ZIA Network

29 years of Mugabe's Democracy

* Prime Minister

In office to-date are Robert Mugabe (85) – Zimbabwe, Jacob Zuma (67) – South Africa, Rupia Banda (72) – Zambia and Armando Guebuza (66) - Mozambique

Introduction

The Republic of Zimbabwe is an independent country in Southern Africa, well endowed with mineral, agricultural and other resources, which have created opportunities for the growth of resource-based industrial activities. The country which used to be the breadbasket of Southern Africa is now a basket case.

Zimbabwe faces a variety of difficult economic, political and social challenges as it struggles with an unsustainable fiscal deficit, oppression, increasing mortality rates and a worsening education system. Zimbabwe's current crisis, described by some observers as the country's worst humanitarian crisis since independence in 1980, has been attributed to government gross mismanagement, severe nationwide drought and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The failing infrastructure is a victim of the turbulent political climate.

General Data

• Total Area 390 757 Square Kilometres
• Land size 386 670 square kilometres
• Water 4 087 Square Kilometres
• Capital City Harare
• Other Cities/ Towns Bulawayo, Masvingo, Gweru, Mutare, Vic Falls, Kwekwe, Chiredzi, Kariba, Chipinge, Inyanga, Kadoma, Chegutu
• Commercial Language English
• Other Languages Shona, Ndebele/Zulu, Shangani, Tonga,
• Currency Zimbabwe Dollar (ZW$) now defunct – instead use: US$, SA Rand, Euro and British Sterling
• Climate Subtropical climate/ Rain season Nov-March
• Population +_12 million
• Unemployment 90%

Politics Zimbabwe is a democratic state governed by the three arms of government namely: The Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary. These arms are independent of each other as enshrined in the doctrine of “rule of law” which is at the core of democratic governance in the country. Zimbabwe has held elections for parliamentarians every 5 years from 1980 when it attained independence from Britain and Presidential elections every 6 six years from 1987 when the Unity Accord was signed. From 2008 both parliamentary and presidential elections will now be held concurrently after every 5 years.

Health Crisis Handicapped by dire shortages of medical supplies and equipment - from sutures and intravenous fluids, to HIV testing kits and renal dialysis chemicals - most public health programs have ground to a halt. In addition to the lack of medicine and supplies, there has been a massive exodus of skilled health personnel, which has contributed to the wider deterioration of the public health sector. The cost of access to the medical system continues to soar and highly preventable deaths continue.

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. 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 living with HIV lack access to anti-retroviral drugs since 2006.

Labour force The majority of the Zimbabwean labour force is educated to at least 4 years of secondary education. Labour rates are very competitive in comparison with the rest of the world. The country also boasts of an abundance of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour. The majority of the labour force can read and write English in addition to their vernacular languages

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