Information About Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a fabulous African country, because of it’s varied landscape.  There are arid desert landscapes in the North, bushes with lush vegetation in the Eastern highlands, and of course the world famous Victoria Falls in the West.  Victoria Falls are twice as wide and twice as high as our little Niagara!

Sadly, the history of Zimbabwe has been marked by unrest.  There are allegations of corruption throughout the political, economic and judicial systems.  Currently, fifty percent of people living in Harare, the capital, are unemployed!  This is part of the reason for the countries increased crime rates and inflated prices.

Despite the bleak economic situation, Zimbabweans have the reputation of being a polite and hospitable!   The culture is rich with music, art and drama.  Christianity is one of the major religions in Zimbabwe - many people combine animism and traditional beliefs with Christian doctrine and practices. The Mwari faith is an animistic mono-theistic belief system that has been prevalent in Zimbabwe since the fourteenth century.

Thankfully for me, the national language in Zimbabwe is English, so I’ll be able to communicate with many people.  About eighty percent of Zimbabweans’ tribal tongue is Shona, a language with phonics similar to English, as it was first written by Cecil Rhodes and the English colonizers.  The other twenty percent, mostly in southern Zim, speak Ndebele - a language with sixteen different clicking sounds. Good thing I’ll be in northern Zimbabwe.  No 'clicking' for me!  I’ll try to learn as much of the local language as possible, especially as many people in rural areas are not fluent in English.

Here are a few expressions for you to try…

I am exited to become as involved as possible with the culture and lifestyle of people in Zimbabwe!

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