Overview
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country which borders Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique.
In 1965 the white Rhodesian government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognise the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country.
UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence in 1980. The country changed its name to Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe, whose ZANU- PF party was re-elected in 2005, has been president of Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980.
Zimbabwe has experienced four successive years of erratic rainfall, further depleting resources and assets. The economy continues to deteriorate, with inflation rates rising to over 500 per cent.
Electricity, water and foodstuffs have been in short supply, and fuel is increasingly hard to obtain. Read more...
