The Republic of Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa region. Its total area is: 390,580 sq. km (land: 386,670 sq. km; water: 3,910 sq. km).

Its neighboring countries are: in the Northeast and the East: Mozambique over 1,231 km; in the South: South Africa over 225 km; in the Southwest: Botswana over 813 km and in the North West: Zambia over 797 km. Quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia in the Northwest.

Its population numbers: 12,576,742 (July 2003) with a growth rate of: 0.83% (2003)

Independence from United Kingdom: April 18, 1980
National holiday: April 18

Agriculture production: corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs.

Industry production: mining (coal, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), copper, steel, nickel, tin, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages.

Everyone is in agreement that land reform is an absolute necessity to empower black farmers. However, the abrupt and sudden destructive strategy adopted in 1998 by Mugabé's government led to economic chaos.

Indeed, unemployment skyrocketed 80%. Foreign investment dried out, exports have fallen and most international lenders, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, cut off Zimbabwe.

Inflation rose from 27% in January 1998 to 619.5% in November 2003 and hit a record 623 percent in January 2004. It has been brought down to 127 percent in February 2005 as a result of the tight monetary policies put in place at the end of 2003 by Central Bank governor Gideon Gono.

In the 1980's, Zimbabwe was recording average annual growth rates of 4,5 percent, which maintained the momentum of growth inherited from the colonial power. But since the controversial land reform engineered by Mugabe, the economy starts shrinking. In fact, according to professor Tony Hawkins of the University of Zimbabwe, the economy has since 1999 contracted by a third at the average of 9% a year. All economic indicators are in the red.

This is not astonishing as the economic driving force - the agriculture - had been hit hard by the Land Reform. Agriculture output is dwindling fast as lands seized from white farmers are less productive.

FOR HOW LONG ZIMBABWEANS WOULD ACCEPT A DISRUPTIVE REGIME?

Watch the video below to hear an (african) nationalistic view about the disastrous economic situation now prevailing in Zimbabwe (more than 3,300% inflation rate on May, 2007).

A NATIONALISTIC VIEWPOINT ON THE CURRENT ECONOMIC DISATER IN ZIMBABWE Courtesy of www.youtube.com/19Tendai79

Argument exposed by the speaker are valid: the grab of the best arable African land by the Whites at the end of the eighteenth century, the slaving of Blacks on the farms till the (political) independence of Zimbabwe in 1980's, the underpayment of services rendered by black workers - all that is true and extensively documented by Walter Rodney's How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

However, the existing economic disaster that is worsening every passing day, characterized by four-digit inflation rate (3,300% in May 2007) leaves a painful sensation of non-necessary wrack and ruin.

Indeed, a country that used to produce enough food to feed the populations and export surplus is now plagued with severe famine. Several thousands people, common and elite alike, are now fleeing to neighboring countries and particularly into South Africa.

No sober observer cannot deny that the necessary Land Reform had been botched, badly designed and implemented - leading to the current economic and social disaster.

At Africabiz Online, we maintain that It Is Always Better To Build From Assets, Instead Of Starting Afresh From Rubbles. Because that way of doing things first pins down a country development for decades reinforcing the backwardness through the destruction of basic infrastructure and agriculture development; second, it also destroys the international credibility of the country; and third, scares away international investors.

The near future shall tell how long Zimbabweans would accept living under a regime that fails to deliver economic growth that provide jobs up to the demands and social security.

As stated by the author /speaker of above video, the international community would not be the savior. Zimbabweans should do the job themselves, toppling an inefficient regime.

Click here for The Stupid Dive To Hell Of Once Prosperous African Countries.
Click here for updated news and events on Zimbabwe.

MORE ON ZIMBABWE 1- Let Your Voice Be Heard Songs From Ghana & Zimbabwe / by Abraham, K. Adzenyah 2- Our Votes, Our Guns Robert Mugabe And The Tragedy of Zimbabwe by Martin Meredith 3- The Soul of Mbira Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe by Paul Berliner

4- Land Reform Under Structural Adjustment In Zimbabwe / by Sam Moyo 5- Hazards And Opportunities Farming Livelihoods In Dryland / by Ian Scoones 6- Healing Music Of Zimbabwe - CD-ROM by Erica Kundidzora Azim 7- Working In the Margins Black workers, White Farmers / by Blair A. Rutherford 8- More News On Zimbabwe From Yahoo!

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GNP: US$ 8.73 billion (2000); 8.19 billion (2001); 7.20 billion (2002); 6.26 billion (2003)
GNP-real growth rate: - 6.1.% (2000) -12.2% (2001); -13% (2002);-12.2% (2003); -13.5% (2004)
GNP-per capita: US$ 727 (2000); 499 (2003); 431 (2003)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 28 (2002) 24% (2003)
   

2. industry: 32% (2002) 24% (2003)
   
3. services: 40% (2002) 52% (2003)

Exports: US$ 1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000) 1.45 billion (f.o.b., 2002)
Commodities: tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, cotton
Exports - partners: China 6%, South Africa 5.7%, Germany 5.4%, UK 4.8%, Japan 4.7%, Netherlands 4.4%, US 4.1% (2002)

Imports: US$ 1.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000) 1.830 billion (f.o.b., 2002)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39%, other manufactures 18%, chemicals 15%, fuels 40% (2002).
Imports - partners: South Africa 47.7%, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo 5.7%, Mozambique 5.3% (2002)

FOR CURRENCY EQUIVALENCE CLICK HERE

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A passport valid for six months beyond sojourn duration and a visa (for some nationalities: check the following link for more), tickets and documents for return or onward travel and an international certificate of vaccination for yellow fever if arriving from an infected area within the last five days are required for entry. All cash must be declared upon entry, otherwise only a limited amount of US$200 in cash can be re-exported. Non-residents are required to pay hotel bills in foreign currency.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: +(263) 4 752570 Fax: +(263) 4 758828 mktg@ztazim.org	United Kingdom High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe House, 429 Strand, London WC2R Tel: +(44) 171 8367755 +(44) 891 600172 Fax: +(44) 171 3791167
Canada High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe 332 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J9 Tel: +(1) 613 2374388/9 Fax: +(1) 613 5638269 zim.highcomm@sympatico.ca	USA Embassy of Zimbabwe 1608 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 Tel: +(1) 202 3327100 Fax: +(1) 202 4839326

Most big names in international air transport form Europe have regular connection with the International Airport of Harare - the capital city. It is also easy to reach the capital cities of the surrounding countries of Southern Africa. There is a daily connection with South Africa.

The railways system is connected to the South African track which is used to import and export goods and commodities.

Zimbabwe is one of the most visited country in Southern Africa. Hotels built, equipped and serviced to international standard are available all over the country for all kinds of tastes and prices. For more on accommodation contact Hotel and Restaurants Association of Zimbabwe listed below. Other listed addresses are for safari and sight seeing planning.