Portal:Africa/Countries/Selected country/53

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flag of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Flag of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Coat of Arms of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Coat of Arms of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Location of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It borders South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest, and Mozambique to the east. The name Zimbabwe derives from "Zimba Remabwe" meaning "big house of stone" in the Shona language. Its use as the country's name is a tribute to Great Zimbabwe, site of the capital of the Empire of Great Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's highest peak is Mount Nyangani, which lies within Nyanga National Park in the east of the country. The official language of Zimbabwe is English, however the majority of the population speaks Shona.

Under the leadership of former president Robert Mugabe and the current president Emmerson Mnangagwa, the economy of Zimbabwe declined from one of the strongest in Africa to one of the weakest and political tension has never been higher. In 1999, the Movement for Democratic Change was established and have campaigned for an end to "Mugabe's Reign of Terror". 80% of Zimbabweans are unemployed and inflation has soared to well over 15,000%. (Read more...)