Mr.+Cook+Zimbabwe+2B



Zimbabwe



*Most major cities in Zimbabwe are on a central plateau with altitudes over 5,000 feet.
 * Did You Know??? **

*A protruding stomach is admired in a man because it means he can afford to eat meat every day.

*Respect is shown by physically lowering oneself, so people do not stand when an elder enters the room.

*24.6% of the population has HIV/AIDS.

**Political Map ** 

**Physical Map ** 

**Comparison Table **

(Female) || //The most startling statistics are the disparity in GDP per capita (which loosely relates to average personal income) and average life expectancy. Is the low average life expectancy in Zimbabwe a result of their lack of access to health care?//
 * Country || Area in Square Miles  || Population  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Real GDP (Per Capita)  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Adult Literacy Rate  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Daily Calorie Consumption  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Infant Mortality Rate Per 1,000 People  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Life Expectancy (Male)  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Life Expectancy
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">United States || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">3,794,100  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">310,232,863  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">$45,592  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">99%  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">3,774  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">6  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">77  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">81  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Zimbabwe || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">150,872  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">11,651,858  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">$200  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">91%  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">2,010  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">32  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">43  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">44  ||

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Population Density ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">USA 81.7 people/square mile <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">ZW 77.2 people/square mile

//<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The United States of America and Zimbabwe have very similar population densities. //

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Flag ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Symbolism of colors and shapes: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Green: the abundance of the land <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Yellow: the natural resources <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Red: the blood spilt for the country <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Black: the people <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">White Triangle: peace <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Red Star: internationalism <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Bird: the empire of Great Zimbabwe

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Birth Rate ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Zimbabwe <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">29.74 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">United States <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">13.83 births/1,000 population

//Zimbabwe has a much higher birth rate than the United States of America. However, when you look at their infant mortality rate, you realize why Zimbabwe's population growth is essentially flat.//

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Language ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">English is the official language, however most people in the rural areas speak in their native languages. The most common native languages are Shona and Ndebele. Many Zimbabweans speak more than one language, and many mix those languages in the everyday speech. Most students are taught in their native language until they reach secondary school where English is primarily taught.

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Monetary Unit ** **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ **

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWD) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The current conversion rate is: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">1 US Dollar = 376.300 Zimbabwe Dollar

//Notice the high numerical value of the bank notes? It makes sense when you see that it takes 376.3 Zimbabwean dollars to buy a U.S. dollar!//

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Type of Government ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">United States <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Constitutional Democracy <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">President Barack Obama is the United States’ head of state. The presidential term is four years, and is term limited to two terms. The United States has a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members). The voting age is 18.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Zimbabwe <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Parliamentary Democracy <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">President Robert Mugabe is Zimbabwe's head of state. The presidential term is five years, and there are no term limits. The prime minister (currently Morgan Tsvangirai) is head of government. Parliament's upper house, the 93-seat Senate, consists of 60 directly elected members, 18 traditional chiefs, 10 provincial governors, and 5 presidential appointees. The lower house, the House of Assembly, has 210 members, all of whom are directly elected. Parliament's members serve five-year terms. The voting age is 18.

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Religion ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Zimbabwe is primarily Christian, however in practice Christianity is mixed with traditional practices and beliefs. For example, many Zimbabweans consult spiritual mediums or witch doctors and hold a strong belief in witchcraft, ancestor worship, and clan affiliation with totems.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">Economy
===<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; overflow: hidden;">﻿ === <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Zimbabwe is in an economic crisis. Inflation and unemployment are high and agricultural output is down. Corruption and mismanagement are largely to blame for their economic crisis. Tobacco, cotton, maize, tea, and sugar are the country’s main agricultural products. Principle manufactured items are footwear, furniture, and equipment. Gold, nickel, coal, and asbestos are mined.

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">History ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ ** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Prior to 500 A.D. when the Bantu-speaking peoples migrated from the north into modern day Zimbabwe, the Bushmen tribes lived in this area. Early Shona groups began arriving in the 900’s and established trade links on Africa’s southeastern coast. This trading empire centered in the city of Great Zimbabwe, near present-day Masvingo. “Zimbabwe” means “stone houses” and suggests power and permanence.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Great Zimbabwe went into decline in the 16th century and Portugese traders gained influence. They were driven out by the 18th century. In 1888, Cecil John Rhodes started the British South Africa Company and effectively colonized most of modern day Zimbabwe. Whites, most of whom were British, came searching for gold and farmland. In 1923 these white settlers voted to become the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. Inequality between the black and white population (mainly related to land distribution and voting rights) became even more apparent after this and would later lead to much civil unrest.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By 1980 Zimbabwe had declared independence from the Britain and had elected a prime minister who rules to the present day as executive president, Robert Mugabe. His authoritarian government and questionable economic policies and election practices are largely blamed for Zimbabwe’s bleak outlook. Shortages of food and fuel, rampant inflation, a high rate of HIV/AIDS, severely deteriorated living conditions, and high unemployment are all problems that plague Zimbabwe today.


 * Check Out My Zimbabwe Wordle**

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 * Google Earth Tour**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">References **

"Zimbabwe." <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">//CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2010. Web. 18 Jan 2011//

FlickrCC. Zimbabwe.

The University of Texas at Austin Online Library.

CIA World Factbook Online.