Zimbabwe: Introduction

The document introduces Zimbabwe as a landlocked, lower-middle-income country in Southern Africa. It details the nation's administrative structure, its membership in regional bodies like SADC and the AU, and its ethnic makeup, which is predominantly Shona (81%) and Ndebele (12%). The text describes Zimbabwe's diverse topography and rich natural resources, including lithium and platinum, while noting that the country has struggled with governance and economic instability since its independence from Britain in 1980.

• Zimbabwe is a landlocked, lower-middle-income country in Southern Africa with a total land area of 390,757 square kilometres, bordering Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Botswana.
• The population is primarily composed of the Shona people (approximately 81%) and the Ndebele (about 12%), with smaller groups including the Ndau, Tonga, and Shangani.
• Zimbabwe possesses significant natural resources, specifically gold, diamonds, platinum, chrome, and lithium, as well as fertile agricultural land.
• Since gaining independence from Britain on 18 April 1980, Zimbabwe has experienced challenges involving human development, political instability, and governance.

APA

Ngundu, M., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Zimbabwe: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ZW&topic=01-introduction

Chicago

Ngundu, Marvellous, and Jakkie Cilliers. Zimbabwe: Introduction. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ZW&topic=01-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ngundu |first1=Marvellous |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Zimbabwe: Introduction |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=15 June 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ZW&topic=01-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ngundu2026zimbabwe, author = {Ngundu, Marvellous and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Zimbabwe: Introduction}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=ZW&topic=01-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }