Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the Southern Part of the African Continent.
Zimbabwe is divided into 8 Provinces and 2 Cities with Provincial Status
Zimbabwe's adult literacy rate of about 90% is the highest in Africa.Zimbabwe's education system consists of 2 years of pre-school, 7 years of primary and 6 years of secondary schooling before students can enter university in the country or abroad. The academic year in Zimbabwe runs from January to December.
Capital Harare
Currency Various Currencies - South African Rand;Euro British Pound;US Dollar
Population 13 Million (2010 Estimate)
Official Language English;Shona and Sindebele
History
In 1923 Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)a conquered territory which was also administered by the BSA Company, became a self-governing British Dominion.
In 1924, after negotiations, administration of Northern Rhodesia transferred to the British Colonial Office.
In 1953, the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland grouped together Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland(now Malawi) as a single semi-autonomous region.
Growing African Nationalism and general dissent, particularly in Nyasaland, persuaded Britain to dissolve the Union in 1963, forming three colonies.
As colonial rule was ending throughout the continent and as African-majority governments assumed control in neighbouring Northern Rhodesia(Zambia) and in Nyasaland(Malawi), the white-minority Rhodesian government led by Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front(RF) dropped the designation "Southern" in 1964 and issued a ''Unilateral Declaration of Independence''(UDI) from the U K on Nov 11, 1965, effectively repudiating the British plan that the country should become a multi-racial democracy. It was the first declaration of independence by a British colony since the American Declaration of 1776.
The United Kingdom deemed the Rhodesian declaration an act of rebellion, but did not re-establish control by force.
A civil war ensued, with Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union(ZAPU) and Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union(ZANU) using assistance from the governments of Zambia and Mozambique(the latter following its independence from Portugal in 1975)
Over the years, the fighting against Ian Smith's government intensified. As a result, the Smith government opened negotiations with the leaders of ZAPU and ZANU.
In March 1978, with his regime near the brink of collapse, Smith signed an accord with three African leaders, led by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, who offered safeguards for white civilians. As a result of the Internal Settlement,(The internal settlement left control of the country's police, security forces, civil service and judiciary in white hands. It assured whites of about one-third of the seats in parliament)elections were held in April 1979. The United African National Council (UANC)Party won a majority in this election.
On June 1979, the leader of UANC, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, became the Country's PM and the Country's Name was changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia.
Zimbabwe Rhodesia regained its independence as Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980. The government held independence celebrations in Rufaro stadium in Salisbury, the capital. Lord Christopher Soames, the last Governor of Southern Rhodesia, watched as Charles,Prince of Wales, gave a farewell salute and the Rhodesian Signal Corps played God Save the Queen, the anthem of Commonwealth Realms.
Government
Zimbabwe is a Semi-Presidential Republic which has a Parliamentary System of Govt.The President is the head of State.The President of Zimbabwe is elected to a term of 6 years.
The PM is the Head of the Govt.
From 1980 to 1987, Rober Mugabe was the first person to hold the office of PM following independence from UK.
The post of PM was abolished when the constitution was amended in Dec1987 and Robert Mugabe became President of Zimbabwe.
Rober Mugabe is the current President of Zimbabwe in office from Dec1987.
During the period Dec 1987 to Feb 2009 the post of PM was abolished
Morgan Tsvangirai of Movement for Democratic Change -Tsvangirai(MDC-T) is the current PM of Zimbabwe in office from Feb 11,2009.
Presidents of Zimbabwe
| S.No | Name | Party | Tenure |
| 1 | Canaan Banana | ZANU | April 18,1980 to Dec31,1987 |
| 2 | Robert Mugabe | ZANU-PF | Feb 11,2009 to present |
Prime Ministers of Zimbabwe
S.No
|
Name
|
Party
|
Tenure
|
1
|
Robert Mugabe
|
ZANU
|
April 18,1980 to Dec 31,1987
|
2
|
Morgan Tsvangirai
|
MDC - T
|
Feb 11,2009 to present
|
Parliament of Zimbabwe
Parliament is Bicameral - Senate(Upper House) and House of Assembly(Lower House).
The House of assembly has 210 members 200 elected for 5-year terms by single member constituencies and 10 are appointed governors .
The Senate has 66 members - 50 are elected for 5 year terms by single-member constituencies,6 are appointed, and 10 are elected chiefs.
2008 Zimbabwean Presidential Election - March 29,2008
The candidates were the incumbent President Robert Mugabe of ZANU(PF);Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) and Simba Makoni,an independent.
As no candidate received an outright majority in the first round, a second round was held on June 27, 2008 between Tsvangirai (with 48% of the first round vote) and Mugabe (43%). Tsvangirai withdrew from the second round a week before it was scheduled to take place, citing violence against his party's supporters. The second round went ahead, despite widespread condemnation, and led to victory for Robert Mugabe who secured 85% Votes as against Morgan Tsvangirai's 10% Votes.
2008 Zimbabwean Parliamentary Election - March 29,2008
A parliamentary election was held to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate. The House of Assembly has been expanded from 150 to 210 members, all elected, in the 2008 election , while the Senate now comprises 93 seats, 60 of which are directly elected (six from each province).
The ruling ZANU-PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since the independence in 1980 and the two MDC's,MDC-T and MDC -M won most of the seats.
House of Assembly Results
MDC-Tsvangirai secured 43% Votes and got 100 seats
MDC -Mutambara secured 8% Votes and got 10 seats
ZANU-PF secured 46% Votes and got 99 seats
Independent secured 2% vote and got 1 seat
Senate Results
ZANU-PF secured 46% Votes and got 57 Seats
MDC -T secured 43% Votes and got 24 Seats
MDC - M secured 8% Votes and got 12 Seats
Zimbabwe PM marries despite court ban
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has got married, despite a court ruling blocking the move.
Mr Tsvangirai(60) and Elizabeth Macheka(35) exchanged rings in Harare under an alternative "customary marriage" law that allows polygamy.
He could not be married under the country's monogamous law because the court ruled that he already had a wife.
Zimbabwe PM faces court battle
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's bid for an out-of-court settlement with an ex-lover whom he dumped to marry another woman has failed
Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo had gone to a civil
court demanding US $15,000 per month in maintenance payments from
Tsvangirai following his marriage to Elizabeth Macheka.
Their lawyers on Oct 18,2012 Thursday asked the magistrate to stand down the case while they tried to thrash out an out-of-court deal.
"There was no agreement, so the discussions fell away," Tembo's lawyer Everson Samukange told
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