see Art of Zimbabwe).

Food As many other Africans, a majority of Zimbabweans depend on staple foods. "Mealie meal" (cornmeal) is used to prepare bota, a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water to produce a thick paste. This is usually flavoured with peanut butter, milk, butter, or, sometimes, jam. Bota Food is usually eaten for breakfast. Cornmeal is also used to make sadza, which is usually eaten for dinner, and by many for lunch too. Sadza is prepared similarly to bota; however, after the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste until it is hard. This meal is usually served with greens, (spinach, collard greens), etc., beans, and meat that is stewed, grilled, or roasted. 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 are often served as the main meal.

Graduations, weddings, and any other family gatherings will usually be celebrated with the killing of a goat or cow, which will be braaied (an Afrikaaner form of barbecue) for the family.

Afrikaners' recipes are popular though they are a small group within the white minority group. Meat is especially important, though often expensive and now rare in Zimbabwe, for Afrikaners. Biltong, a type of jerky (food), is a popular snack, prepared by hanging bits of spiced raw meat to dry in the shade. Boerewors (International Phonetic Alphabet - "Boo-ruh-vorse") is served alongside sadza. It is a long sausage, often well-spiced, composed of various meats and barbecued.

See also

References External links Government

News

Directories

Tourism

Other * Zimbabwe Directory with an interactive map

{{Infobox Country or territory|native_name =Zimbabwe|conventional_long_name =Republic of Zimbabwe|common_name =Zimbabwe|image_flag =Flag of Zimbabwe.svg|image_coat =Zimbabwe coa.png|image_map =LocationZimbabwe.svg|national_motto ="Unity, Freedom, Work"|national_anthem =Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe(Shona)Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe(Northern Ndebele language)"Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"|official_languages =English language|demonym = Zimbabwean|capital =Harare|leader_title1 =[President of Zimbabwe|leader_name1 =Robert Mugabe|sovereignty_note =from the [United Kingdom, [1965, [1980 ([Dollar sign)|currency_code =ZWD|country_code =ZW|time_zone =Central Africa Time|utc_offset =+2|time_zone_DST =not observed|utc_offset_DST =+2|cctld =.zw: ), 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 River rivers. It borders South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. The name Zimbabwe derives from "Zimba Remabwe" meaning "big house of stone" in the Shona language. Zimbabwe, History Department of UKZN. Its use as the country's name is a tribute to Great Zimbabwe, site of the capital of the Monomotapa. The official language of Zimbabwe is South African English, however the majority of the population speaks Shona language, one of the native languages of Zimbabwe.

From circa 1450–1629 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. 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 (Zimbabwe) people arrived while fleeing from the Zulu leader Shaka, making the area their new empire, Matabeleland. In the 1880s the British arrived with Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company. In 1898 the name Southern Rhodesia was adopted.

In 1965, the then Prime Minister of Rhodesia, Ian Douglas Smith declared Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) from the United Kingdom, making Rhodesia a republic. In 1979 an agreement was made with Ian Douglas Smith and Abel Muzorewa and this formed Zimbabwe Rhodesia but just a few months later this had to be changed and the Lancaster House Agreement was drawn up. On the 18 April 1980 Zimbabwe won independence and along with it a new name, flag and government, Robert Mugabe's ZANU. The first president was Canaan Banana with Robert Mugabe as Prime Minister but in 1987, the Constitution was amended to provide for an Executive President and the office of Prime Minister was abolished. The constitutional changes came into effect on 1 January 1988 with Robert Mugabe as President.

Under the leadership of current president Robert Mugabe the economy of Zimbabwe declined from one of the strongest in Africa to one of the weakest and political tension has never been higher. In 1999 the Movement for Democratic Change was established and have campaigned for an end to "Mugabe's Reign of Terror". 80% of Zimbabweans are unemployed and inflation has soared to well over 15,000%., BBC News Website.

History Precolonial era There is wide-spread evidence of the presence of Stone Age hunters in Zimbabwe from about 5000 years ago or even earlier. These people were related to today's Khoisan people and were displaced by Bantu people. They painted scenes of life in hundreds of caves across Zimbabwe, the so-called Bushman paintings.Chippindale, Christopher. Pictures in Place: Looking at Pictures in Place. Page 15. Iron Age Bantu-speaking peoples began migrating into the area about 2,000 years ago, including the ancestors of the Shona, who account for roughly four-fifths of the country's population today. By the Middle Ages, there was a Bantu civilization in the region, as evidenced by ruins at Great Zimbabwe, a Shona-speaking state. Around the early 10th century, trade developed with Muslim merchants on the Indian Ocean coast, helping to develop Great Zimbabwe in the 11th century. The state traded gold, ivory, and copper for cloth and glass. It ceased to be the leading Shona state in the mid-15th century.In 1836 the Shona were conquered in southern Zimbabwe by the Ndebele people (Zimbabwe), who forced them to pay tribute and concentrate in northern Zimbabwe. So Who Was Shaka Zulu- Really? Africa Stage

Colonization (1888-1965) In 1888 British entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes Rudd Concession from King Lobengula of the Ndebele.Hensman, Howard. Cecil Rhodes: A Study of a Career. Page 106-107. He used this concession to persuade the British government to grant a royal charter to his British South Africa Company (BSAC) over Matabeleland and its subject states such as Mashonaland, and to negotiate similar concessions covering all territory between the Limpopo River and Lake Tanganyika, referred to as 'Zambesia'. Through such concessions and treaties, many of which were deceitful,Parsons, Neil. A New History of Southern Africa, Second Edition, 1993. London: Macmillan. Pages 178-181. he promoted the colonization of the region's land, labor, and precious metal and mineral resources.Bryce, James. Impressions of South Africa. Page 170. In 1895 the BSAC adopted the name 'The Rhodesias#Origin of the name 'Rhodesia'' for Zambesia, after Cecil Rhodes, and in 1898 'Southern Rhodesia' was officially adopted for the part south of the Zambezi, Gray, J. A. (1956). "A Country in Search of a Name." The Northern Rhodesia Journal III (1) (1956). Page 78. which later became Zimbabwe, while the part to the north was administered separately by the BSAC and was later named Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia.

Natives Chimurenga against the encroachment on their lands in 1896 and 1897.Palamarek, Ernie. Hatari. Page 132. Both the Ndebele and Shona became subject to the Rhodes administration. This was the beginning of a larger settlement of white settlers that led to land distribution favouring whites, displacing both the Shona and Ndebele and other black people. The land issue in Zimbabwe remains a controversial issue to this day.

Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing colony British Empire in 1922. In 1953, in the face of African opposition,Parsons (1993). Page 292. Britain joined the two parts of Rhodesia with Nyasaland (now Malawi) in the ill-fated Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland which was dominated by Southern Rhodesian settlers. Growing African nationalism and unrest particularly in Nyasaland forced Britain to dissolve it in 1963, and each of the three countries went their separate ways. On November 11, 1965, Ian Smith Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia) from BritainJudd, Denis. Empire: The British Imperial Experience from 1765 to the Present'. Page 372. and Southern Rhodesia dropped the designation 'Southern', becoming the Rhodesia in 1970.Parsons (1993). Pages 318–320.

Settler rule and civil war (1965-1979) The British government requested United Nations economic sanctions against Rhodesia as negotiations with the Smith administration in 1966 and 1968 ended in stalemate. The Smith administration declared itself a republic in 1970, recognized only by the apartheid government of South Africa. Malawi political background Zambia political background NationsEncyclopedia.com, 2003

Guerrilla fighting against the government intensified, and the Smith government opened negotiations with the leaders of the Patriotic Fronts Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), led by Robert Mugabe, and the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo.

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. As the result of an Internal Settlement Zimbabwe Rhodesia general election, 1979 were held in April 1979. The United African National Council (UANC) party won a majority in this election. On June 1 1979, UANC's leader, Abel Muzorewa, became the country's prime minister. The country's name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. 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. 1 June 1979 BBC News However, on June 12, the United States Senate voted to end economic sanctions against Zimbabwe Rhodesia.

On December 1, 1979 delegations from the British and Rhodesian governments and the Patriotic Front met in London and signed the Lancaster House Agreement, ending the civil war.Preston, Matthew. Ending Civil War: Rhodesia and Lebanon in Perspective. Page 25

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. In the free elections of February 1980, Mugabe and his ZANU won a landslide victory. Mugabe has won re-election ever since.

During the first decade of independence Mugabe used the North Korean trained Zimbabwean Fifth Brigade to silence any opposition from the Ndebele nation in an operation against dissidents referred to as Gukurahundi. Several thousand civilians, mostly Ndebele, were killed or disappeared "Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace. A report on the disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands 1980 – 1989" and have not been accounted for to this date. Allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing have resulted in calls for Mugabe's arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity. Genocide victims want Mugabe punished, Global Policy Forum, 6 January 2002

Land issues, which the liberation movement promised to solve, re-emerged as the vital issue for the ZANU (PF) beginning in 1999. Despite majority rule, and the existence of a "willing buyer-willing seller" land reform programme since the 1980s, ZANU (PF) claimed that whites in Zimbabwe 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). Mugabe began to land reform in Zimbabwe to blacks in 2000 with a compulsory land redistribution; charges that the programme as a whole is designed to reward loyal deputies have persisted in Zimbabwe since the beginning of the process. Despite claims by both the opposition and the government that land reform of one kind or another must take place, the Mugabe led process has been seen as a diversion away from an ill conceived war in the DRC and economic maladministration. The legality and constitutionality of the process has regularly been challenged in the Zimbabwean High and Supreme Courts, however the Zimbabwe Republic Police have rarely acted in accordance with courts' rulings on these matters. The chaotic implementation of the land reform led to a sharp decline in agricultural exports, traditionally the country's leading export producing sector. Mining and tourism have surpassed 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. In 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations on charges of human rights abuses during the land redistribution and of election tampering. Zimbabwe suspended indefinitely from Commonwealth, HumanRightsFirst.org, 8 December 2003

Following elections in 2005, the government initiated "Operation Murambatsvina", a supposed effort to crack down on illegal markets and homes that had seen slums emerge in towns and cities. 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 forcefully removed people. Zimbabwe: Housing policy built on foundation of failures and lies, Amnesty International, 9 August 2006

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. Crisis profile: Zimbabwe's humanitarian situation, July 26, 2005. AlertNet.

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. "Zimbabwe Life Expectancy Lowest In The World", Public Health News, 10 April, 2006 Concurrently, the infant mortality rate has climbed from 53 to 81 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same period. 5.5 million Zimbabweans currently live with HIV. Guardian article, The wasteland - inside Mugabe's crumbling state, March 17, 2007 The Guardian

Government and politics Zimbabwe has a parliamentary government. Under constitutional changes in 2005, an upper chamber, the Senate of Zimbabwe, was reinstated. Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 17) Act, 2005 NGO Network Alliance Project The House of Assembly of Zimbabwe is the lower chamber of Parliament.

President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front has been the dominant political party in Zimbabwe since independence.Mugabe, Robert. (2007). Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica. In 1987 then-prime minister Mugabe revised the constitution and made himself president. His ZANU party has won every election since independence, with outside observers routinely alleging Political corruption and vote rigging. 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 20% of the vote. Presidential elections were last held in 2002 amid allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and fraud. Zimbabwe: Election Fraud Report, University of Pennsylvania, 18 April 2005 The next Presidential elections are due to be held in 2008, although Mugabe is currently trying to amend the constitution in an attempt to stay in power until 2010. Mugabe could stay on until 2010, South African Mail and Guardian, 21 January 2007

The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai is the largest opposition party. 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. 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. Mutambara, a Robotics Professor and former NASA robotics specialist has replaced Welshman Ncube who was the interim leader after the split. 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. 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 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections, 2005 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. Mugabe's former ally accuses him of foul play, March 12, 2005. Independent Online Zimbabwe. Jonathan Moyo participated in the elections despite the allegations and won a seat as an independent member of Parliament.

Human rights There have been widespread reports of various civil and political human rights abuses throughout Zimbabwe, in particular against opponents of the government. According to human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, freedom of movement and residence, freedom of assembly and the rule of law. There are assaults on the mass media, the political opposition, civil society activists, and human rights defenders.

Media The current Zimbabwean government suppresses freedom of the press and has repeatedly been accused of using the public broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, as a propaganda tool. ZIMBABWE Press, Media, TV, Radio, Newspapers Press Reference, 2006 Newspapers critical of the government, such as the Daily News, closed after bombs exploded at their offices Zimbabwe newspaper bombed BBC News, 28 January 2001 and the government refused to renew their licence. Zimbabwe: Newspaper Silenced, February 7, 2004. New York Times.

BBC News and CNN have also been banned from filming or reporting from Zimbabwe. Why did Zimbabwe ban the BBC?, April 1, 2005. BBC News.

Geography 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. Zimbabwe also meets Namibia to the west at a single point. To the south, Zimbabwe is separated from South Africa by the Limpopo River. The north-western border is defined by the Zambezi River. Zimbabwe's highest peak is Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani), at 2,592 m (8,504 ft); it lies within the Nyanga National Park in the east of the country. Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination on the Zambezi.

Administrative divisions Zimbabwe is divided into eight Provinces of Zimbabwe and two cities with provincial status. The provinces are subdivided into 59 districts and 1,200 municipalities.

The provinces include:

Districts: see Districts of Zimbabwe

Municipalities: see Municipalities of Zimbabwe

Economy The government of Zimbabwe faces a variety of economic problems after having abandoned earlier efforts to develop a market-oriented economy. Problems include a shortage of Foreign exchange market, soaring inflation, and supply shortages. 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. Organised Violence and Torture in Zimbabwe in 1999, 1999. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.

Mineral exports, agriculture, and tourism are the main foreign currency earners of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is the biggest trading partner of South Africa south of the equator. Since 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 may negatively impact the tourist industry.

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. "Zimbabwe President Mugabe labels white farmers 'enemies'" - CNN - April 18, 2000Robinson, Simon. "A Tale of Two Countries" - Time (magazine) magazine - Monday, February 18, 2002 "Zimbabwe forbids white farmers to harvest" - USA Today - 06/24/2002 "White farmers under siege in Zimbabwe" - BBC - Thursday, 15 August, 2002

In 2005 the government, led by central bank governor Gideon Gono, started making overtures that white farmers could come back. There were 400 to 500 left still in the country, and much of the lands that had been confiscated were not being re-cultivated.Meldrum, Andrew. "As country heads for disaster, Zimbabwe calls for return of white farmers" - The Guardian - May 21, 2005 In January 2007 the government even let some White farmers sign long term lesses.Timberg, Craig. "White Farmers Given Leases In Zimbabwe" - Washington Post - Saturday, January 6, 2007 But, the government reversed course again and started demanding that all remaining White farmers leave the country or face jail. "Zimbabwe threatens white farmers" - Associated Press - (c/o Washington Post - Monday, February 5, 2007Chinaka, Cris. "Zimbabwe threatens white farmers on evictions" - Reuters - August 8, 2007

Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to an official estimated high of 7,634.8% in August 2007, Reuters. a state of hyperinflation.The IMF predicted inflation will reach 6,430% by the end of 2008. Estimates from private sector economists estimate inflation at about four times the official figures.

On June 21, 2007 the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, Christopher Dell, told The Guardian newspaper that inflation could reach 1.5 million per cent (1,500,000%) by the end of the year. The current unofficial inflation rate is above 11,000% and the black-market exchange rate is Z$400,000 to the Pound sterling. US predicts regime change in Zimbabwe as hyperinflation destroys the economy The Guardian The Guardian.

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. The Zimbabwe Situation.

In August 2006 a new revalued Zimbabwean dollar was introduced, equal to 1000 old Zimbabwean dollars. The exchange rate fell from 24 old Zimbabwean dollars per U.S. dollar (USD) in 1998 to 250,000 old or 250 new Zimbabwean dollars per USD at the official rate, RBZ and an estimated 120,000,000 old or 120,000 revalued Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar on the parallel market, Zimbabwe Situation in June 2007.

Mugabe points to foreign governments and alleged "sabotage" as the cause of this, as well as the country's 80% formal unemployment rate. How to stay alive when it all runs out, July 12, 2007. The Economist. Critics of Mugabe's administration, including the majority of the international community, blame Mugabe's controversial program 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. These sanctions only target government officials and not ordinary citizens., U.S. Department of State, 2004 In a recent meeting of the Southern African Development Community, a call was issued for the sanctions to be removed., The Jerusalem Post, 1 April 2007

Demographics and ethnicity 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. An association of doctors in Zimbabwe have made calls for President Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.Zimbabwe has a very high HIV infection rate. In 2001, it was measured at its highest level ever of 33.7% for people aged 15–49.

Refugee crisis The economic meltdown and repressive political measures in Zimbabwe has led to a flood of refugees into neighboring countries. An estimated 3,4 million Zimbabweans — a quarter of the population — had fled abroad by mid 2007. Refugees flood from Zimbabwe The Observer Some 3 million of these have gone to South Africa. Zimbabwean refugees suffer in Botswana and South Africa Sokwanele Civic Action Group

Apart from the people who fled into the neighboring 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. Their plight is virtually impossible to assess, as there has been no national survey of people displaced since 2005.. Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Internal displacement in Zimbabwe

Education Zimbabwe has an adult literacy rate of approximately 90%. Zimbabwe, CIA World Factbook Botswana Literacy Survey 2003, Central Statistics Office, Botswana. Zimbabweans generally value and pursue academic achievement. President Mugabe has seven non-honorary degrees and the cabinet has several graduates at PhD level. Zimbabwe's despotic leader The Economist.

Universities

Professional bodies 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. A qualified Chartered Accountant from Zimbabwe is also a member of similar bodies in these countries after writing a conversion paper. 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.

Language English language is the official language of Zimbabwe, though less than 2.5%, mainly the white and Coloured (mixed race) minorities, consider it their native language. The rest of the population speak Shona language (76%) and Northern Ndebele language (18%). Zimbabwe GAP Adventures Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, Feso by Solomon Mutswairo, published in 1956. Mother Tongue: Interviews with Musaemura B. Zimunya and Solomon Mutswairo University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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.

Religion Forty to fifty percent of Zimbabweans attend Christianity churches. Around ten percent are Roman Catholics, who have an Archbishop of Harare. However like most former European colony, Christianity is often mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. Besides Christianity, Ancestor worship is the most practiced non-Christian religion which involves ancestor worship and spirituality 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. Mwari simply means God the creator, musika vanhu. Around 1% of the population is Muslim.

Ethnic groups (2005 est.) Black ethnic groups total 98% of the population:

Other Zimbabwean ethnic groups:

Culture Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Zimbabwe, although rugby union and cricket also have a following, traditionally among the white minority.

Zimbabwe celebrates its national holiday on April 18, the day it gained independence in 1980.

Arts Traditional arts in Zimbabwe include pottery, basketry, textiles, jewelry, and carving. Among the distinctive qualities are symmetrically patterned woven baskets and stools carved out of a single piece of wood. Shona sculpture in essence has been a fusion of African folklore with European influences. Also, a recurring theme in Zimbabwean art is the metamorphosis of man into beast.

Zimbabwean musicians like Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mutukudzi, the Bhundu Boys and Audius Mtawarira have achieved international recognition. (and see Art of Zimbabwe).

Food As many other Africans, a majority of Zimbabweans depend on staple foods. "Mealie meal" (cornmeal) is used to prepare bota, a porridge made by mixing the cornmeal with water to produce a thick paste. This is usually flavoured with peanut butter, milk, butter, or, sometimes, jam. Bota Food is usually eaten for breakfast. Cornmeal is also used to make sadza, which is usually eaten for dinner, and by many for lunch too. Sadza is prepared similarly to bota; however, after the paste has been cooking for several minutes, more cornmeal is added to thicken the paste until it is hard. This meal is usually served with greens, (spinach, collard greens), etc., beans, and meat that is stewed, grilled, or roasted. 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 are often served as the main meal.

Graduations, weddings, and any other family gatherings will usually be celebrated with the killing of a goat or cow, which will be braaied (an Afrikaaner form of barbecue) for the family.

Afrikaners' recipes are popular though they are a small group within the white minority group. Meat is especially important, though often expensive and now rare in Zimbabwe, for Afrikaners. Biltong, a type of jerky (food), is a popular snack, prepared by hanging bits of spiced raw meat to dry in the shade. Boerewors (International Phonetic Alphabet - "Boo-ruh-vorse") is served alongside sadza. It is a long sausage, often well-spiced, composed of various meats and barbecued.

See also

References External links Government

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Other * Zimbabwe Directory with an interactive map



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