U.S. Department of State Background Note

PROFILE

OFFICIAL NAME:

Republic of Zimbabwe

Geography

Area: 390,580 sq. km. (150,760 sq. mi.), slightly larger than Montana.

Cities: Capital--Harare (pronounced Ha-RAR-e), pop. 1.5 million. Other towns--Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Marondera.

Terrain: Desert and savanna.

Climate: Mostly subtropical.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Zimbabwean (sing.), Zimbabweans (pl.).

Population (2003 est.): 12.5 million.

Annual growth rate (2003 est.): 0.83%. (Note: the population growth rate is depressed by an HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate estimated to be 18% and a high level of net emigration.)

Ethnic groups: Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other African 11%, white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%.

Religions: Christianity 75%, offshoot Christian sects, animist, and Muslim.

Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele.

Education: Attendance--mandatory for primary level. Adult literacy--90.5% (2004 est.).

Health: Infant mortality rate--51.7/1,000 (2006 est.). Life expectancy--men 37 (2006), women 34 (2006).

Work force (2006 est.): 900,000 in formal sector.

Government

Type: Parliamentary.

Constitution: December 21, 1979.

Independence: April 18, 1980.

Branches: Executive--President (chief of state and head of government), Cabinet. Legislative--In the 150-seat House of Assembly, 120 seats are popularly elected and 30 are directly appointed by the president or selected through a process strongly influenced by him. In the 66 seat Senate, 50 seats are popularly elected, 6 are directly appointed by the president, 8 chiefs are elected from the 8 rural provinces (excluding the metropolitan provinces), and 2 are the president and vice president of the Council of Chiefs. Judicial--High Court, Court of Appeal, local and customary courts.

Administrative subdivisions: Town Councils and District Councils.

Main political parties: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF); Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); United Peoples Party (UPP).

Economy

GDP (2006

Wakanda News Details

South African News

You may also like

Arts Facts

Arts Facts

Facts About Women

Rah the Dark Pharaoh

Education Facts

Literature Facts

Cuisine Facts