Jannike+Zimbabwe+4A

__Zimbabwe’s Flag__
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__Symbolism of the Colors and Shapes of the Flag:__ Green: The abundance of the land

Red: The blood spilt for the country Yellow: The natural resources Black: The people White Triangle: Peace Yellow Bird: The Empire of Great Zimbabwe

__Fun Facts__ · A round stomach is admired on a male because it means that he can afford to eat meat · Zimbabwe has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa · Zimbabwe’s average daily calorie consumption is more than 1500 calories less than the USA’s average daily calorie consumption

__Political Map__

__Physical Map__ __Comparison Chart__ //The most dramatic difference on this table in my opinion is the Real GDP per capita. In the USA its $45592 but in Zimbabwe its $200 (US Dollars).//
 * Nation || Area (sq. miles) || Population || Real GDP (per capita) || Internet Users (per 1000 people) || Adult Literacy || Daily Calorie Consumption (per capita) || Infant Mortality (per 1000 births) || Life expectancy (male) || Life expectancy (female) ||
 * United States of America || 3794100 || 310232863 || $45592 || 630 || 99% || 3774 || 6 || 77 || 81 ||
 * Zimbabwe || 150872 || 11651858 || $200 || 77 || 91% || 2010 || 32 || 43 || 44 ||

__Population Density__ United States of America: 81.7 people per sq. mile Zimbabwe: 77.2 people per sq. mile

English is the main language spoken in Zimbabwe although most of the people in the rural areas of Zimbabwe speak their native language. Shona and Ndebele are the most common native languages spoken. Until students start secondary school, they are educated in their native languages.

__Monetary Unit__ 1 US Dollar = 376.30 Zimbabwe Dollars //This shows just how poor the people of Zimbabwe are. They have one of the lowest GDPs per capita in the world.// __Type of Government__

Zimbabwe is a Parliamentary Democracy. Robert Mugabe is the current president and head of state. John Nkomo and Joyce Mujuru are the vice presidents. A president’s term is 5 years and there are no term limits. 60 directly elected members, 18 traditional chiefs, 10 provincial governors, and 5 presidential appointees make up the parliament’s upper house, the 93 seat senate. The House of Assembly is the lower house and has 210 members who are all elected directly. Parliament’s members also serve a 5 year term. The voting age in Zimbabwe is 18 years of age. The USA is a Constitutional Democracy. Barack Obama is the current president, head of government, and chief of state. Joseph R. Biden is the vice president. A president’s term is 4 years and limited to two terms. The House of Representatives has 435 members and the Senate has 100 members. They are all elected by voters who must be at least 18 years of age. //Zimbabwe’s government is similar to the USA’s although there are some changes.//

__Religion__ Zimbabwe has a variety of religions. About 25% is Christian, 24% is indigenous beliefs, around 1% is Muslim or other, and the most practiced religion is syncretic, which is part Christian, part indigenous. About 50% of the population practices the syncretic religion.

__Economy__ Throughout the years, Zimbabwe has been faced with some bad economic struggles. Millions of dollars have been drained from the economy because of Zimbabwe’s involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange, and the provider of 400000 jobs has been badly damaged because of the governments land reform program, turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of food products. Until early 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe caused hyperinflation by routinely printing money to fund the budget deficit. The ending of hyperinflation by removing the use of the Zimbabwe dollar and getting rid of price controls are some of the economic improvements that the power-sharing government (which formed in February 2009) have shown Zimbabwe. Registering its first growth in a decade, Zimbabwe’s economy will be depending on future political improvement for greater growth.

__History__ Arriving in the 10th Century, early Shona groups established trade links on Africa’s southeastern coast. Centered at the city of Great Zimbabwe, they developed a major trading empire which flourished until the 15th Century. Its kings were powerful and rich in cattle, farmland, ivory, and gold. But by the 16th Century, Great Zimbabwe was starting to decline. Portuguese traders gained influence but were eventually driven out. In the early 1800s, the Rosvi Dynasty declined and the Shona were driven out by the Ndebele. Zimbabwe’s government, led by Ian Smith, declared independence from Britain in 1965. That decision sparked civil war between the UN and Zimbabwe for many years. In 1980 Robert Mugabe was elected for Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. Later he was elected President which he still is.

__Bibliography__ http://en.www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe http://cia.org http://lib.utexas.edu/maps http://online.culturegrams.com

__Google Earth Flyover__