Overview
The fortunes of Zimbabwe have for almost three decades been tied to President Robert Mugabe, the pro-independence campaigner who wrested control from a small white community and became the country's first black leader. Until the 2008 parliamentary elections, Zimbabwe was effectively a one-party state, ruled over by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF. A power-sharing deal has raised hopes that Mr Mugabe might be prepared to relinquish some of his powers, but in the meantime he presides over a nation whose economy is in tatters, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression commonplace.
Map
Facts
| Full name: | Republic of Zimbabwe |
|---|---|
| Population: | 13.5 million (UN, 2008) |
| Capital: | Harare |
| Area | 390,759 sq km (150,873 sq miles) |
| Major language: | English (official), Shona, Sindebele |
| Major religions: | Christianity, indigenous beliefs |
| Life expectancy: | 44 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 1 Zimbabwe dollar = 100 cents |
| Main exports: | Tobacco, cotton, agricultural products, gold, minerals |
| GNI per capita | US $340 (World Bank, 2007) |
| Internet domain: | .zw |
| International dialling code: | +263 |
Knowledge
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Timeline: MalawiCountry profiles
Banda's successor Bakili Muluzi spent 10 years in office 2000 - World Bank says it will cancel 50% of Malawi's foreign debt. 2002 - Drought causes crops to fail across southern Africa.
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BBC Radio 4 - Thinking Allowed - 12 October 05Thinking Allowed
Laurie Taylor PROGRAMME DETAILS 12 October 05 ZIMBABWE CHURCHES The weChishanu Christians are one of the fastest growing religious movements in Zimbabwe.
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Movies - review - Blood DiamondMovies
But what Leo really wants is the massive diamond that Hounsou has hidden in the jungle.
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History - Slavery and the 'Scramble for Africa'History
What were the motives behind the European colonisation of Africa at the end of the 19th century? Did the stamping out of slavery really play a part? By Dr Saul David. 10 July 2009 Topics Resources ...
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Radio 4 - MidweekRadio 4
She spent several months travelling around Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa asking people to tell their favourite stories and has put them together in a book Stories Gogo Told Me.
Blogs
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Zimbabwe: the next step?12 Jun 09 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
The scale of suffering in Zimbabwe defies the imagination. Millions of Zimbabweans have fled into neighbouring countries, mainly South Africa, to find work and food. ...
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Tuesday 12 May 200912 May 09 | Sarah McDermott - Newsnight: From the web team
Afghan performer Hashmat and Zimbabwean band Mann Friday will be telling us their stories, giving us a taster of their music and performing a cover version of a famous Eurovision hit. ...
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Thursday, 16 April, 200916 Apr 09 | Sarah McDermott - Newsnight: From the web team
The Finance Minister tells us that Western donors must start to give aid again to Zimbabwe or "this experiment will collapse and without that we become a failed state." ...
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Tensions arise over Zimbabwe crisis11 Dec 08 | news - Nick Robinson's Newslog
The crisis in Zimbabwe is causing real tension in Whitehall. There's also a debate going on about what to do about thousands of Zimbabweans who are in limbo here. ...
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Zimbabwe on the brink05 Dec 08 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
But for months, as Zimbabweans struggled to feed themselves and their families, the diplomats tried manfully to come up with a deal that would save Zimbabwe from total destitution. ...
Coming Up
TV
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Lee/AllenBBC One, 15 Jul 09 09:15
The heir hunters hit the road again as they seek out people entitled to inherit money from long-forgotten relatives. Elfie Lee died aged 92 in 2005, leaving behind an unclaimed estate of 300,000 ...
Sport
Sport Articles
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Memories of Turnberry13 Jul 09
The Ailsa Course has thrown up some great contests. Memories of Turnberry Turnberry's Ailsa Course first hosted the Open Championship in ...
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Guide to Team Murray03 Jul 09
I do massage and recovery work after matches and also provide Andy with stimulating banter!" Recovery techniques following a match or a training session are an integral part of this.
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Friday's gossip column03 Jul 09The Sun) Stoke are set to make a £5m bid for Manchester City's Zimbabwean striker Benjani.
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Sussex coast to fourth win in row22 Jun 09Sussex boost their bid for a place in the Twenty20 Cup last eight with a six-wicket win over Surrey.. Sussex coast to fourth win in row ...
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In defence of the vuvuzela19 Jun 09
Vuvuzela supporters are in the minority and should not dictate to the majority.
Sport Clips
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Monomotapa aim high in the Champs League17 Feb 09Secretary general of Zimbabwean club Monomotapa, David Makombe, tells the BBC's Emmanuel Muga his side can go all the way in the African Champions League after their 3-2 aggregate win over Zanzibar's ...
Listento "Monomotapa aim high in the Champs League" now -
Rower driven by Zimbabwe turmoil30 Jul 08GB men's eight stroke Colin Smith tells BBC Radio Berkshire his home country Zimbabwe will be in his thoughts as he competes in Beijing.
Listento "Rower driven by Zimbabwe turmoil" now -
Zimbabwe decision pleases ECB boss04 Jul 08England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke is pleased with the result of "complex and lengthy" ICC negotiations about Zimbabwe's future.
Listento "Zimbabwe decision pleases ECB boss" now -
Zimbabwe negotiations complex - ICC03 Jul 08Talks about suspending Zimbabwe from international cricket have discussed the possibility of allowing them to have a future in the game according to ICC general manager Dave Richardson.
Listento "Zimbabwe negotiations complex - ICC" now -
Jonathan Agnew on ICC meeting02 Jul 08BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew explains why the ICC have delayed their decision on whether Zimbabwe should be suspended from the International Cricket Council...
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Around the web
News From Other Sources
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Business unusual14 Jul 09 | Moneyweb
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Mugabe the only free Zimbabwean13 Jul 09 | The Times South Africa
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Starvation kills hope for South Africa's refugees11 Jul 09 | Times Online
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'Let's not humiliate ourselves any further'11 Jul 09 | IOL
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Zimbabwe government must stay united: Mugabe11 Jul 09 | AFP via Yahoo!
Weather
Weather for Harare
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  sunny intervals |  heavy showers |  cloudy |
| Max Temperature | Max:25°C/77°F | Max:21°C/70°F | Max:14°C/57°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:10°C/50°F | Min:11°C/52°F | Min:7°C/45°F |
News
News Articles
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Obama speaks of hopes for Africa11 Jul 09 | AfricaDevelopment depends upon good governance," Mr Obama told legislators. Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war," Mr Obama added.
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Key excerpts: Obama's Ghana speech11 Jul 09 | AfricaThat is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end. Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.
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Mugabe calls US envoy 'an idiot'06 Jul 09 | AfricaMeanwhile, the Herald also reports that Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has apologised to Mr Mugabe after ministers from his party, the MDC, boycotted a cabinet meeting last Monday.
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Zimbabwe court clears UK tycoon03 Jul 09 | AfricaHe is reported to own about 200 properties in Zimbabwe and was accused of charging his tenants rent in US dollars - which at the time was forbidden under Zimbabwean law.
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China 'agrees huge Zimbabwe loan'30 Jun 09 | AfricaChina agrees to give Zimbabwe a loan of $950m (£573m) to help revive its wrecked economy, says Prime Minister Tsvangirai.. Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe formed a power-sharing government in February.
News Clips
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Tsvangirai on Mugabe and the press21 Jun 09Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai spoke to the BBC's Andrew Marr about his relationship with Robert Mugabe and his hopes for the country's future.
Watch "Tsvangirai on Mugabe and the press" now -
Zimbabwe PM jeered by UK exiles20 Jun 09Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been jeered as he addressed Zimbabwean exiles in London...
Watch "Zimbabwe PM jeered by UK exiles" now -
Zimbabweans 'dying in own homes'13 Jun 09Mike Thomson examines the collapse of the health system in Zimbabwe.
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Obama meets Morgan Tsvangirai12 Jun 09US President Barack Obama met the Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House on Friday. Mr Obama said the US had committed $73 million to Zimbabwe.
Watch "Obama meets Morgan Tsvangirai" now -
'Delicate time' for Zim journalists28 May 09Journalist Trust Matsilele discusses the plight of other members of the press in Zimbabwe.
Listento "'Delicate time' for Zim journalists" now
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