|RNature and climate:|N Zimbabwe is crossed by several mighty mountainchains, the highest peak reaches 2593 m.a.s.l.
In the north the River Zambesi forms the border against Zambia and in the south the River Limpopo forms the border against Botswana and the South African Republic.
Vegetation is mainly savannah rich of trees. Cultivation have pushed aside many big wild animals to wild life preserves.
Zimbabwe is located in the tropical belt, but the high elevation makes the climate subtropical. Average temperature in July between 14 and 20°C and in January between 20 and 26°C.
Percipitation between 500 and 1000 mm but in the eastern mountains 2000 mm.
|RPeople:|N Different Bantu-tribes of which Shona 71% and Ndebele 16% are the biggest.
|REconomy:|N Zimbabwe by tradition have one of the most developed economies in Africa. Agriculture is most important for occupation and the rich mineral resources give most export revenues. A well developed system of transportations and rich resources of hydroelectric powers is the base for a well developed manufacturing including heavy steelworks, car assembling plants, ore processing, as well as textilemanufacturing and foodprocessing.
The most important crops are tobacco, corn, tea, sugar and cotton. Extensive stockraising.
The most important minerals are coal, chromite, asbestos, gold and nickel.
|RHistory:|N The town Zimbabwe, now in ruins, was the centre of one of the highly developed cultures that flourished in eastern Africa from the 4th century AD. The first inhabitants seem to have been peasants, but from the 7th century they increased trade with the surrounding world, probably after they had found and started to extract gold. At this time Zimbabwe was the dominating tradecountry in southern Africa and traded among others with China.
Different Bantutribes invaded and took control in the early 15th century and a new time of prosperity started at the end of the 15th and the early 16th centuries when Portuguese traders came to the area. During this period number of monumental buildings were set up, many of which are still ruins.
From the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century the Portuguese still traded in Zimbabwe, but now with slaves.
When slave trade was stopped the Portuguese left and instead Britain started to show interest. By the end of the century Sir Cecil Rhodes received concession for mineral extraction from several local chiefs, which was confirmed by Queen Victoria in 1889, as the area had become a British protectorate in 1888. 1890 the town Salisbury, todays Harare, was founded and in 1895 Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nyasaland was named Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes and united in one colony, which de facto was governed by the British South Africa Company. In 1923 Rhodesia was divided in the two colonies North Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) and South Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) became a self-ruling part of the British Empire.
To South Rhodesia a massive white immigration started. The whites established huge plantations, set up an extensive forestry and developed the rich mineral resources. Economy prospered, but the black population was not allowed to participate on the political scene, except at the lowest level.
In 1953 the three neighbouring countries South Rhodesia, North Rhodesia and Nyasaland once again was united, this time in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1961 the South Rhodesian parliament passed a new constitution that guaranteed continued white rule. In North Rhodesia and Nyasaland the black people gained more and more influence. Finally in 1963 the Federation was dissolved. North Rhodesia became the independent country Zambia, Nyasaland became independent Malawi and South Rhodesia continued to be a British colony.
The independent country Rhodesia was unilaterally proclaimed in 1965. This independence was declared illegal by Great Britain and UN protested against this trick by the white minority.
In 1968 the UN inaugurated trade embargo against Rhodesia, but not until 1974 the white minority was prepared to negotiate about increased black influence in politics.
The negotiations led to public elections in 1979 and the first black prime minister was installed in June 1979. Two black guerillagroups opposed the deal and continued the fighting. This caused the newly elected parliament to dissolve itself in December 1979 and Rhodesia declared itself a British colony again. The same month a new agreement was reached and approved by most parties. In spring 1980 new elections were held and April 18 the colony Rhodesia became the independent country Zimbabwe. One guerilla group continued the attacks against the white population in rural areas, but in 1987 also this group approved to the agreement.
Severe drought in 1992 forced Zimbabwe to import food.
