Updated: March 2009
Zimbabwe
Overview | World Vision's history in Zimbabwe | World Vision in Zimbabwe today
OverviewLocated in southeastern Africa, the Republic of Zimbabwe is a landlocked country bordered by Botswana to the southwest, Mozambique to the east, Zambia to the northwest, and South Africa to the south. Along the border with Mozambique are the East African Highlands, a mountain range that features a cool, wet climate. The Zambezi River is found along the border with Zambia and contains the majestic Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfall. A high, rocky plateau traverses much of the center of the country, while lower plateaus and grasslands can be found in the west. The country’s natural resources include coal, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, lithium, tin, and platinum.Nearly all people living in Zimbabwe are of African descent: 82 percent are from Shona ancestry, and 14 percent are Ndebele. Other ethnic groups include Europeans of British, Dutch, or Portuguese origin, Afrikaners, and Asians. English is the official but not first language of most Zimbabweans. Shona, Sindebele, and numerous other dialects are also spoken. In 1923, Britain annexed part of southeast Africa and named the area Southern Rhodesia. Four decades later, Prime Minister Ian Smith declared independence, but Britain wouldn’t recognize it due to Smith’s opposition to black majority rule. The 1970s saw a guerilla war erupt against Smith’s government, ending in 1979 with a power-sharing accord reached between the blacks and whites. The country’s name was then changed to Zimbabwe, which means “big house of stone.” Robert Mugabe won presidential elections in 1980 and has stayed in power since. In 2000, Mugabe declared that all white-owned farmlands be taken and given to blacks—a move that brought upon sanctions from the international community. The government demolished tens of thousands of shanties and street stalls in 2005 in an “urban revitalization” project that left 700,000 homeless. Massive flooding hit northern Zimbabwe in late 2007, displacing more than 1,250 people. Elections in March 2008 were filled with controversy as the results were not announced for more than a month. In May, it was declared that neither Mugabe nor his opponent won a majority of the vote and a runoff election would need to be held in the summer. |  |
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| Since the land redistribution in 2000, agricultural exports have declined sharply, causing hyperinflation and acute fuel and commodity shortages. In May 2008, with inflation at approximately 165,000 percent, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued a Z$500 million bank note, which is worth about US$2. By July 2008, inflation had ballooned to a staggering 231 million percent. Now, more than 80 percent of Zimbabweans live below the poverty line, and 83 percent live on less than $2 a day. The economy has considerably reduced the government and private sector’s ability to provide financial relief or basic health-care services. Poor agricultural policies, the declining economy, and high unemployment have all contributed to the country’s ailing health-care system. Chronic malnutrition, caused by severe food insecurity, has raised child stunting levels to 29 percent, the highest rate since 1988. Zimbabwe’s life expectancy, currently less than 40 years, ranks the country 218 out of 221 worldwide. One reason for this low life expectancy is the sweeping HIV and AIDS epidemic. There are more than 1.3 million Zimbabweans who live with HIV and AIDS—133,000 of whom are children. Nearly 1 million boys and girls have lost one or both of their parents to the disease. Despite seeing a drop from 30 percent in the late 1990s to its current 16 percent, Zimbabwe still ranks as one of the world’s 10 worst countries for HIV prevalence rates. Back to top World Vision’s history in ZimbabweIn World Vision’s efforts in Zimbabwe began in 1973 (when the country was called Rhodesia) with the sponsorship of 71 children living in a Salvation Army-supported institute. By 1978 the number of sponsored children across the country had grown to 845. Projects assisting children and their families during the 1970s included:
World Vision’s growing sponsorship projects emphasized education, nutrition, immunization, and health during the 1990s. By 1995, 25,575 children were benefiting from sponsorship. The Chambuta Refugee Camp Project assisted people fleeing the civil war in Mozambique. Food supplements and development activities reduced malnutrition by 25 percent among 7,000 of the refugees. The Zimbabwe Water for Drought Project assisted 60,000 people in 68 communities by constructing improved water systems and providing hygiene education. In the 21st century, World Vision has focused on agricultural development, loan programs for Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, HIV and AIDS education, and flood relief. Back to top World Vision in Zimbabwe todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Zimbabwe to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 66,444 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 26,300 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 21 development programs, six of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
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