Zimbabwe

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Coordinates: 19°S 30°E
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Zimbabwe (disambiguation).

Republic of Zimbabwe


Nyika yeZimbabwe (Shona)

Dziko la Zimbabwe (Chewa)
 Lefatshe la Zimbabwe (Tswana)
 Riphabliki ra Zimbabwe (Shangani)
 Riphabuḽiki ya Zimbabwe (Venda)
 IRiphabhlikhi yaseZimbabwe (Xhosa)
 Rephabliki ea Zimbabwe (Sotho)
 Nyika yeZimbabwe (Ndau)

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: "Unity, Freedom, Work"[1]

Anthem: "Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe"[2]

Duration: 1 minute and 37 seconds.1:37
 Show globe Show map of Africa Show all

Capital Harare
and largest city 17°49′45″S 31°03′08″E

Official languages 16 languages:[3]

 Chewa
 Chibarwe
 English
 Kalanga
 Koisan
 Nambya
 Ndau
 Ndebele
 Shangani
 Shona
 Sotho
 Tonga
 Tswana
 Venda
 Xhosa
 Zimbabwean sign language

Ethnic groups  99.6% African[a]

(2022 census)[4]  0.2% White
 0.1% Coloured
 0.1% other[b]

Religion 
(2017)[5] o 84.1% Christianity
 69.2% Protestantism
 14.9%
other Christian
 10.2% no religion
 4.5% traditional faiths
 1.2% others
 Demonym(s)  Zimbabwean
 Zimbo[6] (colloquial)

Government Unitary presidential republic

• President Emmerson Mnangagwa

• First Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga
• Second Vice- Kembo Mohadi
President

Legislature Parliament
• Upper house Senate
• Lower house National Assembly

Independence from the United Kingdom

• Southern Rhodesia 1923
• Declared 11 November 1965
• Republic 2 March 1970
• Zimbabwe 1 June 1979
Rhodesia
• Independence 18 April 1980
recognised
• Current constitution 15 May 2013

Area
• Total 390,757 km2 (150,872 sq mi) (60th)
• Water (%) 1

Population
• 2024 January 16,868,409[7] (73rd)
estimate
• 2022 census 15,178,957[8]
• Density 39/km2 (101.0/sq mi)

GDP (PPP) 2023 estimate

• Total $44.448 billion[9] (131st)
• Per capita $2,749[9] (175th)

GDP (nominal) 2023 estimate

• Total $32.424 billion[9] (153rd)
• Per capita $2,005[9] (149th)

Gini (2019) 50.3[10]

high inequality

HDI (2022) 0.550[11]

medium (159th)
 Currency De jure:

 Zimbabwean ZiG (ZiG) (ZWG)[12]

De facto:

 United States dollar ($) (USD)[13]

 South African rand (R) (ZAR);[13]
 Other currencies[note 1]

Time zone UTC+2 (CAT[14])

Date format dd/mm/yyyy

Drives on Left

Calling code +263

ISO 3166 code ZW

Internet TLD .zw

Zimbabwe, relief map

Zimbabwe,[c] officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked
country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered
by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north,
and Mozambique to the east. The capital and largest city is Harare, and the second
largest is Bulawayo.

A country of roughly 16.6 million people as per 2024 census,[15] Zimbabwe's largest
ethnic group are the Shona, who make up 80% of the population, followed by
the Northern Ndebele and other smaller minorities. Zimbabwe has 16 official
languages,[3] with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most common. Zimbabwe is a
member of the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community,
the African Union, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The region was long inhabited by the San, and was settled by Bantu peoples around
2,000 years ago. Beginning in the 11th century the Shona people constructed the
city of Great Zimbabwe, which became one of the major African trade centres by the
13th century.[16] From there, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe was established, followed by
the Mutapa and Rozvi empires. The British South Africa Company of Cecil
Rhodes demarcated the Rhodesia region in 1890 when they
conquered Mashonaland and later in 1893 Matabeleland after the First Matabele
War. Company rule ended in 1923 with the establishment of Southern Rhodesia as
a self-governing British colony. In 1965, the white minority government unilaterally
declared independence as Rhodesia. The state endured international isolation and a
15-year guerrilla war with black nationalist forces; this culminated in a peace
agreement that established de jure sovereignty as Zimbabwe in April 1980.

Robert Mugabe became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980, when his ZANU–
PF party won the general election following the end of white minority rule and has
remained the country's dominant party since. He was the President of Zimbabwe
from 1987, after converting the country's initial parliamentary system into
a presidential one, until his resignation in 2017. Under
Mugabe's authoritarian regime, the state security apparatus dominated the country
and was responsible for widespread human rights violations.[17] From 1997 to 2008.
the economy experienced consistent decline (and in the latter years, hyperinflation),
though it has since seen rapid growth after the use of currencies other than
the Zimbabwean dollar was permitted. In 2017, in the wake of over a year of
protests against his government as well as Zimbabwe's rapidly declining economy,
a coup d'état resulted in Mugabe's resignation. Emmerson Mnangagwa has since
served as Zimbabwe's president.

Etymology
[edit]
Further information: Rhodesia (name)
The name "Zimbabwe" stems from a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, a medieval
city (Masvingo) in the country's south-east. Two different theories address the origin
of the word. Many sources hold that "Zimbabwe" derives from dzimba-dza-mabwe,
translated from the Karanga dialect of Shona as "houses of stones" (dzimba = plural
of imba, "house"; mabwe = plural of ibwe, "stone").[18][19][20] The Karanga-
speaking Shona people live around Great Zimbabwe in the modern-
day Masvingo province. Archaeologist Peter Garlake claims that "Zimbabwe"
represents a contracted form of dzimba-hwe, which means "venerated houses" in
the Zezuru dialect of Shona and usually references chiefs' houses or graves.[21]

Zimbabwe was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia (1898), Rhodesia (1965),

and Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979). The first recorded use of "Zimbabwe" as a term of
national reference dates from 1960 as a coinage by the black nationalist Michael
Mawema,[22] whose Zimbabwe National Party became the first to officially use the
name in 1961.[23] The term "Rhodesia"—derived from the surname of Cecil Rhodes,
the primary instigator of British colonisation of the territory—was perceived by
African nationalists as inappropriate because of its colonial origin and
connotations.[22]

According to Mawema, black nationalists held a meeting in 1960 to choose an

alternative name for the country, proposing names such as "Matshobana" and
"Monomotapa" before his suggestion, "Zimbabwe", prevailed.[24] It was initially
unclear how the chosen term was to be used—a letter written by Mawema in 1961
refers to "Zimbabweland"[23] — but "Zimbabwe" was sufficiently established by 1962
to become the generally preferred term of the black nationalist movement. [22] Like
those of many African countries that gained independence during the Cold
War, Zimbabwe is an ethnically neutral name. It is debatable to what extent
Zimbabwe, being over 80% homogenously Shona and dominated by them in various
ways, can be described as a nation state.[25] The constitution acknowledges 16
languages, but only embraces two of them nationally, Shona and English. Shona is
taught widely in schools, unlike Ndebele. Zimbabwe has additionally never had a
non-Shona head of state.[25][26]

History
[edit]
Main article: History of Zimbabwe
Pre-colonial era
[edit]
Further information: Bantu expansion

Towers of Great Zimbabwe

Archaeological records date archaic human settlement of present-day Zimbabwe to
at least 500,000 years ago.[27] Zimbabwe's earliest known inhabitants were most
likely the San people, who left behind a legacy of arrowheads and cave paintings.
Approximately 2,000 years ago, the first Bantu-speaking farmers arrived during the
Bantu expansion.[28][29]

Societies speaking proto-Shona languages first emerged in the middle Limpopo

River valley in the 9th century before moving on to the Zimbabwean highlands. The
Zimbabwean plateau became the centre of subsequent Shona states, beginning
around the 10th century. Around the early 10th century, trade developed with Arab
merchants on the Indian Ocean coast, helping to develop the Kingdom of
Mapungubwe in the 13th century. This was the precursor to the Shona civilisations
that dominated the region from the 13th century, evidenced by ruins at Great
Zimbabwe, near Masvingo, and by other smaller sites. The main archaeological site
used a unique dry stone architecture. The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was the first in a
series of trading states which had developed in Zimbabwe by the time the first
European explorers arrived from Portugal. These states traded gold, ivory, and
copper for cloth and glass.[30]

By 1300, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe eclipsed Mapungubwe. This Shona state further
refined and expanded upon Mapungubwe's stone architecture. From c. 1450 to
1760, the Kingdom of Mutapa ruled much of the area of present-day Zimbabwe, plus
parts of central Mozambique. It is known by many names including the Mutapa
Empire, also known as Mwene Mutapa or Monomotapa as well as "Munhumutapa",
and was renowned for its strategic trade routes with the Arabs and Portugal. The
Portuguese sought to monopolise this influence and began a series of wars which
left the empire in near collapse in the early 17th century.[30]

As a direct response to increased European presence in the interior a new Shona

state emerged, known as the Rozwi Empire. Relying on centuries of military, political
and religious development, the Rozwi (meaning "destroyers") expelled the
Portuguese from the Zimbabwean plateau in 1683. Around 1821
the Zulu general Mzilikazi of the Khumalo clan successfully rebelled against
King Shaka and established his own clan, the Ndebele. The Ndebele fought their
way northwards into the Transvaal, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake and
beginning an era of widespread devastation known as the Mfecane. When
Dutch trekboers converged on the Transvaal in 1836, they drove the tribe even
further northward, with the assistance of Tswana Barolong warriors
and Griqua commandos. By 1838 the Ndebele had conquered the Rozwi Empire,
along with the other smaller Shona states, and reduced them to vassaldom.[31]

A Matabele kraal, as depicted by William Cornwallis

Harris, 1836
After losing their remaining South African lands in 1840, Mzilikazi and his tribe
permanently settled in the southwest of present-day Zimbabwe in what became
known as Matabeleland, establishing Bulawayo as their capital. Mzilikazi then
organised his society into a military system with regimental kraals, similar to those of
Shaka, which was stable enough to repel further Boer incursions. Mzilikazi died in
1868; following a violent power struggle, his son Lobengula succeeded him.

Colonial era and Rhodesia (1888–1964)

[edit]
Main articles: Company rule in Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Federation of
Rhodesia and Nyasaland
 The Union Jack was raised over Fort Salisbury on 13
September 1890.
In the 1880s, European colonists arrived with Cecil Rhodes's British South Africa
Company (chartered in 1889). In 1888, Rhodes obtained a concession for mining
rights from King Lobengula of the Ndebele peoples.[32] He presented this concession
to persuade the government of the United Kingdom to grant a royal charter to the
company over Matabeleland, and its subject states such as Mashonaland as
well.[33] Rhodes used this document in 1890 to justify sending the Pioneer Column, a
group of Europeans protected by well-armed British South Africa Police (BSAP)
through Matabeleland and into Shona territory to establish Fort Salisbury (present-
day Harare), and thereby establish company rule over the area. In 1893 and 1894,
with the help of their new Maxim guns, the BSAP would go on to defeat the Ndebele
in the First Matabele War. Rhodes additionally sought permission to negotiate similar
concessions covering all territory between the Limpopo River and Lake Tanganyika,
then known as "Zambesia".[33] In accordance with the terms of aforementioned
concessions and treaties,[33] mass settlement was encouraged, with the British
maintaining control over labour as well as over precious metals and other mineral
resources.[34]

The Battle of the Shangani on 25 October 1893

In 1895, the BSAC adopted the name "Rhodesia" for the territory, in honour of
Rhodes. In 1898 "Southern Rhodesia" became the official name for the region south
of the Zambezi,[35][36] which later adopted the name "Zimbabwe". The region to the
north, administered separately, was later termed Northern Rhodesia (present-day
Zambia). Shortly after the disastrous Rhodes-sponsored Jameson Raid on the South
African Republic, the Ndebele rebelled against white rule, led by their charismatic
religious leader, Mlimo. The Second Matabele War of 1896–1897 lasted in
Matabeleland until 1896, when Mlimo was assassinated by American
scout Frederick Russell Burnham. Shona agitators staged unsuccessful revolts
(known as Chimurenga) against company rule during 1896 and 1897.[citation
needed]
Following these failed insurrections, the Rhodes administration subdued the
Ndebele and Shona groups and organised the land with a disproportionate bias
favouring Europeans, thus displacing many indigenous peoples. [37]
 The Queen's portrait featured on Rhodesian
banknotes and coins
The United Kingdom annexed Southern Rhodesia on 12 September
1923.[38][39][40][41] Shortly after annexation, on 1 October 1923, the first constitution for
the new Colony of Southern Rhodesia came into force.[40][42] Under the new
constitution, Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony, subsequent
to a 1922 referendum. Rhodesians of all races served on behalf of the United
Kingdom during the two World Wars in the early-20th century. Proportional to the
white population, Southern Rhodesia contributed more per capita to both
the First and Second World Wars than any other part of the empire, including
Britain.[43]

The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted black land ownership to certain
segments of the country, setting aside large areas solely for the purchase of the
white minority. This act, which led to rapidly rising inequality, became the subject of
frequent calls for subsequent land reform.[44] In 1953, in the face of African
opposition,[45] Britain consolidated the two Rhodesias with Nyasaland (Malawi) in the
ill-fated Central African Federation, which Southern Rhodesia essentially dominated.
Growing African nationalism and general dissent, particularly in Nyasaland,
persuaded Britain to dissolve the union in 1963, forming three separate divisions.
While multiracial democracy was finally introduced to Northern Rhodesia and
Nyasaland, Southern Rhodesians of European ancestry continued to enjoy minority
rule.[37]

British decolonisation in Africa.

Following Zambian independence (effective from October 1964), Ian
Smith's Rhodesian Front government in Salisbury dropped the designation
"Southern" in 1964 (once Northern Rhodesia had changed its name to Zambia,
having the word Southern before the name Rhodesia became unnecessary and the
country simply became known as Rhodesia afterwards). Intent on effectively
repudiating the recently adopted British policy of "no independence before majority
rule", Smith issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United
Kingdom on 11 November 1965. This marked the first such course taken by a rebel
British colony since the American declaration of 1776, which Smith and others
indeed claimed provided a suitable precedent to their own actions. [43]

Declaration of independence and civil war (1965–1980)

[edit]
Main articles: Rhodesia, Rhodesian Bush War, Zimbabwe Rhodesia, and Lancaster
House Agreement

Ian Smith signing the Unilateral Declaration of

Independence on 11 November 1965 with his cabinet in audience
The United Kingdom deemed the Rhodesian declaration an act of rebellion but did
not re-establish control by force. The British government petitioned the United
Nations for sanctions against Rhodesia pending unsuccessful talks with Smith's
administration in 1966 and 1968. In December 1966, the organisation complied,
imposing the first mandatory trade embargo on an autonomous state. [46] These
sanctions were expanded again in 1968.[46]

A civil war ensued when Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
and Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), supported actively
by communist powers and neighbouring African nations, initiated guerrilla
operations against Rhodesia's predominantly white government. ZAPU was
supported by the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact and associated nations such as
Cuba, and adopted a Marxist–Leninist ideology; ZANU meanwhile aligned itself
with Maoism and the bloc headed by the People's Republic of China. Smith declared
Rhodesia a republic in 1970, following the results of a referendum the previous year,
but this went unrecognised internationally. Meanwhile, Rhodesia's internal conflict
intensified, eventually forcing him to open negotiations with the militant communists.

Bishop Abel Muzorewa signs the Lancaster House

Agreement seated next to British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington.
In March 1978, Smith reached an accord with three African leaders, led by
Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who offered to leave the white population comfortably
entrenched in exchange for the establishment of a biracial democracy. As a result of
the Internal Settlement, elections were held in April 1979, concluding with the United
African National Council (UANC) carrying a majority of parliamentary seats. On 1
June 1979, Muzorewa, the UANC head, became prime minister and the country's
name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Internal Settlement left control of
the Rhodesian Security Forces, civil service, judiciary, and a third of parliament seats
to whites.[47] On 12 June, the United States Senate voted to lift economic pressure on
the former Rhodesia.

Following the fifth Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in Lusaka,

Zambia, from 1 to 7 August in 1979, the British government invited Muzorewa,
Mugabe, and Nkomo to participate in a constitutional conference at Lancaster
House. The purpose of the conference was