Terrain

Most of Zimbabwe is on a plateau, with 21% of its area at more than 1,200 m above sea level. The central plateau (Highveld), which crosses the country from the south west to the north east, has characteristic granite outcrops. Zimbabwe's highest peak, Mount Inyangani (2,592 m), is located in a mountain range that stretches over more than 350 km along the eastern border. The Middleveld ranges from 600 m to 1,200 m above sea level. There are many rivers, some of which flow northward into Lake Kariba, some north-east into the Zambezi, and some westward into the swamps of Botswana. The Victoria Falls are largest curtain of falling water in the world (1.700 m across), which drop 108 m.

Climate

Zimbabwe's climate is very cool for a tropical country, because it is located at a high altitude. Rainfall is heaviest in the eastern mountain region. The rainy season lasts from November to March; September and October are hot and dry. Like all the other countries in Africa, Zimbabwe often suffers from drought. Summer and winter temperatures in the Highveld and the eastern plateau are lower than in the Lowveld and the Zambezi basin, where summer temperatures can soar to over 35°C and drop to -5°C at night.

Fauna/Flora

Zimbabwe's vegetation mainly consists of grasslands and some forests, where acacias, lianas, figs and many other plants grow abundantly. Hwange National Park covers 14,000 km² and is the habitat of elephants (herds of up to 100), buffaloes, rhinoceroses, and some 400 bird species. Endangered black rhinoceroses live in the Matusadona National Park. Lake Kariba was the site of the famous Operation Noah in 1958, in which over 5,000 animals - including elephants and rhinoceroses - were rescued with the aid of temporary islands when the huge artificial lake was filled with water.

History/Politics

In the 5th century AD, Karanga belonging to an ethnic group of the Shona people settled the area of present-day Zimbabwe. They predominantly worked in the mining industry and over the centuries that followed their trade in gold and ivory flourished as a result of the establishment of Arab ports along the coast. This led to the spread of the Karanga culture and the subjugation of the Arab people. Vast areas were subject to Karanga rule right up to the middle of the 15th century, when they were ousted by the Rotsi. The presence of the Portuguese from the beginning of the 16th century put an end to the flourishing trade with the East and African cultures.

By the middle of the 19th century, the land area was divided between Shona and Zulu people. British settlers had started exploiting mineral resources in the region by the end of the 19th century and the region became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1911 after a violent conflict over land. In 1965, the colonial government refused to transfer power to the native African population. Southern Rhodesia declared its independence and became a republic in 1970. The years that followed were characterised by armed racial conflict. Finally, an internal agreement was reached between European settlers and native Africans in 1978. The country was renamed Zimbabwe a year later.

The 1980 elections were won by Robert Mugabe, who focused on the economic recovery of the nation, which had suffered significantly as a result of the conflict. Problems in domestic and foreign politics that developed in 1982 were made worse by a severe drought in 1983, which led to intensified conflict between European landowners and African peasants over land ownership. At the end of 1987, a constitutional amendment meant that the office of head of government was replaced by a presidency, and the authority and the duties of the head of state and the head of government were carried out by one office. Mugabe was re-elected in the presidential elections of 1996. Conflict resumed in 2000 as a result of the attempts that had been made to expropriate the large estates of white landowners and the violence to which those inhabitants had been subjected.

The following year, as a result of the government's policy against the press and the opposition, the European Union and the United States imposed sanctions against the country. This did not however prevent President Mugabe from winning the elections in 2002. In 2003, he accused his opponent of treason because he had been instrumental in organising the mass protests against the government and strikes. In June 2005, the government implemented Operation Murambatsvina, with the aim of promoting safety, creating more hygienic living conditions and taking action against illegal businesses and settlements, which led to 200,000 people loosing their homes and being left homeless.

Economy

Zimbabwe's economy is based on various sectors: there is a well-developed manufacturing sector (25% of its GDP) and there are relatively strong financial services and mining sectors, but agriculture (13% of its GDP) forms the basis of the economy, even though drought causes great fluctuations in agriculture. This sector provides work for 27% of the labour force, whereas mining accounts for only 5% of employment. One of the main branches of industry is mining (coal, copper, nickel, cobalt, asbestos, tin, gold, silver, and iron ore). Wood, cement, chemicals, fertilizers, clothing, footwear, and beverages are other important products. Major agricultural products include maize, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugar cane and peanuts, as well as products that derive from livestock breeding (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs). The unemployment rate reached 70% in 2003, while the inflation rate was more than 330%.

Culture

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins are the remnants of the former capital of the Monomutapa Empire. The Great Enclosure is the oldest construction in southern Africa. The external wall is more than 100 metres long and 255 metres in circumference. In places, its walls are 11 metres high and up to 5 metres thick. The prevailing theory is that the structure was used as a royal animal compound. Treasure hunters have unfortunately removed most artefacts that could have provided more information. One of the most extraordinary features of the Great Enclosure is its Conical Tower which reaches a height of 10 m and a width of 5 m at its base and which archaeologists consider to have no internal cavities.