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• The Republic of Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in southern Africa and is bordered by South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique.

  In 1965 a white-minority Southern Rhodesia government led by Ian Smith declared its independence from the United Kingdom. Two opposition groups, Joshua Nkomo's ZAPU and Robert Mugabe's ZANU, began a civil war and eventually wrested control from Ian Smith's government.

  In April 1980, the country attained recognized independence along with a new name, new flag, and government led by Robert Mugabe as the nation's first prime minister. Since then, Mugabe has dominated politics in the country and has been the country's only ruler since independence.

  General elections in Spring 2008 resulted in the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change claiming to have won control of the parliament. The results of the election are currently being disputed by Mugabe's party.

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Republic of Zimbabwe
  2. Capital: Harare
  3. Government: Republic
  4. Official language: English
  5. Population: 11,350,111 (July 2008 est.)CIA: Zimbabwe
  6. Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs
  7. Area: 390,759 sq km (150,873 sq miles)
  8. Currency: Zimbabwean Dollar
  9. GNI per capita: US $340 (World Bank, 2006)
  10. Main exports: Tobacco, Cotton, Agricultural Products, Gold, Minerals
  11. Life expectancy: 44 years (men), 43 years (women) (UN)
  12. International dialing code: +263

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Africa | South Africa | Robert Mugabe | Zambia | Botswana | Victoria Falls

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