COUNTRY PROFILE

One of Africa's more advanced economies with mining, commercial agriculture and industry contributing to foreign earnings. The fortunes of Zimbabwe have for the past two decades been tied to President Robert Mugabe, who wrested control from a small white community and put the country on a stable course. However, he now presides over instability, a land crisis and a faltering economy. Large sums spent on education with few employment possibilities and the looming disaster of death through AIDS (between 10 and 30 percent of the population carries the HIV virus) bode ill for the future. There is freedom of religion with the majority of the population claiming to be Christian while 32 percent follow traditional religions. Despite the serious problems in the nation, Zimbabwe has been blessed with many miracles. Since political independence, there has been an unexpected and unprecedented freedom to preach the gospel in public, on the media, in schools and in the prisons.

OVERVIEW

The Rhodesian declaration of independence from Britain by the white minority in 1965 led to intense guerrilla warfare and eventually independence as Zimbabwe in 1980. The former Rhodesia has been the scene of much conflict, with white settlers dispossessing and suppressing the resident population, guerrilla armies forcing the white government to submit to elections, and the post-independence leadership committing atrocities in southern areas where it lacked the support of the Matabele people. Ideological commitment to Marxist-Leninism and a one-party state has been watered down by economic and political realities, enabling the land to recover from the effects of war. Zimbabwe is home to the Victoria Falls, regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world, the stone enclosures of Great Zimbabwe - remnants of a past empire - and to herds of elephant and other game roaming vast stretches of wilderness. For years it has been the world's third biggest source of tobacco and is potentially a bread basket for surrounding countries less geared up for agricultural production and often forced to import food. The country's challenges now include the need to address unresolved land issues, a rampant Aids problem, declining respect for the law and an economic crisis. 

FACTS

Population: 11 million
Capital: Harare 
Major language: English (official), Shona, Sindebele 
Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs 
Form of government: Multiparty republic 
Monetary unit: 1 Zimbabwe dollar = 100 cents 
Main exports: Tobacco, cotton, agricultural products, gold, minerals 
Internet domain: .zw 
Time zone: GMT+2
International dialing code: +263 

LEADERS


President: 
Robert Mugabe

Mugabe played a key role in ending white rule in Rhodesia and he and his ZANU-PF party have dominated Zimbabwe's politics since independence in 1980. He has only recently faced any serious challenge to his authority, in the form of popular protest and substantial gains for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). 
Ideologically, he belongs to the African liberationist tradition of the 1960s - strong and ruthless leadership, anti Western, suspicious of capitalism and deeply intolerant of dissent and opposition. His economic policies are widely seen as being geared to short-term political expediency and the maintenance of power for himself. Foreign Minister: Stanley Mudenge; Home Affairs Minister: John Nkomo; Finance Minister: Simba Makoni; Defense Minister: Moven Mahachi. 

MEDIA

The main broadcast media and newspapers are state controlled and toe the government line. The independent press is relatively vigorous in its criticism of the government, but it remains small. Self-censorship is common, with independent journalists facing harassment as well as a host of anti-defamation laws and colonial-era laws restricting access to information. The constitution provides no explicit protection for press freedom. 

The Press
The Herald - Harare
The Financial Gazette - Harare
The Standard Zimbabwe Independent The Daily News 

Television
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation

Radio
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation

News agency
Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency

OBSTACLES TO MINISTRY

• Since the Rhodesian wars, many fell away from the gospel and sifted back into old habits.

• Unemployment has become the major social problem while frustration, social breakdown and crime increased.

SPIRITUAL POWER POINTS

• AIDS is beginning to reap its grim harvest of deaths with present trends, if continuing, cutting the population in half by 2012.

• Needs to be increased credibility in national affairs.

Special thanks to Patrick Johnstone's, "Operation World" publisher, ISBN# 0-310-40031-7; and country profiles by the BBC