browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
zimbabwe |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Zimbabwe n : a landlocked republic in south central Africa formerly called Rhodesia [syn: {Zimbabwe}, {Rhodesia}, {Southern Rhodesia}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Zimbabwe Zimbabwe:Geography Location: Southern Africa, northeast of Botswana Map references: Africa Area: total area: 390,580 sq km land area: 386,670 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Montana Land boundaries: total 3,066 km Botswana 813 km Mozambique 1,231 km South Africa 225 km Zambia 797 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March) Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals Land use: arable land: 7.25% permanent crops: 0.25% (coffee is a permanent crop) meadows and pastures: 12.5% forest and woodland: 49% other: 31% Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1993 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification Note: landlocked Zimbabwe:People Population: 11,139,961 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (female 2,588,193; male 2,617,485) 15-64 years: 51% (female 2,915,697; male 2,723,511) 65 years and over: 2% (female 151,635; male 143,440) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 1.78% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 36.35 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 18.54 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: following the settlement of hostilities in Mozambique in 1992, refugees from the fighting there began to return to their homes; this process continues at a lesser rate in 1995; there is a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better paid employment Infant mortality rate: 72.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.35 years male: 39.73 years female: 43.01 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Zimbabwean(s) adjective: Zimbabwean Ethnic divisions: African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian 1% Religions: syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1% Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982) total population: 78% male: 84% female: 72% Labor force: 3.1 million by occupation: agriculture 74%, transport and services 16%, mining, manufacturing, construction 10% (1987) Zimbabwe:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia Digraph: ZI Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Harare Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Manicaland Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands Independence: 18 April 1980 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day 18 April (1980) Constitution: 21 December 1979 Legal system: mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); election last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Robert MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE 21.7% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president; responsible to Parliament Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 8-9 April 1995 (next to be held NA March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA seats - (150 total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 118, ZANU-S 2 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE Zimbabwe African National Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), Ndabaningi SITHOLE; Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel MAGOCHE Forum Party of Zimbabwe, Enock DUMBUTSHENA United Parties, Abel MUZOREWA Member of: ACP, AfDB C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN UNAMIR UNAVEM II UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UNOMUR UNOSOM UPU, WCL, WHO WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100 FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny CARSON embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 794521 FAX: [263] (4) 796488 Flag: seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist side a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle Economy Overview: Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and supplies almost 40% of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on agriculture and mining, produces a variety of goods and contributes 35% to GDP. Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Severe drought caused GDP to drop 8% in 1992, with growth rebounding to 2% in 1993 and 3.5% in 1994. Despite the lingering effects of the drought on economic and social conditions, the government is continuing to push its IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program aimed at encouraging exports and foreign investment. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $17.4 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $1,580 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 22% (December 1994 est.) Unemployment rate: at least 45% (1994 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $253 million (FY92/93) Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: agricultural 35% (tobacco 30%, other 5%), manufactures 25%, gold 12%, ferrochrome 10%, textiles 8% (1992) partners: UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5% (1991) Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other manufactures 23%, chemicals 16%, fuels 12% (1991) partners: South Africa 25%, UK 15%, Germany 9%, US 6%, Japan 5% (1991) External debt: $3.5 billion (December 1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 35% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 2,040,000 kW production: 9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 913 kWh (1993) Industries: mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood products Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP; 40% of land area divided into 4,500 large commercial farms and 42% in communal lands; crops - corn (food staple), cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; self-sufficient in food Economic aid: NA Currency: 1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 8.3752 (January 1995), 8.1500 (1994), 6.4725 (1993), 5.1046 (1992), 3.4282 (1991), 2.4480 (1990) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Zimbabwe:Transportation Railroads: total: 2,745 km narrow gauge: 2,745 km 1.067-m gauge (355 km electrified; 42 km double track) Highways: total: 85,237 km paved: 15,800 km unpaved: crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 39,090 km improved earth 23,097 km unimproved earth 7,250 km Inland waterways: Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication Pipelines: petroleum products 212 km Ports: Binga, Kariba Airports: total: 471 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 222 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 223 Zimbabwe:Communications Telephone system: 247,000 telephones; system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance local: NA intercity: consists of microwave links, open-wire lines, and radio communications stations international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 18, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 8 televisions: NA Zimbabwe:Defense Forces Branches: Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,435,931; males fit for military service 1,514,068 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $175 million, 3.1% of GDP (FY94/95)
more about zimbabwe
This work is licensed under a
