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| In 1980, the former British colony of Rhodesia became independent and took the name Zimbabwe, after the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe. The total area of Zimbabwe is 3,90,580 sq.km with a population of 12,900,000 people. |
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| HISTORY |
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| The Zimbabweans are divided into two major language segments , which are subdivided into various ethnic groups. The shona speakers who constitute about 75 % of the population .The Matabele (Sindebele speakers ) constitute about 20% of the population. The rest belong to white Zimbabweans , primarily of English origin which arrived after world war II. The country’s major religions are Christianity and traditional beliefs. |
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| POLITICS |
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In Zimbabwe’s constitution, the president is head of state and head of government, and is elected for a 6-year term by popular majority vote. Parliament is bicameral and sits for up to a 5-year term. The 150-member house of assembly consists of 120 elected seats, 10 chiefs elected by their peers but influenced by the president, eight provincial governors and 12 non-constituency MPs appointed by the president. The parliament elects a speaker from outside its membership and a deputy speaker from among its members.
Principal Government Officials
President—Robert Mugabe
Vice Presidents—Joseph Msika and Joice Mujuru |
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| CLIMATE |
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The climate is mostly subtropical with Terrain area as Desert and savanna.
Summer:
From October to April. Days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. The Zambezi Valley can also be considerably warmer all year round (35oC - 50oC).
Winter:
From May to September. Days are dry, sunny and cool to warm (20oC) while evening temperatures drop sharply to 5oC - 10oC. Exceptionally cold spells can occur (-5oC - 5oC) .
The sun can be very harsh and it is advisable to wear a hat and sunblock.
The rainy season runs from November to March. |
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| ECONOMY |
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| About 70 percent of Zimbabweans live from farming . Coal , gold , asbestos ,and nickel are mined for export. The country boosts of deposits of more than 40 minerals including ferrochrome, gold, silver, platinum, copper, asbestos. Types of crops and livestock found are : corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, tea, sugarcane, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs. The GDP growth rate in 2006 was 5.1 %. If Zimbabwe wants to benefit from these mineral deposits, it must attract foreign direct investment. |
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| PEOPLE |
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English, the official language, is spoken by the white population and understood by more than half of the black population. The literacy rate is estimated at 90.5%. Attendance is mandatory for primary level. Zimbabawe’s main tourist attractions are the spectacular Victoria Falls, the kariba Dam , national parks , and the ruins of the city of Great Zimbabawe.
Tourist enjoy action holidays such as canoeing and rafting , on the zambezi. Zimbabwe dollar is the currency used. Harare, formerly called Salisbury , the capital is Zimbabawe’s commercial and industrial centre and home to almost two million people. It is a clean and sophisticated city that is characterised by flowering tress, colourful parks , and modern buildings. |
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| Location & Neighbourhood: |
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| Zimbabwe,is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. In terms of size it is smaller than California. With its neighbours Botswana on the west, Zambia on the north, Mozambique on the east, it has South Africa on the south. Conventionally known as the Republic of Zimbabwe it was formerly known as : Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia. The north-western border is defined by the Zambezi River. Zimbabwe's highest peak is Mount Nyangani (formerly Mount Inyangani), at 2,592 m (8,504 ft);it lies within the Nyanga National Park in the east of the country. The lowest point of Zimbabwe is the junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m (531 ft). Victoria Falls is a popular tourist destination on the Zambezi. |
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| Area: |
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| Zimbabwe has a land area of 149,293 sq mi (386,669 sq km) and a total area of 150,804 sq mi (390,580 sq km).with Harare has its capital Capital and largest city it has a metropolitan area of 2,331,400 and a proper city area of 1,919,700 .Its other large cities include Bulawayo, with a population of 965,000 and Chitungwiza, with a population of 411,700. |
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| Agricultural land |
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The arable land of Zimbabwe is 8.24% and the permanent crops that grow are 0.33%
Popular Sports
Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Zimbabwe and have won four medals in the Olympic Games, one in field hockey at the 1980 Summer games in Moscow, and three in swimming at the 2004 Summer games in Athens. Zimbabwe has participated in the Commonwealth Games.
Currency
Zimbabwean dollar is the unit of currency.
Climate:
Zimbabwe has a tropical climate moderated by altitude.It has a short rainy season which lasts about four months between November and March. The terrain of Zimbabwe is mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld) and a mountainous range in the east.
Coastline
Because of its landlockedness it has no coastline.
Natural Resources
Endowed with natural resources coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals its major exports includes cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing.
Imports
It imports machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals and fuels.
Trading Partners
Zimbabwe’s major trading partners are South Africa, Switzerland, UK, China, Germany and Botswana
Nature of Government
Zimbabwe has a parliamentary democracy.
Strides and Advances
The country has 331,700 telephones according to (2006)estimates ; and its mobile cellular users account for : 832,500 The number of Radio broadcast stations include AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations) and a shortwave . Its Radios include for 1.14 million and has 16 Television broadcast stations with a sum of 370,000Televisions: 370,000. Its Internet Service Providers are 6 and 1 million Internet users.
The Railways are a total of 3,077 km and it has total highways of 97,440 km . It has paved roadways 18,514 km and unpaved: 78,926 km (2002 est.). The country has an active Waterway system which are : the Mazoe and Zambezi rivers and these are used for transporting chrome ore from Harare to Mozambique: Binga, Kariba are its ports and harbours.It has 430 Airports
Today Translation india undertakes works in interpretation in the following languages: English (official), Shona, Ndebele (Sindebele), and numerous minor tribal dialects. |
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