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| However a growing opposition party called the ], (]) led by ] and growing to popular strength has led many people to believe that political change must come, hopefully through democratic process and the restoration of Zimbabwean rule of law. During 2002, the country's much-contested Presidential elections (many Zimbabweans considered Morgan Tsvangirai to be a clear winner) are believed to have been manipulated to deflect the winnings back to the ruling Zanu-PF government. | However a growing opposition party called the ], (]) led by ] and growing to popular strength has led many people to believe that political change must come, hopefully through democratic process and the restoration of Zimbabwean rule of law. During 2002, the country's much-contested Presidential elections (many Zimbabweans considered Morgan Tsvangirai to be a clear winner) are believed to have been manipulated to deflect the winnings back to the ruling Zanu-PF government. | ||
| For the country once considered the bread basket of the ] (Southern African Development |
For the country once considered the bread basket of the ] (Southern African Development Community) region, the future remains sad and uncertain. The international community believes that political decisions made both overseas and by Zimbabwe's southern-most neighbour ] are crucial to the balance of power in this sovereign state. Under the direction of South African President ] it remains to be seen whether Mbeki's proposed plan for a true ] will include political freedom and the rule of law within Zimbabwe. | ||
| :] | :] | ||
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| :] | :] | ||
| :] | :] | ||
| :<b>Database on Food & Agriculture in ] Countries</b> at | |||
| :http://www.sadc-fanr.org.zw/sadcbase.htm | |||
| /ends | /ends | ||
Revision as of 08:20, 11 December 2002
Zimbabwe is a country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambesi and Limpopo rivers. With an area of 390,000 sq. km. and a population estimated at 11.3 million, it is surrounded by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west, Zambia to the north and Mozambique to the east. After 33 years of administration by the British South Africa Company, from 1923 until 1980 it was officially the British colony of Southern Rhodesia, though a white minority regime proclaimed independence unilaterally in 1965 as the State (subsequently Republic) of Rhodesia.
After a brief period as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1979 under an internal settlement between the regime and part of the African opposition movement, the country was returned to British rule at the end of 1979 pending elections which led to legal independence under the country's first fully-fledged majority government on 18 April 1980. Since then, under the dictatorial regime of Robert Mugabe, the country has declined economically. Many observers believe the country is now on the verge of genocide, particularly as the ruling Zanu-PF elite continues with its controversial Land Reform policies. The gross misuse of land, badly-managed resources and misappropriated donor funding (from people such as the International Monetary Fund, (IMF) have led the international community to forecast severe famine in the region by mid-2003.
However a growing opposition party called the Movement for Democratic change, (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai and growing to popular strength has led many people to believe that political change must come, hopefully through democratic process and the restoration of Zimbabwean rule of law. During 2002, the country's much-contested Presidential elections (many Zimbabweans considered Morgan Tsvangirai to be a clear winner) are believed to have been manipulated to deflect the winnings back to the ruling Zanu-PF government.
For the country once considered the bread basket of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region, the future remains sad and uncertain. The international community believes that political decisions made both overseas and by Zimbabwe's southern-most neighbour South Africa are crucial to the balance of power in this sovereign state. Under the direction of South African President Thabo Mbeki it remains to be seen whether Mbeki's proposed plan for a true African Renaissance will include political freedom and the rule of law within Zimbabwe.
- History of Zimbabwe
- Geography of Zimbabwe
- Demographics of Zimbabwe
- Politics of Zimbabwe
- Economy of Zimbabwe
- Communications in Zimbabwe
- Transportation in Zimbabwe
- Military of Zimbabwe
- Foreign relations of Zimbabwe
- Database on Food & Agriculture in SADC Countries at
- http://www.sadc-fanr.org.zw/sadcbase.htm
/ends