20 Facts About Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, lying between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It borders South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique.

The earliest known settlers were Bantu-speaking Iron Age farmers who arrived around the first centuries CE. The country’s name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a medieval stone-built trading city associated with the Shona people, who today make up about 70 percent of the population.

Zimbabwe gained independence from the United Kingdom on 18 April 1980, and this date is celebrated each year as Independence Day.

Robert Mugabe ruled the country from 1980 until 2017, making him one of the longest-serving non-royal leaders in modern history. He was succeeded by Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2017.

After a period of extreme hyperinflation in 2008, Zimbabwe suspended its traditional currency and adopted a multi-currency system, mainly using the US dollar and South African rand. A local currency has since been reintroduced, but foreign currencies remain widely used.

The economy is based largely on agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, with major exports including tobacco, cotton, gold, ferroalloys, and textiles.

Zimbabwe has won Olympic medals mainly in women’s field hockey and swimming. Swimmer Kirsty Coventry is the country’s most decorated Olympian, and the women’s hockey team won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Zimbabwe has one of Africa’s highest literacy rates, at over 85 percent, reflecting long-standing investment in education.

The traditional mbira, or thumb piano, has been played for more than 1,000 years and is central to Shona spiritual and cultural life. Many Shona people believe in Mwari, a supreme creator deity.

Health challenges include shortages of medical staff, as many professionals have emigrated. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and cholera have placed heavy strain on the healthcare system, especially in rural areas.

Food insecurity has affected millions of people in recent years due to droughts and economic difficulties. Malnutrition remains a serious problem among young children.

Zimbabweans commonly use brand names as generic terms, such as calling toothpaste “Colgate” or soft drinks “Coke.” Power cuts are frequent and can last several hours.

Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, lies on the Zambezi River along the border with Zambia. It is more than 1.7 kilometers wide and over 100 meters high. Locally it is called Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning *“The Smoke That Thunders.”*

The falls were named Victoria Falls by explorer David Livingstone in 1855 and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia. During peak floods, the spray can be seen from many kilometers away.

The Kariba Dam, built in the late 1950s, supplies hydroelectric power to both Zimbabwe and Zambia and is one of the largest dams in Africa.

Zimbabwe’s highest point is Mount Inyangani, rising to about 2,592 meters above sea level.

The capital city, Harare, was known as Salisbury during the colonial period.

Much of the country consists of savanna and woodland, with no true desert, although some regions are very dry.

Large numbers of Zimbabweans have migrated to neighboring countries in search of work and better living conditions, particularly during times of economic crisis.

Despite economic hardship, Zimbabwe remains known for its rich culture, music traditions, dramatic landscapes, and historical sites, making it one of Southern Africa’s most distinctive countries.