Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, nestled between the Limpopo and Zambezi River. It shares borders with South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east. But Zimbabwe isn't just a country nestled in the south of Africa; it’s a vibrant nation pulsating with life.
Slightly larger than Montana at 150,000 square miles, the east is mostly high plateau and mountains containing rich mineral resources, especially coal, metallic ores and diamonds. The Zambezi River forms a natural boundary with Zambia on the west.
What's in a Name?
The official name of Zimbabwe is the Republic of Zimbabwe. The country was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia, the Republic of Rhodesia, and Zimbabwe Rhodesia.
The name "Zimbabwe" stems from a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, a medieval city (Masvingo) in the country's south-east. Many sources hold that "Zimbabwe" derives from dzimba-dza-mabwe, translated from the Karanga dialect of Shona as "houses of stones" (dzimba = plural of imba, "house"; mabwe = plural of ibwe, "stone"). The Karanga-speaking Shona people live around Great Zimbabwe in the modern-day Masvingo province.
Independence and Governance
Formerly known as Rhodesia, Zimbabwe gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1980. The United Kingdom granted Zimbabwe independence on April 18, 1980, in accordance with the Lancaster House Agreement. Every year, celebrations are held at the National Sports Stadium or Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
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During these celebrations, doves are set free to show peace. Fighter jets fly overhead, and the national anthem is sung. The president lights the flame of independence after parades.
Robert Mugabe became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980, when his ZANU-PF party won the general election following the end of white minority rule, and remained the country's dominant party since. He was the President of Zimbabwe from 1987, after converting the country's initial parliamentary system into a presidential one, until his resignation in 2017.
Zimbabwe is a republic. This means the people elect their leaders. It has a presidential system of government. Zimbabwe's government has a Parliament.
Languages and Culture
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages, with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most common. In fact, Zimbabwe holds the world record as the country with the most official languages. The constitution acknowledges 16 languages, but only embraces two of them nationally, Shona and English.
The Shona people, the largest ethnic group, have a vibrant culture that celebrates life through music, dance, and artistic expression. Their intricate sculptures, often depicting spirits and animals, and ceremonial masks showcase their incredible artistry.
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National Anthem and Symbols
'Blessed be the Land of Zimbabwe' is the national anthem of Zimbabwe. The national anthem was introduced in March 1994 and was written by Professor Solomon Mutswairo and composed by Fred Changundega.
The Zimbabwe flag includes a black stripe representing the ethnic majority, red for the bloodshed during liberation, green for agriculture, yellow for mineral wealth, and white for peace and progress.
Natural Wonders and Wildlife
Zimbabwe is home to the amazing Victoria Falls. These huge waterfalls are part of the Zambezi River. No Zimbabwe adventure is complete without experiencing the mighty Victoria Falls, also known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders).
The Victoria Falls are 1 708 meters wide, making it the largest curtain of water in the world. The Victoria Falls were designated as a World Heritage site in 1986. Stretching just over a mile wide (1.7 kilometers), Victoria Falls is the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It is over twice as wide and almost twice as tall as Niagara Falls. Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe (and shared by both countries), the falls are formed as the water from the Zambezi River plummets 354 feet (108 kilometers) into a gorge. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard over 24 miles (40 kilometers) away.
Zimbabwe’s national parks and private reserves offer some of Africa’s most superlative wildlife viewing. Animals congregate in great numbers in the Hwange region and along the Zambezi River in Mana Pools, with concentrations most intense during the dry season.
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Zimbabwe boasts some of the best guides in Africa, many who are seasoned leaders of walking safaris that offer remarkably intimate encounters with the natural environs. Day and night game drives and canoe safaris on the Zambezi are also thrilling ways to see Zimbabwe’s tremendous diversity of wildlife, including the legendary Big Five: elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.
Hwange National Park is also home to grazing herds of zebra and giraffe. Among the park’s 105 mammal species are endangered gemsbok and brown hyena as well as one of Africa's largest surviving groups of African wild dog.
The Mana Pools section of the Zambezi Valley is true wilderness, with one of the highest dry-season concentrations of animals in Africa. On these wide floodplains you’ll find enormous elephants and big, burly buffalo, great rafts of Nile crocodile, a few black rhino, and plenty of predators including lion, leopard, cheetah and jackal.
Lake Kariba, constructed on the Zambezi River, is one of the world's largest manmade lakes. Lake Kariba, along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, was created between 1958 and 1963 when the 579m-long Kariba Dam was built across Kariba Gorge. Lake Kariba is also home to Nile crocodiles and hippopotami and attracts a wide variety of birds and animals, including elephants, lions, buffalo, cheetah, and antelopes.
Ancient City: Great Zimbabwe
Around the 9th century, the Bantu people built the city of Great Zimbabwe. This city became a major trade center by the 11th century. Great Zimbabwe is an ancient city that hosts the largest stone structures south of the pyramids. Built entirely of stone, the ruins span more than 7km2. It is estimated that the city housed as many as 18,000 inhabitants.
Dating back to the 11th century, these are the largest pre-colonial stone structures in sub-Saharan Africa. Towering granite walls, mysterious monoliths, and intricate carvings hint at this city’s ancient secrets. Imagine yourself walking through these enigmatic ruins, picturing their builders and residents’ past lives.
ZIMBABWE | Southern Africa's last True Wilderness Explored | Ep 1
Shona Culture and Art
Sadza is the Shona language name for a cooked corn meal that is the staple food in Zimbabwe. A porridge made by mixing corn with water to produce a thick past, is eaten for lunch and dinner.
Shona sculpture is a contemporary art form, where artists with little education and training, produce exquisite sculptures. The Sculptures are unique as most of the artists carve with no pre-conceived idea. They let the stone dictate what form is held within it.
Economy and Currency
Many people in Zimbabwe work in farming. They grow crops like maize, rice, and cotton. Mining is another important part of the economy. Manufacturing also takes place. Factories make things like iron, steel, and textiles. Tourism is important too.
The currency of Zimbabwe was the Zimbabwe Dollar, but in 2009 Zimbabwe adopted a multi-currency scheme; the US Dollar and South African Rand. Due to a period of economic instability that began in 2005, the Zimbabwean dollar began to drastically drop in value. In 2009, the government printed a one hundred trillion dollar banknote, which is the largest denomination ever issued, even though it was only worth about forty cents.
Other Interesting Facts
- In Zimbabwean folklore, mermaids have supernatural powers. Construction work on a dam was halted in 2011 after reports of sightings.
- Zimbabwe is one of the few countries in the world where both white and black rhinos can be observed.
- The mbira is a traditional Zimbabwean small hand-held musical instrument that dates back to the 16th century.
- Athletes from Zimbabwe have won a total of eight Olympic medals. In 1980, the first year Zimbabwe competed in the Olympics as an independent country, the women’s national field hockey team took home the gold medal at the Moscow Olympics. Kirsty Coventry won the other seven medals (two gold, four silver, and one bronze) in swimming in 2004 and 2008.
Places to Visit in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has many great places to visit. Victoria Falls is one of the most famous. It is shared with Zambia and is thought to be the largest waterfall in the world. The Victoria Falls National Park is also nearby. This park is one of Zimbabwe's eight main national parks.
- Lake Kariba: Another popular spot.
- Eastern Highlands: A beautiful mountain range. Here you can find Mount Nyangani, the highest peak in Zimbabwe. You can also visit the Bvumba Mountains and Nyanga National Park.
- Great Zimbabwe Ruins: The most famous ancient ruined cities built from stone in Masvingo.
- Matobo Hills: Unique granite hills, south of Bulawayo, formed billions of years ago.
Zimbabwe has many different natural areas. These include woodlands, bushlands, and forests. In the Eastern Highlands, you can find tropical forests. Trees like teak and mahogany grow there. You can also see huge strangler fig trees. In lower areas, you'll find mopane and giant baobab trees. Much of Zimbabwe is covered by miombo woodland.
Zimbabwe has many beautiful flowers and shrubs. Some examples are hibiscus, flame lily, and wisteria. There are about 350 different kinds of mammals in Zimbabwe. You can also find many snakes, lizards, and over 500 types of birds. Sadly, some forests have been lost in Zimbabwe. This is due to trees being cut down and poaching (illegal hunting). More people, growing cities, and using wood for fuel also cause problems.
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