Where is it?:
Nestled on the eastern side of southern Africa, Zimbabwe is landlocked with South Africa on the south, Mozambique to the east, Botswana to the west, and Zambia to the northwest. It's slightly larger than Montana.
Capital:
Harare, which was known as Salisbury when the country was Rhodesia.
National symbols:
The stripe colors on the national flag -- green for agriculture, yellow for mineral reserves, red for war, and black for African ethnicity -- are the same as on the banner of Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party. The coat of arms has a Great Zimbabwe bird -- also seen on the flag -- between two kudu antelope. The Gloriosa is the national flower. The national anthem, "Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe," was penned in a 1994 contest.
Language:
English is the official language. Among tribal languages, Shona and Sindebele (spoken by the Ndebele) are most widely spoken.
Population:
More than 12 million people populate Zimbabwe, with whites now making up less than 1% of this number. The life expectancy is a stunningly low 37 years for men and 34 years for women. An estimated 25% of the population is HIV-positive. Emigration from Zimbabwe to South Africa has been fast and furious.
History:
Beginning in the 13th century, the area known today as Zimbabwe was the Mutapa Empire; ruins still exist at the empire's capital, Great Zimbabwe. The company of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes (founder of the De Beers diamond company) arrived in the 1880s, and Southern Rhodesia was founded. In 1965, the leader of the white-minority government, Ian Smith, declared independence from the United Kingdom. Britain didn't wage war over the rebellion, but this act sowed the seeds of civil war, with nationalist elements led by Mugabe fomenting rebellion and the independent country of Zimbabwe emerging in 1980.
Economy:
Zimbabwe's economy is in tatters after years of aiding the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, land seizures that have crippled the agricultural sectors, and policies that have led to hyperinflation and food shortages. The country's unemployment is between 70% and 80%; two-thirds of Zimbabwe's labor force works in the devastated agricultural industry. Inflation is out of control at up to 100,000% per year, and the government keeps printing money to fuel the budget deficit.
Military:
The branches consist of the national police force, the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, the army and air force. Service is compulsory for ages 18-24. The "war veterans" is a militia of loyalists to Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, named so because many served along Mugabe when he led the revolt against the white minority government.
Type of government:
Technically a parliamentary democracy, but the unmonitored elections are highly suspect and opponents of longtime ruler Mugabe are subject to arrest, torture, or worse.
