Details of Zimbabwe

General Economic analysis of Zimbabwe:

▪ Zimbabwe is one of the most economically developed country on the African continent.

▪ Zimbabwe has only enjoyed recognized autonomy since 1980, so it is a fairly young political entity.

▪ Zimbabwe's economic system is one indicative of a transitional country, a country making the transition from dependency underdevelopment to self-reliant industrialization.

▪ The dynamics of underdevelopment to development in Zimbabwe are readily apparent.

Geography

▪ Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern, sub-Saharan area of the African continent.

▪ Harare is Zimbabwe's capital and largest city with a population of 1,100,000.

People

▪ Zimbabweans are comprised of two primary ethnic groups, the Shona, comprising 74% of the population and the Ndebele comprising 20%.

▪ Other ethnic black groups and Asians make up 4% of the population while whites make up just over 1% of the population.

▪ Zimbabwe has a population of 10.35 million people with a population density of 24 persons per km2.

▪ Annual growth rate is declining with -15%.

History

▪ Zimbabwe's history dates back to the 9th century A.D., when the Great Stone House or Great Zimbabwe, the source of the countries name, was built.

▪ About 900 years after the construction of the Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe became the object of British colonialism in 1888.

▪ Although a colony, throughout the existence of its charter Rhodesia enjoyed self-governing and perceived autonomy.

▪ The perceived autonomy stimulated the nation’s domestic growth, regarding developing Rhodesia's mineralogical and agricultural potential.

Economics

▪ Zimbabwe has been putting great emphasis in developing its mining industry and now is one of the most developed in Africa.

▪ The mining of such minerals as copper, nickel, and gold is responsible for nearly half of the country’s $4.9 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

▪ The other half of Zimbabwe's GDP is generated primarily in the agricultural sector.

▪ Zimbabwe is a model for third-world economic development in many ways. Although not yet fully developed Zimbabwe clearly has the potential to be a full fledged developed nation, because of its vast resources and the structure of Zimbabwe’s economic system.

References

Economic Growth in Zimbabwe, <http://www.cyberessays.com/History/117.>

Written by Duoyi Zhao