Zimbabwe

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Official name: Area: Government: Official languages: Monetary unit: Cities:

DEMOGRAPHY Population: 13,000,000 Population density: ECONOMY GDP (PPP): per person: </small>

LIFE & LIBERTY HDI

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Location 1.2 Region 1.3 Climate 1.4 Natural Resources 2 Demographics 2.1 Peoples 2.2 Provinces 3 Life 3.1 Schools 4 Economy 5 Government 5.1 Election 6 Religion 6.1 Islam 6.2 Buddhism 6.3 Christianity 6.3.1 History 6.3.2 Churches 6.3.3 Church and State Relations 6.3.4 Mission 6.3.5 Broadcasting 6.3.6 Councils and Networks 7 Future Trends 8 For More Reading

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

[edit] Region

• East Africa

[edit] Climate

[edit] Natural Resources

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Peoples

[edit] Provinces

• The Provinces of Zimbabwe

• The Cities of Zimbabwe

[edit] Life

• Independent as Zimbabwe since 1980, the ruling party, ZANU-PF, has so mismanaged the economy that the now unpopular President Robert Mugabe has only been able to retain power by intimidating all who speak against what is going on. The country has become a virtual dictatorship. Thuggery, murder and destruction have become common and the economy is in meltdown. Four million people in Zimbabwe – a third of the population – risk starvation. Years of bad governance and poor harvests have led to widespread food shortages. Please, pray for the continuing crisis in Zimbabwe – for those who cannot access food, clean water or medical services and for the poor communities there who are being assisted by the local churches. Thank God for their courage in their work and pray for their safety. See also Suffering in Zimbabwe.

• Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic continues to spread, more than 3,700 people have died from the worst outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe's history since Augut 2008, which has infected nearly 70,000 people. Only the people are counted, who made the way to one of the few functioning hospitals. The epidemic has been fuelled by the country's economic meltdown, which has led to the collapse of the country's water, health and sanitation systems. Continue to pray for an end to the people’s plight in Zimbabwe. (March 2009)

• The economy is in crisis, with rampant inflation, de-industrialisation is taking place and there are shortages of food and fuel. Agricultural production is shrinking. Pray for this country in crisis and for the Church and Christians seeking to witness and minister in the midst of economic and political difficulties.

• HIV/AIDS calamity is one of the world's worst: about 25% of adults carry the virus.

• Extracts from a letter of a very reliable source
• The year 2008 was the most challenging that I ever came across in my life both spiritually and physically. The country of Zimbabwe has come to a point of standstill. Nothing is functioning in Zimbabwe except banks. Schools have been closed since April. Hospitals were closed since October only to mention a few. Police are not attending to the crime which make the country a difficult place to live in.
• The church has been attacked badly for telling the government the truth. Some pastors have been harassed and badly abused. For the first time I've witnessed the death of people who are dying of hunger. Sometimes I feel so bad because I cannot give them food to survive due to limited resources I have. Common sickness have attacked people to death. Because there is no medicine I have lost two of my church members this year. Sometimes you wonder why it has been let up to this level.
• I still believe with the prayers which are done in Zimbabwe, God will come to our rescue but we have already lost thousands of people across the country. In towns there is no clean water. It is a direct thing from the dam to the community and we have about (1/9) a ninth of the population dying of cholera everyday and this have all been broadcasted on our news. I tell you there is more behind the little news you receive from your channels. We really need your prayer support for our country.

[edit] Schools

• About 94 percent of Zimbabwe's rural schools - where most children are educated - failed to open this year, the UN Children's Fund said on 10 February 2009. The education system, once viewed as the finest in sub-Saharan Africa, has become a casualty of the country's economic collapse and political infighting. In 2008, school attendance rates dropped from 80 percent to 20 percent, UNICEF said, and the few schools that opened in 2009 are charging fees in foreign currency, making them unaffordable to most citizens.

[edit] Economy

• Zimbabwe suffers from 80 percent unemployment, chronic food and fuel shortages and the world's highest inflation rate (Reuters 2008). Basic necessities in the country are nearly non-exstent or prohibitively expensive. (July 2009)

[edit] Government

• The fortunes of Zimbabwe have for almost three decades been tied to President Robert Mugabe, the pro-independence campaigner who wrested control from a small white community and became the country's first black leader. Latterly the octogenarian has presided over a nation whose economy is in tatters, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression commonplace. Pray that the power-sharing agreement signed with the opposition in September 2008 will pave the way for recovery, righteousness and justice, but in October 2008 there was still no government in place, because President Robert Mugabe wants to place his people in the important departments.

• Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have failed in their latest attempt to form a unity government. After 12 hours of talks, Mr Tsvangirai said it was probably the darkest day of our lives for his party. Pray for a resolution of the deadlock and a breakthrough that brings hope to the people of Zimbabwe. (January 2009)

• Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been sworn in as prime minister in a unity government with President Robert Mugabe. This could be the “start of a momentous political transformation”, but there are huge hurdles to overcome, such as holding new, legitimate elections, rebuilding a tattered infrastructure and restoring the national economy in which 8 out of 10 are without work. Please pray for Mr. Tsvangirai and for this longsuffering nation to make a new and good beginning. Pray that this will signal real change and hope for the people of Zimbawe. (February 2009)

• Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's wife, Susan, was buried at her rural home in Buhera on Wednesday (11 March 2009). She was killed in a car crash on 6th March, 2009 in which her husband was hurt. Pray for Morgan Tsvangirai as he comes to terms with this personal tragedy and for his involvement in government to bring about positive change for the people of Zimbawe. (March 2009)

• More than a year after the signing of a power-sharing deal aimed at rescuing Zimbabwe's shattered economy, young people are still leaving the country in droves, seeking a better life in South Africa. Pray for lasting change in Zimbabwe that gives people hope for the future. (December 2009)

[edit] Election

• Violence has deepened a crisis following a disputed presidential election in March 2008.

• Documents obtained by the BBC last week provide evidence that the military is involved in running the re-election campaign for Robert Mugabe. This second election, being run after Robert Mugabe refused to concede defeat in the first one is happenning on 27 June. The army have said they will accept no result other than a victory for Robert Mugabe.
• Pray that

The population will resist the violence and threats and vote as they would freely choose.

The army will accept the will of the people and support whoever is elected.

Foreign countries, especially other African leaders would exert pressure on Zimbabwe to hold fair elections.

[edit] Religion

[edit] Islam

[edit] Buddhism

[edit] Christianity

[edit] History

[edit] Churches

• Pray for unity, wisdom and strength for the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance as they seek to hear God’s voice for the country and for themselves as an organisation. Pray for the Christians in Zimbabwe to demonstrate the hope they have in Christ by being honest, generous and inclusive.
• Fewer than ten percent of church leaders have any formal theological training.

[edit] Church and State Relations

• In Zimbabwe Christians are still facing severe persecutions from the communist government of Robert Mugabe. Between the years 2000 and 2008 Churches have been raided, harassed and Church buildings bulldozed by the state. Thousands of political dissenters have been harassed, tortured, raped, mutilated and murdered. Pastors have been beaten, tortured and imprisoned for speaking the truth or refusing to support Mugabe’s ZANU PF political campaigns. Public prayers for justice and peace have been banned. The government fears the prayers of the believers.

[edit] Mission

[edit] Broadcasting

[edit] Councils and Networks

[edit] Future Trends

[edit] For More Reading

• Wikipedia
• Joshua Project
• GRN
• With unprecedented crisis in Zimbabwe, Baptists reach out