Zimbabwe

I

Introduction

Zimbabwe, officially Republic of Zimbabwe, landlocked republic, southern Africa, bordered on the north-west by Zambia, on the north-east and east by Mozambique, on the south by South Africa, on the south-west by Botswana, and on the west by Botswana and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. It was formerly the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (later Rhodesia).

The white government of the territory declared unilateral independence in 1965, adopting a republican form of government in 1970, and precipitating a war with black nationalist groups seeking independence under majority rule. In April 1980, following multi-party elections, Rhodesia became formally independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe. The total area of the country is 390,759 sq km (150,873 sq mi). The capital of Zimbabwe is Harare.

II

Land and Resources

Zimbabwe is an upland country with a relatively temperate climate and a diversity of agricultural and mineral resources. The country occupies part of the great plateau of southern Africa. The most prominent physical feature is a broad upland that runs south-west to north-east across the country, and is most extensive in the north-east. It has an average elevation of about 1,525 m (5,000 ft) and is known as the Highveld. On either side of the Highveld the land slopes downward, in the north towards the River Zambezi and in the south towards the River Limpopo. These areas have average elevations of about 1,065 m (3,500 ft) and are known as the Middle Veld. The basins of the Zambezi, and the Limpopo, and, in the south-east, the Sabi-Lundi system are known as the Lowveld.

Along the eastern border is a mountainous range, the Eastern Highlands, which rises to a maximum elevation of 2,592 m (8,504 ft) at Inyangani. Apart from the Eastern Highlands, Zimbabwe’s terrain is predominantly gently undulating, except for a narrow belt of rugged hills associated with fault lines along the Zambezi valley. There is also the Great Dyke, made up of hard, intrusive rocks, which runs some 480 km (298 mi) roughly north-south through the centre of Zimbabwe, and gives rise to prominent ranges of hills; the Great Dyke contains many of Zimbabwe’s rich mineral deposits.

A

Rivers and Lakes

A number of short rivers rise in the Highveld. Of these rivers the Shangani and Sanyati flow north, and the Sabi and Lundi flow south. Just downstream from the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi is Lake Kariba, which was formed behind the Kariba Dam. It is one of the world’s largest artificial lakes and lies astride the country’s north-western border with Zambia.

B

Climate

Although Zimbabwe lies in the tropics, its climate is considerably moderated by both altitude and distance from the sea. The average temperature is 15.6° C (60° F) in July (winter), and 21.1° C (70° F) in January (summer). The average annual rainfall is about 890 mm (35 in) in the Highveld and less than 610 mm (24 in) in most parts of the Middle Veld. Most rainfall occurs between October and March. There is a tendency towards drought, though in 1997 rainfall in Zimbabwe was the highest for ten years.