Fear and suffering in Zimbabwe

Following last year's disputed elections and political violence, a power-sharing "National Unity Government" was established in Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe remains as president with the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, becoming prime minister.

The task ahead of the new government is huge: political violence, disease, low life expectancy, a crumbling education system and an economy in meltdown are all blighting the country.

To get a picture of what life is really like for Zimbabweans, the BBC's Mike Thomson spent time travelling around the country.

The BBC is still banned from reporting in Zimbabwe and in Mike Thomson's reports, some names and places have been changed or left out in an effort to protect the people he has been talking to.

You may find the content of some of his reports disturbing.
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There is not much sign of unity in Zimbabwe's National Unity Government.

Some supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change believe their names are on a hit list.

At the height of last year's political violence, more than 200 people, mostly MDC supporters, were murdered and thousands more injured.

Many of the president's opponents are still in hiding.

HIV/Aids, poverty and political violence have left Zimbabwe with more than 1.5m orphans in a country of just 9m people.

Many mothers, unable to feed their children, are simply dumping them and walking away.

Some orphaned youngsters, as young as eight, are so desperate for food and shelter that they're travelling hundreds of kilometres to neighbouring South Africa.

Many are raped and robbed or even die trying to cross the border.

Children have to grow up quickly.

With a low life expectancy, there are many children and teenagers who have responsibility for whole families.

Mike spoke to the members of one such 'child headed' household.

Last year, only around a fifth of Zimbabwe's children went to school and the number of teachers fell by 70%.

Many school buildings are falling down and most of those still open lack books, pens and even chalk for the blackboard.

In some cases children as young as 12 or 13 are turning to prostitution to feed themselves.

If you live in Zimbabwe you can expect to live a shorter life than anywhere else in the world.

The average life expectancy for men is 37 and women 34.

It's thought as many as 4000 people are dying every week, from HIV/Aids, malnutrition and malaria.

Cholera is widespread and there is little access to running water.

The health care system, once considered very fine, is on the point of collapse.

Four years ago in Zimbabwe more than 300,000 people were forcibly removed by police from slum areas across the country.

'Operation Murambatsvina', which literally translates as 'getting rid of the filth', was officially described as a move to crack down on crime, disease and illegal housing.

But many believe the police programme, under the government of President Mugabe, was politically motivated.

Families were given hours to gather together their possessions before their homes were burnt down.

Many of them have ended up in the capital, Harare.

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Mike Thomson is a BBC journalist who grew up in Zimbabwe and lived there until he was eight years old.

He explains to Outlook's Valerie Sanderson why so many people felt it was worth the risk of speaking to him for his BBC Radio reports.

First broadcast 9-16 June 2009