Zimbabwe Map

Zimbabwe is a country in the southern region of Africa with Botswana on the west, Zambia to the north, South Africa to the South, and Mozambique to the east. This is a large country without any access to seas and oceans with a unique cultural background and incredible, from the sightseeing point of view, scenery.

History:

Zimbabwe prior to the arrival of Europeans had a number of prominent African Empires including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe which existed between the 11th and the 15th Century. It is in this kingdom that the Great Zimbabwe ruins the greatest archeological site in Africa and the world’s largest known pre-colonial ruins are located in its capital and a major trading center. The Region was later under the rule of the Mutapa Empire which had a large area that included a trade network.

European colonization of the region started around the late 1800s when Britain’s, British South Africa Company assumed administration of present-day Zimbabwe in early 1890. Rhodesia was named after Cecil Rhodes a British imperialist who was a pillar of the British South Africa company. The colonial period also involved massive exploitation of economic resources as well as the provision of racial discrimination.

Zimbabwe became independent from Britain in 1980 but the process of independence was very bloody because it was embarked on for a long time by ZANU and ZAPU. The nation was known as Rhodesia during the period of colonization and has experienced political and social transformation post-independence. Robert Mugabe is the founder and President of Zimbabwe and has held political power for almost 38 years first as the Prime minister and then as President until 2017.

Culture:

The Zimbabwe culture consists of African traditional practices and the modernity that is accepted in the country. It has many multi-ethnic group populations which means that different groups within the same nation have differences in customs and beliefs. The two major tribes are the Shona and the Ndebele, others are A Zulu, Kgalagadi, Khoi San, and the Herero among others where the Shona dominate 70% of the population and the Ndebele 20% of the population.

Music and dance are very vital in the Shona-speaking people of Zimbabwe, where the mbira (thumb piano) and the marimba (wooden xylophone) are well known. These instruments are used in most of the cultural events including ceremonies and celebrations. The mbira, more specifically, is considered to have an affiliation with the spirits and hence is used in ceremonies to call on the ancestors.

Other forms of cultural interaction include basket weaving, pottery, sculpturing, carvings, and ironworks in the pre-Human settlement. Sculptures are another unique art in the country most evident in the stones such as the serpentine and the verdite. This is the general description of ething sculptures which are usually of people and animals and are noted locally as well as in other parts of the world.

Zimbabweans love to organize fairs and festivals which range from harvest festivals to religious occasions, and so on. One large cultural event of this Harold is the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts or HIFA which features the music, dance, theater, and visual arts not only from Zimbabwe but also international artists.

Language:

The population of Zimbabwe speaks several languages including English and their common languages include Shona and Ndebele. The largest part of the population speaks Shona as their first language and it is employed in interpersonal communication, rituals, and media. In fact, Ndebele is mostly spoken in the southwestern region of the country.

Geography:

Geographically, Zimbabwe is a country that has a plain region that has rolling plateaus, savanna vegetation, and even a mountainous region. It has some of the large water resources in the form of rivers; it has the Zambezi River as a source of border between it and Zambia while the Limpopo River separates it from South Africa. The Zambezi River is well-known as Victoria Falls which is one of the biggest and most powerful waterfalls worldwide.

The Eastern Highlands is a plateau area in the northeast with an altitude that ranges from 500 to 600 meters above sea level and is bordered by Mozambique to the east, Arry of beautiful mountains that have a significantly high altitude, pleasant weather, and highest bio-diversity. This area consists of the Nyanga National Park which is home to Zimbabwe’s highest point Mt Nyangani as well as Mutarazi Falls.

Zimba has a natural endowment and has national parks and wildlife reserves such as Hwange National Park which hosts elephants, lions, and many others. Other significant parks include Mana Pools National Park and Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage site which is home to Hippos and Crocodiles; and Matobo National Park which is characterized by unique geological formations and some of the oldest rock art.

Economy:

In recent years, Zimbabwe has had a number of problems that have affected its economy such as high inflation, political unrest, and pressure from the international community in the form of sanctions. This segment consists of agriculture, of which tobacco, maize, and cotton are the main products. The land was for a long time referred to as the ‘breadbasket of Africa’ declared by the richness of the soil and crop production.

Minerals such as Gold, Platinum, and Diamond are also important for the country since it is rich in minerals. The mining industry is one that has attracted a lot of FDI, however, the sector is not without its own vices for example; corruption and environmental pollution.

Government and Politics:

Zimbabwe is in the category of a unitary republic with an executive, presidential type of regime. The president is the state figure, as well as the chief executive official. The governmental structure of the country includes the Senate as well as the National Assembly to form the country’s bicameral parliament. Strictly political the country has been ruled by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) since independence.

Education:

Zimbabwe has a very high literacy rate and the educational system is very important in the country. This system has the following levels of education; primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education. The country Zimbabwe however has found itself in a ritually bad economic status but the people of Zimbabwe value and have a rich record in education the majority of them going further to attain this higher education from other countries.

Primarily education is mandatory and tuition-free in primary schools, parents usually pay for facilities such as uniforms and stationery. Secondary education is also well established with a network of government and private schools available to the public, in most areas. These universities/colleges are; the University of Zimbabwe, and the National University of Science, and Technology among others.

Healthcare:

In Zimbabwe, the current challenges confronting the health facility comprise a limited budget, scarcity of health facilities and equipment, and senior skilled health staff. Problems in the organization of the Republican public healthcare system are relevant despite the promises of improvements between the state and medical organizations, and many of them are left without modern equipment and essential medications.

The government and foreign aid are working work towards decentralization and improvement of healthcare facilities. The study also discovered that NGOs have the responsibility of delivering healthcare services; especially in rural areas. The government has also initiated an awareness campaign to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases that are common within the region.

Transportation:

Hence Zimbabwe has a transport network that incorporates roads, railways, and airports. This industry involves road networks that are well developed though most of them need regular maintenance and even expansion. Expressways link the administrative centers, including Harare with other regional towns and with other nations.

Mineral transport especially the movement of products that require rail as a means of transport is facilitated by rail transport. The transport of passengers and goods is done by the National Railways of Zimbabwe, also known as NRZ; this is a mode of transport that connects major cities and industrial areas. However, the rail system also has some problems for example it is old-fashioned, and most rail systems encounter financial problems due to the implantation of advanced technology.

Harare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country and it hosts foreign flights from across the world as well as across the continent. Other airports exist in different regions such as Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in the city of Bulawayo and Victoria Falls Airport which is central to the tourists’ hub.

FAQs

Q1: What is the capital city of Zimbabwe?

The capital city of Zimbabwe is Harare, located in the northeastern part of the country.

Q2: What are some popular tourist attractions in Zimbabwe?

Several tourist attraction points are present such as Victoria Falls which is one of the world’s largest waterfalls, Hwange National Park famous for its wildlife, and Great Zimbabwe Ruins which are the remains of an ancient city and UNESCO world heritage site.

Q3: What is the currency used in Zimbabwe?

The Zimbabwe legal tender is the Zimbabwe dollar though the US dollar and other world currencies are prevalent in the country.

Q4: What is the regime's political structure in Zimbabwe?

Socially, Zimbabwe’s political system is that of a unitary presidential constitutional republic. The President is not only the head of the state but also the head of the government, who is elected to the office by the people via a popular vote and the term of the President is for 5 years.