49 Facts About Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, officially known as the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa located between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers.

It is bounded on the south by South Africa, on the west and southwest by Botswana, on the northwest by Zambia, and on the east and northeast by Mozambique.

The Bantu-speaking Iron Age farmers who settled in the region around AD 300 were the country's first inhabitants.

Zimbabwe's former president, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is one of the world's oldest and longest-serving leaders of a non-royal country.

Emmerson Mnangagwa (born 15 September 1942) succeeded Robert Gabriel Mugabe on November 24, 2017.

Zimbabwe has abandoned its own currency in favour of others. This occurred following the country's massive inflation in 2008. Since April 12, 2009, the country has used the US dollar, the South African Rand, and the Botswana Pula as its currency.

It is illegal for the police to impound your vehicle on the road in Zimbabwe. The only time they can do so is when you are asked to produce your driver's licence.

Zimbabwe has won eight Olympic medals in two sports: hockey (1) and swimming(7). Coventry won three Olympic medals in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece: gold, silver, and bronze, and four medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing: gold, silver, and bronze. The women's national field hockey team won a gold medal in 1980.

The name of the country was derived from Great Zimbabwe, a fortified trading hub built in mediaeval times and used by the 'Shona' tribe. This tribe accounts for roughly 70% of the country's current population.

Zimbabwe was once a wealthy country.

Zimbabwe experienced 231 million percent inflation in 2008.

The country has one of the highest inflation and unemployment rates in the world.

The Zimbabwean economy is built on manufacturing, mining, and agriculture.

On April 18, 1980, Zimbabwe declared independence from the United Kingdom. On this day, they commemorate their independence by celebrating their national day.

Zimbabweans mostly refer to toothpaste as "Colgate," soft drinks as "Coke," washing powder as "Surf," and floor polish as "Cobra."

Blackouts are quite common and random in Zimbabwe, and they can last for up to three hours or more.

Zimbabwe has one of the world's lowest life expectancies. Females live an average of 58.7 years, while males live an average of 57.3 years (2016.)

According to UNICEF (2015), more than 1.4 million people in the country are infected with AIDS.

The mbira, a small hand-held instrument, has been played in Zimbabwe for over 1,000 years. This instrument is also known colloquially as a 'thumb piano.'

Mwari is the name of the Zimbabwean deity of the Shona tribes. For centuries, they have believed in this deity.

Zimbabwe is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals. Many of Zimbabwe's health-care professionals have left the country in search of better opportunities elsewhere in the world. Many people still seek spiritual healing advice for minor and major ailments. HIV/AIDS is widespread in the country and has been blamed for the deaths of thousands of people in recent years.

Mermaids are widely believed to exist in Zimbabwe. In fact, these mythical creatures are frequently blamed for heinous crimes like kidnapping, torture, and murder.

Cholera and malaria are the two most serious diseases in the country. Malaria is common in low-lying border regions. In 2009, WHO reported more than 760,000 cases of malaria, while one-third of its minor population suffers from chronic malnutrition.

As most men in the world try to shade their large tummies for flat ones, the opposite is true in Zimbabwe. Pot bellies in men are regarded as a sign of success and wealth in Zimbabwe.

Divorce is frowned upon in Zimbabwe. This does not imply that divorce is illegal in the country. However, divorce is only permitted for women, and it is extremely rare.

Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls, is located on the Zambezi River. It is more than a kilometre wide and more than a hundred metres tall.

The roar of Victoria Falls can be heard from 40 kilometres away.

Spray and mist from falling water can be seen from a height of 400 metres and from a distance of 50 kilometres.

The falls are known as Mosi-O-Tunya by the local tribe. It translates as "thunderous smoke."

David Livingstone, a well-known African explorer, named the waterfall after Queen Victoria (1813-1873).

In 1855, the waterfall was discovered.

The waterfall began attracting tourists between 1905, when a railway to Bulawayo was built, and the 1960s, when a guerilla war in Zimbabwe threatened visitors' entry.

The waterfall is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and people from both Zambia and Zimbabwe are working hard to develop tourism in the region.

During floods, the capacity of the water flow can reach half a million litres per minute.

The falls' water flow is at its lowest in October and early November.

4.1 million people are expected to be "food insecure" at the height of the 2017 lean season.

Chronic malnutrition stunts the growth of 27% of children under the age of five (low height for their age).

76% of rural households in the United States live on less than $1.25 per day.

The Global Hunger Index ranks Zimbabwe 156th out of 187 developing countries. It is a low-income country with a food deficit.

Only 17.3% of Zimbabwean children aged 6 to 23 months receive the minimum diet recommended for adequate nutrition.

Zimbabwe's main exports are cotton, tobacco, gold, ferro alloys, and textiles/clothing.

In 1950, a hydroelectric power station was built on the Kariba Dam. The power station generates electricity for both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has one of Africa's highest literacy rates. Literacy rates in the country are 86.5%.

According to the International Organization for Migration, millions of Zimbabweans have fled to other African countries in search of better living conditions and food security.

Due to food shortages and crises, many of its citizens are forced to survive on only one meal per day.

At 2,592 metres, 'Mount Inyangani' is the highest point in the country.

In 1890, the capital Harare was renamed Salisbury after British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury.

The country is devoid of any desert-like terrain. However, a few areas of the country are extremely arid.

At 531 feet, the lowest point in Zimbabwe is located at the confluence of the Runde and Save Rivers.