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: | 12.5 million (UN, 2009) |
| Capital: | Harare |
| Area | 390,759 sq km (150,873 sq miles) |
| Major language: | English (official), Shona, Sindebele |
| Major religions: | Christianity, indigenous beliefs |
| Life expectancy: | 43 years (men), 44 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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Profile: The CommonwealthCountry profiles
Zimbabwe was suspended in March 2002, after elections which observers said were marred by violence and intimidation. In December 2003 the suspension was extended indefinitely.
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Movies -news article - High Noon - 6th SeptemberMovies -news article
Nicole Kidman's glossy suspense thriller is part of a CIA propaganda campaign against Robert Mugabe, according to the Zimbabwean Government. Speaking in a state-controlled newspaper, acting Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende said, "This...
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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. The 1990s saw a marked increase not just in the number of people attending religious services but also in the number of services held each day.
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Movies - review - Blood DiamondMovies
Sporting what may well be a plausible Zimbabwean accent, the boy wonder plays a tough diamond smuggler drawn against his will into Djimon Hounsou's search for his son, who has been kidnapped by Sierra Leonean rebels. But what Leo really wants is the massive diamond that Hounsou has hidden in the...
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History - British History in depth: Slavery andHistory
Zimbabwe and Zambia), Bechuanaland (Botswana),...
Blogs
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Zimbabwe: the next step?12 Jun 09 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
Do you think it might be time to start being nice to Zimbabwe again? Yes, President Mugabe is still in power.
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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. Do tell us what you think about their performances on our website.
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Thursday, 16 April, 200916 Apr 09 | Sarah McDermott - Newsnight: From the web team
Here's a look ahead to tonight's Newsnight: Tonight we have an exclusive report from inside Zimbabwe, only two months after the MDC joined a coalition government with Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF. The film documents starving Zimbabweans who have been forced to poach wild animals, and shows how the...
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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. This week the home secretary warned the cabinet of a possible mass influx of refugees, many travelling on false papers.
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Zimbabwe on the brink05 Dec 08 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
Well, today I'm going to put that right: Zimbabwe has been slowly disintegrating for nearly a decade now, and it's time to put it back at the top of our agenda. We've reported three times this week on the ever more appalling crisis there: on Monday we had a remarkable eye-witness report from Harare...
Sport
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Injured Springbok pair head home07 Nov 09 | Rugby UnionIn addition, prop Tendai Mtawarira has been cleared to tour with South Africa, after the SARU and the sports ministry reached an agreement over the Zimbabwean-born player. Mtawarira will now be available for selection for the Springboks' Test against France in Toulouse on Friday, 13 November.
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Woosnam set for senior title push05 Nov 09 | GolfWhile fellow Mason's countrymen Peter Mitchell and Bob Cameron, Zimbabwean Tony Johnstone and South African Bertus Smit could also win the crown if results go their way at the 64,433 tournament at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo. Woosnam has enjoyed another impressive season on the Senior Tour,...
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Patel praises Zimbabwe03 Nov 09Cosafa President Suketu Patel says Zimbabwe can benefit from hosting the southern African Cosafa Senior Challenge...
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Zimbabwe clinch Cosafa title01 Nov 09 | AfricanZimbabwe fans are happy after winning their fourth Cosafa title Hosts Zimbabwe won Southern Africa's Cosafa Senior Challenge for a record fourth time after a 3-1 victory over Zambia in Harare on Sunday. The Warriors gave a five-star performance in front of a 30,000-strong crowd that included...
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Hooker Dixon points to career low29 Oct 09 | Bathsaid the Zimbabwean-born hooker. He added: "With...
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Cosafa semi-finals set26 Oct 09 | AfricanNamibia coach Tom Saintfiet was unhappy with the refereeing South Africa and Zimbabwe will play each other in the semi-finals of Southern Africa's Cosafa Senior Challenge after they won their quarter-finals on Monday. Zimbabwe reached the last four after a late goal gave them a 1-0 win over...
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Monomotapa aim high in the Champs League17 Feb 09Secretary general of Zimbabwean club Monomotapa, David Makombe, says his side can go all the way in the African Champions League Secretary 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...
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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.
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Zimbabwe decision pleases ECB boss04 Jul 08ICC negotiations about Zimbabwe's future. The country has now agreed not to participate in the 2009 World Twenty20 tournament, to be hosted by England.
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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.
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Around the web
News From Other Sources
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South African Markets - Factors to watch on Nov 909 Nov 09 | Forbes.com
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UN attempts to slow the new scramble for Africa07 Nov 09 | The Independent
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Zim aims to legalise firm grab06 Nov 09 | Finance 24
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Tsvangirai suspends boycott05 Nov 09 | IOL
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Southern African leaders meet on Zimbabwe crisis05 Nov 09 | France24
Weather
Weather for Harare
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  light showers |  heavy showers | heavy showers |
| Max Temperature | Max:29°C/84°F | Max:28°C/82°F | Max:27°C/81°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:19°C/66°F | Min:17°C/63°F | Min:19°C/66°F |
News
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SA mercenaries 'do not face jail'06 Nov 09 | AfricaBritish probe Du Toit was arrested in Equatorial Guinea at the same time as Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in March 2004, along with more than 60 other South Africans. They were suspected of being mercenaries intent on toppling Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
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Zimbabwe's MDC calls off boycott06 Nov 09 | AfricaPM Tsvangirai withdrew from government three weeks ago Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called off his party's boycott of the unity government with President Robert Mugabe. Mr Tsvangirai said he was giving Mr Mugabe 30 days to implement the power-sharing agreement on "the...
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World's barriers: Botswana-Zimbabwe05 Nov 09 | Africa
The wall which separates Botswana and Zimbabwe has been compared to that which surrounds the West Bank, but has more to do with sanitation than geopolitics. The barbed wire fence is 2m (6ft)
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Q&A: Quantitative easing05 Nov 09 | BusinessLike old-fashioned money printing, QE also runs the risk of going too far: pumping too much money into the economy and causing high inflation - even hyperinflation - as seen in 1920s Weimar Germany and modern-day Zimbabwe. Why are the UK's actions different from 1920s Germany and Zimbabwe?
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Pardoned Briton's joy at return04 Nov 09 | Africa'A pawn' Mann was arrested in Zimbabwe in March 2004, along with 63 others, after they flew in from South Africa. They were suspected of being mercenaries intent on toppling Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. Mann...
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Nowak angry at 'rude' Zimbabwe29 Oct 09UN torture investigator Manfred Nowak has spoken of his anger at being turned away from Zimbabwe. Speaking on his arrival at Johannesburg airport in South Africa, Mr Nowak told reporters that he had co-operated as much as he could with the Zimbabwean government, but felt that the mission had now...
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UN rapporteur perplexed by Zimbabwean ban29 Oct 09
The UN special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, says he is mystified by Zimbabwe's decision to bar him from entering the country.
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Mugabe on 'new' West relationship06 Oct 09
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has indicated that his country is ready to begin new relations with the West. During a speech at the opening of a session of parliament, Mr Mugabe said Zimbabwe was ready to enter into "fresh,...
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Mugabe greets Zuma before talks28 Aug 09South African President Jacob Zuma was greeted by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as he arrived in Harare on Thursday. READ MORE: Zuma confident on Zimbabwe future...
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Zimbabwean economy improving30 Jul 09The BBC's ban on reporting from Zimbabwe has been lifted by the Zimbabwean government. Andrew Harding reports from the capital, Harare, on the current state of the country.
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