2014 Edition

Background

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 1997 and intensified after 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. In April 2005, the capital city of Harare embarked on Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition. President MUGABE in June 2007 instituted price controls on all basic commodities causing panic buying and leaving store shelves empty for months; a period of increasing hyperinflation ensued. General elections held in March 2008 contained irregularities but still amounted to a censure of the ZANU-PF-led government with the opposition winning a majority of seats in parliament. MDC-T opposition leader Morgan TSVANGIRAI won the most votes in the presidential polls, but not enough to win outright. In the lead up to a run-off election in late June 2008, considerable violence enacted against opposition party members led to the withdrawal of TSVANGIRAI from the ballot. Extensive evidence of violence and intimidation resulted in international condemnation of the process. Difficult negotiations over a power-sharing "government of national unity," in which MUGABE remained president and TSVANGIRAI became prime minister, were finally settled in February 2009, although the leaders failed to agree upon many key outstanding governmental issues. MUGABE was reelected president in June 2013 in balloting that was severely flawed and internationally condemned. As a prerequisite to holding the elections, Zimbabwe enacted a new constitution by referendum, although many provisions in the new constitution have yet to be codified in law.

Area

390,757 sq km 386,847 sq km 3,910 sq km

total

390,757 sq km

water

3,910 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Montana

Climate

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m Inyangani 2,592 m

highest point

Inyangani 2,592 m

lowest point

junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m

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; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%) 333.5 cu m/yr (2002)

per capita

333.5 cu m/yr (2002)

total

4.21 cu km/yr (14%/7%/79%)

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Geography - note

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

Irrigated land

1,735 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

3,066 km Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

border countries

Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

total

3,066 km

Land use

10.49% 0.31% 89.2% (2011)

arable land

10.49%

other

89.2% (2011)

permanent crops

0.31%

Location

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Natural resources

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Terrain

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Total renewable water resources

20 cu km (2011)

Age structure

38.4% (male 2,670,642/female 2,615,440) 22.1% (male 1,527,964/female 1,520,255) 32.3% (male 2,298,355/female 2,153,659) 3.6% (male 180,554/female 318,410) 3.6% (male 193,385/female 293,057) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

38.4% (male 2,670,642/female 2,615,440)

15-24 years

22.1% (male 1,527,964/female 1,520,255)

25-54 years

32.3% (male 2,298,355/female 2,153,659)

55-64 years

3.6% (male 180,554/female 318,410)

65 years and over

3.6% (male 193,385/female 293,057) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

32.47 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

58.5% (2010/11)

Death rate

10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

74.8 % 68.1 % 6.7 % 14.9 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.7 %

potential support ratio

14.9 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

74.8 %

youth dependency ratio

68.1 %

Drinking water source

urban: 97.3% of population rural: 68.7% of population total: 79.9% of population urban: 2.7% of population rural: 31.3% of population total: 20.1% of population (2012 est.)

rural

31.3% of population

total

20.1% of population (2012 est.)

urban

2.7% of population

Education expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

14.7% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

39,500 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,368,100 (2012 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

26.55 deaths/1,000 live births 28.88 deaths/1,000 live births 24.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

24.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

26.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Life expectancy at birth

55.68 years 55.4 years 55.97 years (2014 est.)

female

55.97 years (2014 est.)

total population

55.68 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write English 83.6% 87.8% 80.1% (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write English

female

80.1% (2011 est.)

male

87.8%

total population

83.6%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever schistosomiasis rabies (2013)

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

HARARE (capital) 1.542 million (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

570 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

20.2 years 19.9 years 20.4 years (2014 est.)

female

20.4 years (2014 est.)

male

19.9 years

total

20.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.5 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2010-11 est.)

Nationality

Zimbabwean(s) Zimbabwean

adjective

Zimbabwean

noun

Zimbabwean(s)

Net migration rate

21.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7% (2008)

Physicians density

0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

13,771,721 estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

4.36% (2014 est.)

Religions

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 51.6% of population rural: 32.4% of population total: 39.9% of population urban: 48.4% of population rural: 67.6% of population total: 60.1% of population (2012 est.)

rural

67.6% of population

total

60.1% of population (2012 est.)

urban

48.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 10 years 9 years (2003)

female

9 years (2003)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.7 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.07 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.7 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.56 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

7.6% 7.6% 7.6% (2004)

female

7.6% (2004)

total

7.6%

Urbanization

38.6% of total population (2011) 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

38.6% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Capital

Harare 17 49 S, 31 02 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

17 49 S, 31 02 E

name

Harare

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1979; latest approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013 (2013)

Country name

Republic of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

conventional long form

Republic of Zimbabwe

conventional short form

Zimbabwe

former

Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador David Bruce WHARTON (since 15 November 2012) 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare P. O. Box 3340, Harare [263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594 [263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

chief of mission

Ambassador David Bruce WHARTON (since 15 November 2012)

embassy

172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare

FAX

[263] (4) 796-488, or 722-618

mailing address

P. O. Box 3340, Harare

telephone

[263] (4) 250-593 through 250-594

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard CHIBUWE (since April 2014) 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 332-7100 [1] (202) 483-9326

chancery

1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard CHIBUWE (since April 2014)

FAX

[1] (202) 483-9326

telephone

[1] (202) 332-7100

Executive branch

Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joice MUJURU (since 6 December 2004) Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) note - according to the new constitution, following the 31 July 2013 presidential elections the position of Prime Minister was abolished Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); elections last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 61.1%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 34.4%, Welshman NCUBE 2.7% other 1.8%; note - the election process was considered flawed and roundly criticised by election monitors and international bodies; both the AU and the SADC endoresed the results of the election with some concerns

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly

chief of state

Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joice MUJURU (since 6 December 2004)

election results

Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 61.1%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 34.4%, Welshman NCUBE 2.7% other 1.8%; note - the election process was considered flawed and roundly criticised by election monitors and international bodies; both the AU and the SADC endoresed the results of the election with some concerns

elections

presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); elections last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership

head of government

Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987) note - according to the new constitution, following the 31 July 2013 presidential elections the position of Prime Minister was abolished

Flag description

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green represents agriculture, yellow mineral wealth, red the blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

18 April 1980 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges) Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65, but can elect to serve until age 70 High Court, regional magistrate courts, and special courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65, but can elect to serve until age 70

subordinate courts

High Court, regional magistrate courts, and special courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (80 seats - 60 members elected by popular vote for a five-year term, 18 traditional chiefs elected by the Council of Chiefs and 2 seats reserved for people with disabilities) and a House of Assembly (270 seats - members elected by popular vote for five-year terms and 60 seats reserved for women who are identified by their parties and nominated by proportional representation) last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 37 MD-T 21, MDC-N 2, chiefs 18, people with disabilities 2; House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 197, MDC-T 70, MDC-N 2, independent 1

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 37 MD-T 21, MDC-N 2, chiefs 18, people with disabilities 2; House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ZANU-PF 197, MDC-T 70, MDC-N 2, independent 1

elections

last held on 31 July 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe) Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA adopted 1994

lyrics/music

Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA

name

"Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Northern Ndebele language] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

National symbol(s)

Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily

Political parties and leaders

African National Party or ANP [Egypt DZINEMUNHENZVA] Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai or MDC-T [Morgan TSVANGIRAI] Movement for Democratic Change - Ncube or MDC-N [Welshman NCUBE] Peace Action is Freedom for All or PAFA United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA] United People's Party or UPP [Daniel SHUMBA] Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA] Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE] Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Dumiso DABENGWA] Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance or ZIYA

Political pressure groups and leaders

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU] Women of Zimbabwe Arise or WOZA [Jenni WILLIAMS] Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Wellington CHIBEBE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs

Budget

$NA $NA (2013 est.)

expenditures

$NA (2013 est.)

revenues

$NA

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

NA% of GDP

Central bank discount rate

7.17% (31 December 2010 est.) 975% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

28% (31 December 2013 est.) 30% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$576 million (2013 est.) -$416.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$8.445 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $8.765 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

50.1 (2006) 50.1 (1995)

Economy - overview

Zimbabwe's economy is growing despite continuing political uncertainty. Following a decade of contraction from 1998 to 2008, Zimbabwe's economy recorded real growth of roughly 10% per year in 2010-11, before slowing in 2012-13 due poor harvests and low diamond revenues. The government of Zimbabwe faces a number of difficult economic problems, including infrastructure and regulatory deficiencies, ongoing indigenization pressure, policy uncertainty, a large external debt burden, and insufficient formal employment. Until early 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely printed money to fund the budget deficit, causing hyperinflation. Dollarization in early 2009 - which allowed currencies such as the Botswana pula, the South Africa rand, and the US dollar to be used locally - ended hyperinflation and reduced inflation below 10% per year, but exposed structural weaknesses that continue to inhibit broad-based growth.

Exchange rates

Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - 234.25 (2010) 234.25 (2009) 9,686.8 (2007) the dollar was adopted as a legal currency in 2009; since then the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced hyperinflation and is essentially worthless

Exports

$3.144 billion (2013 est.) $3.314 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports - partners

China 21.1%, South Africa 15.1%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 12.1%, Botswana 10.8%, Italy 4.6% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

68.5% 30.4% 22.2% 68.4% -89.4% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

68.4%

government consumption

30.4%

household consumption

68.5%

imports of goods and services

-89.4%

investment in fixed capital

22.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

20.1% 25.4% 54.5% (2013 est.)

agriculture

20.1%

industry

25.4%

services

54.5% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$600 (2013 est.) $600 (2012 est.) $500 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2013 est.) 4.4% (2012 est.) 10.6% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.48 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.496 billion (2013 est.) $7.265 billion (2012 est.) $6.957 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2% 40.4% (1995)

highest 10%

40.4% (1995)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$4.571 billion (2013 est.) $4.569 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels, food products

Imports - partners

South Africa 51.9%, China 10% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (2013 est.)

Industries

mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.5% (2013 est.) 8.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force

3.939 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

66% 10% 24% (1996)

agriculture

66%

industry

10%

services

24% (1996)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2012 est.) $10.9 billion (31 December 2011) $11.48 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

68% (2004)

Public debt

202.4% of GDP (2013 est.) 244.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$437 million (31 December 2013 est.) $575.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$22.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $47.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$14.06 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $9.844 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$23.03 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $12.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.) Zimbabwe's central bank no longer publishes data on monetary aggregates, except for bank deposits, which amounted to $2.1 billion in November 2010; the Zimbabwe dollar stopped circulating in early 2009; since then, the US dollar and South African rand have been the most frequently used currencies; there are no reliable estimates of the amount of foreign currency circulating in Zimbabwe

Taxes and other revenues

NA% of GDP

Unemployment rate

95% (2009 est.) 80% (2005 est.) figures include unemployment and underemployment; true unemployment is unknown and, under current economic conditions, unknowable

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

8.875 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

120 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

12.57 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

56 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

66.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

33.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.338 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.035 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

7.808 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,030 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

13,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government owns all local radio and TV stations; foreign shortwave broadcasts and satellite TV are available to those who can afford antennas and receivers; in rural areas, access to TV broadcasts is extremely limited (2007)

Internet country code

.zw

Internet hosts

30,615 (2012)

Internet users

1.423 million (2009)

Telephone system

system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru) (2010)

domestic

consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones

general assessment

system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance

international

country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru) (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

301,600 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

12.614 million (2012)

Airports

196 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

7 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2013)

over 3,047 m

3

total

17

Airports - with unpaved runways

72 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

104

total

179

Pipelines

refined products 270 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)

river port(s)

Binga, Kariba (Zambezi)

Railways

3,427 km 3,427 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2008)

total

3,427 km

Roadways

97,267 km 18,481 km 78,786 km (2002)

total

97,267 km

unpaved

78,786 km (2002)

Waterways

(some navigation possible on Lake Kariba) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

2,616,051 2,868,376 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,868,376 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,616,051

Manpower fit for military service

1,528,166 1,646,041 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,646,041 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,528,166

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

154,870 152,550 (2010 est.)

female

152,550 (2010 est.)

male

154,870

Military branches

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) (2012)

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF)

Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) (2012)

Military expenditures

2.94% of GDP (2012) 2.05% of GDP (2011) 2.94% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women are eligible to serve (2012)

Disputes - international

Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration

Illicit drugs

transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa

Refugees and internally displaced persons

(political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2013)

IDPs

(political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2013)

Trafficking in persons

Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Zimbabwean women and girls from towns bordering South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia are subjected to prostitution, sometimes being sold by their parents; Zimbabwean men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture and domestic service in rural areas, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking in cities and towns; Zimbabwean women and men are lured into exploitative labor situations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Nigeria, and South Africa with false job offers, while women and girls are lured to China, Egypt, the UK, and Canada and forced into prostitution; adults and children from Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia are trafficked through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa Tier 3 - Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; tangible efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, including those allegedly involving government officials, and to protect victims remain minimal; the government continues to rely on an international organization to provide law enforcement training and on NGOs to identify and assist victims without government support for such work; a national trafficking awareness campaign was launched in November 2012 (2013)

current situation

Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Zimbabwean women and girls from towns bordering South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia are subjected to prostitution, sometimes being sold by their parents; Zimbabwean men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture and domestic service in rural areas, as well as domestic servitude and sex trafficking in cities and towns; Zimbabwean women and men are lured into exploitative labor situations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Nigeria, and South Africa with false job offers, while women and girls are lured to China, Egypt, the UK, and Canada and forced into prostitution; adults and children from Bangladesh, Somalia, India, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia are trafficked through Zimbabwe en route to South Africa

tier rating

Tier 3 - Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; tangible efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses, including those allegedly involving government officials, and to protect victims remain minimal; the government continues to rely on an international organization to provide law enforcement training and on NGOs to identify and assist victims without government support for such work; a national trafficking awareness campaign was launched in November 2012 (2013)