Zimbabwe Republic of Zimbabwe

General Information Capital is called Harare Country was formerly known as Rhodesia. 1923- The United Kingdom annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company.

1961- A constitution was written and whites in power were favored. 1965 there was a rift in the government, and it split. Independence was declared. The U.K. did not accept this, and demanded more rights for blacks.

At this time, the blacks were the majority in the country. U.N. sanctions and guerrilla warfare led to the first free election in 1979. 1980 the country declared independence as Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe became the first Prime Minister.

Mugabe has been the only ruler of Zimbabwe since the country has been independent. In 2000 he instituted a poorly thought out land distribution campaign. This caused a mass exodus of white farmers. It crippled the economy, and caused shortages of basic things.

Mugabe rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure that he would win.

Interesting thing to know! The Zambezi River forms a natural boundary with Zambia. During February through April, the Victoria Falls form the world’s largest curtain of falling water. Isn’t that neat?????????

Location Absolute: 20* South Latitude, 30* East Longitude Relative: Southern part of Africa. Wedged between South Africa and Zambia

Place: Area Comparative: Slightly larger than Montana. Climate: tropical moderated by altitude. Rainy season from November to March. Terrain: Mostly high plateau, with a higher central plateau. Eastern Mountains.

More Place: Natural Hazards: recurring droughts. Floods and severe storms rarely occur. If you are from Zimbabwe, you are Zimbabwean.

Even More Place: Ethnic Groups: 98% African 82% Shona 14% Ndebele 2% other 1% Asian 1% White

Are we done with Place yet????: Religions: 50% Syncretic and Christian. 25% pure Christian 24% indigenous beliefs 1% Muslim and other

And then there was more place: English is the official language Gov’t is a Parliamentary Democracy.

Human and Environmental Interaction: The people of Zimbabwe experience the following: Deforestation Soil erosion Land degradation Air and water pollution

More Stuff People Mess Up: Once the largest concentration of the Black Rhino had a herd that lived in Zimbabwe. This herd has been reduced in number due to poaching. There is toxic waste and heavy metal pollution due to poor mining purposes.

Movement: Railways Highways Waterways Ports and Harbors: Binga, Kariba Airports: 17 Paved, 413 Unpaved.

Still Moving: Transit point for African Cannabis. Also moves South Asian Heroine, mandrax, and methamphetamines headed to South African and European places.

Region: No International disputes currently going on.