Category: Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is situated in African continent between the rivers Limpopo and Zambezi. Zimbabwe is landlocked by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. The evidences of human civilization during middle ages were found. Shona civilizations dominated the region in 9th century. The first European visitors are Portuguese and they came for trading gold, copper, glass and ivory. Zimbabwe became the crown colony of Southern Rhodesia of British in 1888 and the country issued unilateral declaration of independence from British in the year 1965. The British recognized the independence of Zimbabwe only in the year 1980.

The country is a semi-presidential parliamentary republic in which there is an upper chamber and lower chamber. Since the time of independence, the dominant political party of the country is Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front. This political party is the party of the current Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe revised country’s constitution in the year 1987 by making the country a Presidential system in which president is sole power of the country. The country is facing 94% of unemployment results in the pathetic condition of the country. The economy of the country mainly depends on tourism, agriculture and mineral exports. The country has some of the biggest platinum reserves of the world and Marange diamond fields are discovered in the year 2006.

The total population of Zimbabwe is 16.5 million and majority of the people are black ethnic groups. About 80-84% of the population consists of Shona people and Ndebele is the second populous ethnic group consists of 10-15% of total population. About 2-5% of the population is Bantu ethnic groups such as Shangaan, Tonga, Venda, Kalanga, Ndau, Namby and Sotho. Only 1% of the population consists of white Zimbabweans which are of mainly British origin and other origins are Portuguese, Dutch, French, Greek and Afrikaner. Around 85% of the people are following Christianity and ancestral worship is also practice by people. Muslims consist of 1% of the total population. English is the official language and other major languages are Shona and Ndebele. Bantu languages are also spoken by the people.

Zimbabwe has several tourist destinations such as waterfalls, historical sites, mountains, rivers, national parks and shopping malls. Hwange National Park is biggest among the national parks of Zimbabwe. Other famous national parks situated near the waterfalls are Victoria Fall National Park, Kazuma Pan National Park and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The major attraction of Zimbabwe is Victoria Falls on Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can find several wild animals in these parks such as lion, leopard, crocodile, hippopotamus, klipspringers, baboon and zebra and so on.

Great Zimbabwe ruins are a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. It is a ruined city which was once served as capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. Westgate Mall of Zimbabwe is one among the biggest shopping malls of South Africa. Khami Ruins National Monument is another World Heritage Site where you find the remains of Kingdom of Butua. Mount Nyangani or Mt. Inyangani is Zimbabwe’s tallest mountain located in Nyanga National Park. The sources of three rivers such as Nyamuziwa River, Pungwe River and Kairezi River are from this mountain.