Country Spotlight: Zimbabwe

Factoids:

• The country of Zimbabwe is slightly larger than Montana

• Life expectacy is 39 years

• 24.6% of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS

• The literacy rate (age 15 and older who can read and write English) is 90.7%

• Unemployment rate: 80%
  

History and Current Events:

From 1923 up until 1980, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) was ruled by the United Kingdom. After it declared independence, Robert Mugabe became the nation's first prime minister and has been the only ruler since. His chaotic land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, Mugabe rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. Mugabe's security forces continue to retaliate against any opposition groups.

Last week, elections were held in Zimbabwe between Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is the leader for the Movement for a Democratic Change party. After results began coming in that started to show that Mugabe had lost control of Parliament to the MDC, his security forces raided a hotel housing foreign journalists and arrested two of them. The electoral commission that is run by Mugabe loyalists has refused to release the official election results. Zimbabwe's High Court has yet to determine if it will try to force the release of the results. Meanwhile many believe that Mugabe is stalling to try to rally his supporters together in order to maintain his control over the country by force.

Editor's Note:

This could get ugly if Mugabe can stir up enough support to help him retain power by force. Let's hope this is resolved peacefully and that Civil War isn't imminent. Unfortunately, with the country's current economic woes coupled with the racial tensions between the white farmers who remain (most emigrated out of Zimbabwe after losing their land to Mugabe's redistribution campaign) and the Mugabe loyalists known as the "veterans". The United States continues to support free and fair democratic elections in Zimbabwe and has denounced the actions of Mugabe. Stay tuned for continual updates on the current situation.

Bibliography:
CNN Article
WorldFactBook: Zimbabwe
Time Article