The Republic of Zimbabwe in Southern Africa is a fairly young nation. For decades it was ruled by Great Britain as a colony called Southern Rhodesia. After a transitional period during which it was known as simply Rhodesia, in 1980 the country finally achieved independence and took the name Zimbabwe. The capital is Harare. GeographyZimbabwe is a landlocked country, meaning that it has no coastline. It is bordered on the north by Zambia, on the south by South Africa, on the southwest and west by Botswana, and on the northeast and east by Mozambique. Zimbabwe covers an area of 150,873 square miles (390,759 square kilometers). - Ancient granite formations mark the landscape of the Matopo Hills of southwestern Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is located on the high plateau of Southern Africa. The terrain is rugged. The main feature of the landscape is a ridge known as the Highveld, which stretches from southwest to northeast across the entire country. In the northeast the Highveld joins the Inyanga Mountains, which form Zimbabwe's eastern border with Mozambique. In this range stands Mount Inyangani, Zimbabwe's highest point at 8,504 feet (2,592 meters). Another notable physical feature is the Great Dyke (or Dike), a narrow series of long, low ridges and hills. It runs down the middle of the country from north to south and contains enormous mineral reserves. The Zambezi River forms Zimbabwe's northwestern boundary with Zambia. This river contains the mighty Victoria Falls. A major dam built on the Zambezi created Lake Kariba, which, at more than 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers), is one of the world's largest man-made lakes. The Limpopo and Sabi rivers are in the southeast. Although Zimbabwe lies within the tropics, the high altitude keeps temperatures fairly mild. A cool, dry winter season lasts from May through August. Plants and animalsThe vegetation of Zimbabwe is mainly savanna, or tropical grassland. Trees are fairly common because of the wet summers. Hwange National Park in the northwest has fine hardwood forests and a great variety of wildlife. The country's animals include lions, hyenas, jackals, elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons, antelopes, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes. People and cultureMore than 97 percent of Zimbabwe's population is African. The dominant African groups are the Shona and the Ndebele. Europeans make up about 2 percent of the population. English is the official language of Zimbabwe, though the Bantu languages Shona and Ndebele are much more widely spoken. More than half of the people practice Christianity. Most of the rest follow traditional beliefs. About two thirds of Zimbabwe's people live in rural areas. Beginning in the late 20th century, however, many people moved to cities and towns. The largest city is Harare, the modern capital in the northeast. Other major cities include Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, and Gweru. At the end of the 20th century about one fourth of the adults in Zimbabwe were infected with HIV, the virus that causes the disease AIDS. This was one of the highest infection rates in the world. About 160,000 Zimbabweans died from AIDS in 1999 alone. EconomyThe economy of Zimbabwe is largely dependent on agriculture. Large-scale commercial farming is dominated by white farmers. Blacks mostly own small farms on which they grow crops to feed themselves and their families. The most important cash crop is tobacco, which accounts for about 30 percent of the country's exports. The main food crop is corn (maize). The raising of livestock, especially cattle, is also an important activity. Zimbabwe has abundant mineral resources in the Great Dyke (or Dike). Gold, nickel, and asbestos are the most important minerals. Manufacturing centers on the processing of agricultural products and metals. Other products include chemicals, wood products, and textiles and clothing. HistoryRemains of Stone Age cultures dating back 500,000 years have been found in Zimbabwe. The earliest people of whom much is known are the San (Bushmen). They were driven out of the area by Bantu-speaking peoples who came from the north between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. The name Zimbabwe comes from a city in the southeastern part of the country that was the center of a wealthy trading empire from about 1100 to 1500. Stone remains at the site are known as the Great Zimbabwe ruins. Zimbabwe is a Bantu word meaning “stone houses.” Colonial eraA second migration of Bantu-speakers began in about 1830, this time from the south. After them came whites from South Africa. In 1889 Englishman Cecil Rhodes formed the British South Africa Company to colonize and promote trade in the region. During the 1890s more European settlers arrived and laid claim to the land. This led to revolts by the African peoples who lived there, especially the Ndebele. By 1897 the British had taken control of the region, which included the land that is now Zambia. The region was named in honor of Rhodes. What is now Zimbabwe was known as Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia was governed by the British South Africa Company until 1923, when it became a self-governing British colony. Although white people were in the minority, they held all the power in the colony. In 1953 Southern Rhodesia was united with Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The federation dissolved in 1963, and Southern Rhodesia returned to its colonial status. In 1964 the colony was renamed Rhodesia. From minority rule to independenceIn 1965 Rhodesia's white government declared independence from Britain. The British government considered this declaration illegal and stopped trade with Rhodesia. The United Nations introduced trade restrictions against Rhodesia as well. But Rhodesia's economy survived with help from South Africa, which also had a government dominated by a white minority. Black leaders tried to gain some power and formed organizations that launched attacks on Rhodesian troops from neighboring countries. After nearly a decade of fighting, the white minority agreed to hold multiracial elections in 1980. Robert Mugabe, a leader of the battle against white rule, became the country's first prime minister under majority rule, and the country officially gained independence. In the same year Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe in honor of its historical and cultural heritage. Modern ZimbabweMugabe became Zimbabwe's president in 1987 and remained in power into the 21st century. His government seized land owned by white farmers and redistributed it to black peasants. In 2000 Mugabe was criticized for failing to take action against blacks who invaded white-owned farms, destroying property and killing some farmers and their black workers. Mugabe was also criticized for corruption and for suppressing opposition to his rule. Population (2001 estimate), 11,365,000. |