Zimbabwe

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6 (2000)

Internet country code

.zw

Internet users

100,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.14 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed but unused main lines domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; two international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)

Telephones - main lines in use

212,000 (in addition, there are about 20,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

111,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

16 (1997)

Televisions

370,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs

Budget

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Currency

Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)

Currency code

ZWD

Debt - external

$5 billion (2001 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57 (1990-91)

Economic aid - recipient

$200 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficult economic problems as it struggles to consolidate earlier moves to develop a market-oriented economy. Its involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, has already drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF has been suspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals. Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 59% in 1999, to 60% in 2000, and to 100% by yearend 2001. The economy is being steadily weakened by excessive government deficits, AIDS, and rampant inflation. The government's land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has derailed the commercial sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs. Distribution of income is extremely unequal.

Electricity - consumption

10.475 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

4.5 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

6.425 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 53% hydro: 47% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar - 54.9451 (December 2001), 54.9451 (2001), 43.2900 (2000), 38.3142 (1999), 21.4133 (1998), 11.8906 (1997)

Exports

$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

tobacco 30%, gold 11%, ferroalloys 9%, textile/clothing 3% (2000)

Exports - partners

South Africa 12.1%, UK 8.5%, Japan 7.7%, Germany 6.1%, China 5.4% (2000)

Fiscal year

1 January - 31 December

GDP

purchasing power parity - $28 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 11% industry: 14% services: 75% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,450 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-6.5% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 47% (1990) (1990)

Imports

$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 34%, other manufactures 18%, chemicals 17%, fuels 11% (1999)

Imports - partners

South Africa 46.3%, UK 7.2%, Germany 2.5%, US 2.8%, Japan 2.5% (2000 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-10% (2001 est.)

Industries

mining (coal, gold, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

100% (2001)

Labor force

5.5 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 66%, services 24%, industry 10% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

60% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

60% (2001 est.)

Area

total: 390,580 sq km water: 3,910 sq km land: 386,670 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Montana

Climate

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water

Irrigated land

1,170 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,066 km border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Land use

arable land: 8.4% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 91.26% (1998 est.)

Location

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Natural resources

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Terrain

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Administrative divisions

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Capital

Harare

Constitution

21 December 1979

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594 FAX: [263] (4) 796488

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Simbi Veke MUBAKO FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

Executive branch

chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joseph MSIKA (since 23 December 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice Presidents Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987) and Joseph MSIKA (since 23 December 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote; election last held 9-11 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2006); co-vice presidents appointed by the president election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 56.2%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 41.9%

Flag description

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

18 April 1980 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; High Court

Legal system

mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (150 seats - 120 elected by popular vote for five-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors appointed by the president) elections: last held 24-25 June 2000 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF 47.2%, MDC 45.6%, ZANU-Ndonga 0.7%, United Parties 0.7%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 63, MDC 56, ZANU-Ndonga 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Political parties and leaders

Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His misguided land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to have himself reelected.

Military branches

Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$350.6 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.8% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,057,381 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,898,383 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 2,178,073; female 2,128,287) 15-64 years: 58.4% (male 3,376,850; female 3,268,315) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 213,286; female 211,865) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

24.59 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

24.06 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

25.06% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

160,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.5 million (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

62.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 36.5 years female: 35.1 years (2002 est.) male: 37.87 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English total population: 85% male: 90% female: 80% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean

Net migration rate

NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better paid employment (2002 est.)

Population

11,376,676 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.05% (2002 est.)

Religions

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.21 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European markets

Airports

454 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 413 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 197 under 914 m: 212 (2002)

Highways

total: 18,338 km paved: 8,692 km unpaved: 9,646 km (2002)

Pipelines

petroleum products 212 km

Ports and harbors

Binga, Kariba

Railways

total: 3,077 km narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified; 42 km double-tracked) note: includes the 318 km Bulawaya-Beitbridge Railway Company line (2001)

Waterways

chrome ore is transported from Harare - by way of the Mazoe River - to the Zambezi River in Mozambique