Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has struggles with unsustainable fiscal deficit, an overvalued exchanged rate, soaring inflation and bare shelves. The countries inflation rose 23% in 1998 to an outstanding 133% in the end of 2004. The exchange rate fell 24 Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar to 6,200 Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar. The president’s land reform damaged commercial farming land which was a traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and provider of over 400,000 jobs. The bill devastated the land and messed up the economy for the worst. In 1998 to 2002 Zimbabwe's involvement in the war in Democratic Republic of Congo caused hundreds of millions of dollars in economy loss. Much needed support from the IMF was suspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.
About 60% of the population of an approximately 12 million people work in agriculture. 80% of the population is living below the poverty line. Political paralysis, a drought, corruption, a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, excessive government spending, manipulation of interest rates, money supply growth in excess of 300 percent, and government sanctioned land occupations led to economic decline characterized by inflation, diminished agricultural harvests, reduced foreign investment and tourism, acute foreign exchange shortages, disruptions in the fuel and food supply, accelerating unemployment, and shrinking real incomes. (CIA World Factbook). In Southern Exposure it brings to attention  that after independence 4500 white commercial farmers owned 31 million acres of prime agricultural land (20.7%) while most rural blacks subsists on marginal communal lands accounting for 41% of the country.

Power/ Development Effected by Influential

The powerful people in Zimbabwe happen to be the government, especially the President. The government is found to restrict freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of press, academic freedom, right of association for political organizations and freedom of movements at certain times. The government is known to attack and arrest anyone who does not obey there orders. Societal Violence is found against women (widespread), discrimination against women as well as people with disabilities, abuse of children, child prostitution and trafficking of people. The Government and President are accused of widespread resentment against the white minority in Zimbabwe. Workers rights are violated as well as child labor. (CIA World Factbook & African Studies Center:University of Pennsylvania, Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe is a country that suffers greatly due to the epidemic of AIDS/HIV.  In 2001 Zimbabwe had an estimated number of people living with HIV: Adults and Children at 1,700,000 people. In 2003 that jumped to 1,800,000. The study also indicates that the estimated number of women (15-49) living with HIV is 900,000 in 2001 and 930,000 in 2003. The number of children (0-14) is estimated at 120,000 in 2001 and in 2003. In 1999 they did a study to find out the percentage of females and males who used a condom with the last non-regular partner the information found was that 42% of women did and 70.2% of males did. This shows that the prevention of HIV is more prevalent in the male gender and there is a great risk and people are trying to prevent it the best they can. (Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition)
The graph below from the U.S. Census Bureau gives the Infant Mortality Rate and Life Expectancy at Birth by the sexes. AS you can see the Infant mortality rate for males is higher. And after 1990 the male expectancy rates are higher. Although the IMR is just above 50% for both sexes this doesn’t give a great percentage a chance of living. And life expectancy for both sexes is only 39.13% in 2005 compared to 61.68% in 1990. The outbreak of AIDS might have a great deal to do with the drop of life expectancy in the previous years. The projected percentages for the IMR go down to only 29.04% in 2050 which indicates that the medical attention and technology in Zimbabwe gets better with passing years. As for the Life expectancy in projected years that too rises, and rises for both sexes. It starts to see better percentages and hopefully past 2050 they see life expectancy back up to the 61% in 1990 before the AIDS outbreak took over in Zimbabwe.

Table 010. Infant Mort Rates & Life Exp at Birth, by Sex
---------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                                        Life       Life       Life
Country or area/        IMR        IMR        IMR expectancy expectancy expectancy
Year             both sexes       male     female both sexes       male     female
---------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Zimbabwe

1990                  52.01      57.10      46.76      61.68      58.75      64.69
2000                  56.24      59.33      53.06      40.00      40.34      39.65
2005                  52.34      55.18      49.41      39.13      40.20      38.03
2010                  49.55      52.16      46.86      40.22      41.44      38.96
2020                  45.12      47.25      42.92      42.53      44.56      40.44
2030                  41.06      42.75      39.32      44.11      47.13      41.00
2040                  36.03      37.35      34.67      46.71      50.25      43.06
2050                  29.04      30.08      27.97      51.15      54.78      47.41
---------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International 
        Data Base.

According to The World Bank Group Zimbabwe’s education is much higher in the early years of education. Primary school enrollment in 2000 is 81% and continues to be close in 2002 with 80% enrollment. As for the secondary enrollment, this is where Zimbabwe is in trouble. Only 37% of students enrolled in 2000 and 38% in 2002. Zimbabwe’s education stats show us that the children after primary school drop out and most likely go to work for the family, get jobs and help bring an income into the family. Only a select few go on to secondary school to learn more and have the possibility to on to college and have a degree for higher jobs.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau only 66.90% of people are literate. From that 73.70% of males are literate and only 60.30% of females are literate.

Table 060. Population by Literacy, Age, Sex, and Urban/Rural Residence
---------------- -------------- -------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Country or area/                                                                                                                
Year/                    Both sexes Both sexe         Male         Male      Male       Female       Female    Female
Res/                       literate  literate        total     literate  literate        total     literate  literate
Age                      population   percent   population   population   percent   population   population   percent
----------------  -------------- --------- ------------ ------------ --------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Zimbabwe/1990/Total

Total,  15+                    (NA)     66.90         (NA)         (NA)     73.70         (NA)         (NA)     60.30
----------------  -------------- --------- ------------ ------------ --------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International 
        Data Base.

Zimbabwe in 1990 had a population of 10,154,053 people. With the 28.4% of those people living in an Urban part of Zimbabwe. That number grew to 31.8% in 1995. In 2000 the population grew to 12,185,932 people, and 35.3% where now located in an urban setting. The percentage of people living in the urban setting is growing steadily over the years and continues to grow. (Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition)

The family aspect of Zimbabwe is one in which isn’t stable. The mean income family size has dropped in the past years. In 1994 it was 4.3 people. In 1999 it dropped to 3.9 people. Although the mean size has decreased the percentage of women 20-24 who give birth before the age of 20 has increased. In 1994 the percentage of women was 46.9%. In 1999 it jumped to 47.6%. Although this isn’t a huge increase in percentage it is still a significant amount considering the family size has decreased in these years. (Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition)

Gender Relation Measures






As shown by the above tables the male/female population has changed between 1950 and 2005. The number of children living ages 5-9 has taken a sudden decrease compared to other ages. This might be due to the fact of children being born HIV positive along with other diseases. In 1950 the graph is more even at all aspects in the amount of deaths per age group was generally expected. In 2005 there is a sudden decrease in people living past the age of 29, especially in the male gender. (World Population Prospects, UN)

Zimbabwe's economy status is as follows: In 1980-1990 it had an average annual growth of 3.5% in 1990-1994 that decreased and only has a growth of 1.1%. Agriculture in 1980-1990 was growing 2.4% annually; again it dropped to only 1.6% growth annual in 1990-1994. Industry growth was 3.6% annually in 1990-1994 there was a great decrease of -3.6% so as much growth happened in 1980-1990 they same decrease happened in 1990-1994. Services also had a greater percentage in 1980-1990 with 3.9% and only 1.3% in 1990-1994. The growth of the government took a dip from 1990-1994. (World Bank 1996 Tables)

The U.S. Department of State put out background information for Zimbabwe as of 1995. That report tells us that the GDP is US$5,765 million, with a growing rate of 1.5% and per capita GDP is US$508.  Agriculture is 21% of GDP, manufacturing takes up 25% of GDP, Public administration is another 9% of GDP, Commerce is 9%, mining is 7% of GDP and Transport and communication is 6% of GDP. Zimbabwe has received economic aid of $257.25 million, and a total of $31 million from the US alone.

The CIA- The World Factbook shares that there is a 70% unemployment rate in Zimbabwe as of 2002; Which makes 70% of population below the poverty line. The labor force is comprised of 4.23 million people as of 2004. Agriculture is 66% of that, industry is 10% and services are 24% as of 2004.


International Futures does a wonderful breakdown for us about the GDP spent in the World, Africa-Middle Sector and Zimbabwe:

The graph below is representing Zimbabwe's production sectors in 2000 (source: International Futures).

The below graph indicates how International Futures believes the production in Zimbabwe in 2025 is going to look like with the sectors and different percentges.

Zimbabwe is a struggling country. It has been through lots within the past years. As of right now they are in danger with diseases and the economy. The schooling is a concern due to the lack of attendance in secondary schooling. Without secondary school there isn’t much increase in the economy causing Zimbabwe to be in trouble down the line. Although medical advances are helping, there is positivism about the epidemic of AIDS receding. If this epidemic does lessen there is a good chance that Zimbabwe has an optimistic future. If an AIDS cure is found this would take care of the Infant mortality in some cases, as well as life expectancy and overall care of life. The people of Zimbabwe do need more control of there country in order to limit the government, especially Mugabe. The agriculture is a big aspect to this economy and land needs to be limited in the amount that one can cultivate on.  International Futures has a positive outlook on Zimbabwe after the time period of 2050. It’s expected to more in power and economically. The country should have a better GDP which will help the country as a whole greatly. The biggest problem for Zimbabwe, I believe, is the AIDS problem. If that is solved the country will have a better outlook economically, politically and socially.