POPULATION:
9 Million
LITERACY RATE:
58%
SELF DEFENSE FORCES:
Zimbabwean National Armed Forces
LANGUAGES:
 English (official), Shona, Sindebele 
ETHNIC GROUPS:
Shona, Afrikaans, Ndebele
BORDERING COUNTRIES:
Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia
ZIMBABWE- This country has long standing traditions of wildlife preservation and relative governmental stability, and was for a long time  one of the safer places in Africa to visit.  All through the 70's Zimbabwe fought hard for majority rule, and finally achieved it in 1980, however it wasn't an easy victory as whites still owned the majority of land and businesses.  Conflict between the whites and blacks escalated and the atroes of South Africa spilled over into Zimbabwe.  The violence wasn't as widespread, but it was just as bloody.  When the fighting finally stopped the country was in shambles.  Crops were burned, business bombed, and no one was sure what would happen next.  Fortunately the conflict had managed to eliminate most of the hard core leaders on both sides, and what was left were the people who could get along together, white and black.  The land was divided evenly and the economy began to boom.  Then, seeing most of its neighbors again falling under european (white) rule things began to get ugly again.  Many whites along the eastern border began fleeing into Mozambique, fearful that the blacks would begin another violent uprising.  The blacks misinterpreted this as opposition and pursued them over the border.  This led to several violent conflicts with EDF troop in the already unstable region of western Mozambique.  The whites who remained in Zimbabwe were just as opposed to foreign interruption as the blacks and soon the eastern border of Zimbabwe was militarized.  Zimbabwe has become military allies with the rebel forces in western Mozambique and conflicts with the EDF troops have become frequent.  Relations with the U.S. are a bit easier, as Zimbabwe does not currently see them as a threat, and most of the country still enjoys a large tourist market.  Chinese and other asian countries are welcomed open armed, as China supplies the military with weapons and supplies.  Beware, if you are an American tourist, you will usually be received in a friendly manner, however if you are perceived as CIA or a European spy things could get very ugly for you, very fast.
 
 

(Written by Deric "D" Bernier)