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ZIMBABWE FACT SHEET
Zimbabwe is one of the youngest nations in Africa, having gained it's independence in 1980. Approximately the size of California, it lies to the north of the Tropic of Capricorn between the Zambezi and the Limpopo Rivers. On it's northern border with Zambia, the country boasts one of the natural wonders of the world. the Victoria Falls. Further east. the Zambezi River has been dammed to create the vast Lake Kariba. another amazing phenomenon. It is bordered in the south by South Africa, by Mozambique on the east and north-east, and by Botswana on the south-west. It is part of the great plateau which is a major feature of the geography of Southern Africa.
HISTORY
Bantu-speaking people - probably the Shona group - first infiltrated Zimbabwe during a southward migration around A.D.1000. They found the country already populated with Bushmen and Hottentots. who hod probably settled in the area some 500 years prior. The Bantu people easily overshadowed the indigenous subsistence farmers. introduced a stronger form of government. and are generally credited with building walled city-states.
Up until the 19th century, these Shona city-states flourished, and brought abundant wealth to the country through gold trade routes to the Tanzania coast and offshore islands.
Soon after that era. the Shona civilization began to crumble. primarily due to the fierce Zulu groups from the south. who waged successive raids on the less war-like Shona peoples. One of these Zulu groups was the Ndebele (or Matabele) who settled in the area now known as Bulawayo. and quickly overshadowed all Shona presence in this area.
It was not until the l9th century that European traders and missionaries made their way into the Zimbabwe interior. The British South Africa Company controlled the territory for many years. making a fortune from diamond and gold mining. until their charter was dissolved in 1923, and the country was named Southern Rhodesia and became a self-governing colony of England.
For many decades to follow, the country was beset by internal racial conflict and disputes between white settlers who wanted their freedom and England who was not willing to grant independence.
In 1965. a coalition of white settlers declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain. thus earning the status of an international 'outlaw'. But internal racial problems continued to intensity, and after many years of guerilla warfare. the white population and the British Government agreed to the formation of an independent nation. in 1980 - which the citizens soon renamed Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe became the first president and remains in office today.
ECONOMY
The major portion of Zimbabwe's foreign exchange comes from its extensive mining industry. Two thirds of the world's known reserves of chrome are found within its borders. Other major mineral deposit include coal, asbestos, copper, nickel, gold and iron ore.
CLIMATE
Nature has given Zimbabwe one of the finest climates in the world. with it's long warm summers and short mild winters. The dry winter months (May - October) have sunny days and cold nights, this is an excellent game-viewing time. The wet summer months have hot days with frequent showers.
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