History of Zimbabwe

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Population

“Zimbabwe”, formerly Rhodesia, was named after a Bantu metropolis from the 14th century. After many years of war for self-determination it became independent on April 18th, 1980 . Different from most African countries Zimbabwe never had any slavery. Zimbabwe has been discovered only late in the 19th century by European settlers looking to exploit its rich mineral resources. It is the size of Germany but has only 12 million people. 98% of the population are from the Shona and Ndebele tribes. The white population makes up only 2% of the total population.

Political situation

The constitution calls for a parliamentary democracy. President Robert Mugabe, who came to power in 1980, immediately after the country gained independence, has led his nation in an increasingly autocratic style over the last few years. While initially following a socialist path he changed course even before the fall of the Soviet Union. Over the last several years the topic of land reform, i.e. a fairer distribution of the arable land to a larger percentage of black laborers, had become a main topic of contention that effected the last few election cycles. Unfortunately Mugabe allowed this issue to turn into a race issue in a country that previously had enjoyed a very harmonious co-existence of its black and white population. As opposition to Mugabe’s policies is growing, he has increasingly reverted to strong-arming to keep the Zimbabwean internal opposition parties squelched and has held on to his power by progressively less democratic means. Unfortunately in this climate of political repression, economic uncertainty and international isolation, Zimbabwe’s real problems, > 50% unemployment, hyper-inflation and the huge impact of the growing AIDS epidemic, remain largely unaddressed.

Economic situation

In recent years low world market prices for Zimbabwe’s main export goods (tobacco and
minerals) lead to chronic annual inflation of >1000%. The situation was worsened by planned economic measures (inefficient state owned companies), corruption, and a large state budget deficit due to large expenditures for pension to “war veterans” as well as for the recent military engagements in Congo. Lastly the take-over of most commercial white-owned farms, has dramatically cut agricultural production not only further reducing Zimbabwe’s ability to export and produce foreign capital, but has now actually led to a lack of basic foods within the country.

The current crisis

The present political crisis and near economic collapse has been dramatically multiplied by the on-going AIDS epidemic. The impact to a country of a 30% HIV-infection rate in the young, educated, productive population is overwhelming and difficult to imagine. Hundreds of teachers, farmers, artists, business people and parents are dying every day, and many more are ill and unable to provide any longer for their families. The financial means for effective HIV treatment are unattainable for almost all. Unfortunately this epidemic has been largely overlooked by the present government of Zimbabwe, and so while many educational programs, largely organized through international NGO’s, are now on-going, there seems to be no effective concerted effort to stem the on-going epidemic. Zimbabwe, a country with high hopes after they gained independence in 1980, a country that once was the “breadbasket” for Southern Africa, has become a country of “disappointed hopes” (as the FAZ reported on May 6th 2000). The only hope seems to be for the next generation. With a concerted international effort we can try to make a difference for the orphans of the present “AIDS generation.”