Flag of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Celebrates Independence 18 April 2023
By Joy Osiagwu
The Republic of Zimbabwe, formerly Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia is a country in Southern Africa, bothered by South Africa and situated between Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. Its capital Harare is the largest city. Zimbabwe has a population of 15 million people. The first inhabitants of the area were the hunter-gatherer San people. Farming communities eventually migrated to the location in A.D.500 about the time of the Bantu expansion when the Shona -speaking people developed the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands in the 9th century.
The fight for independence, land, and power is synonymous with the history of modern Zimbabwe. The famous President Robert Mugabe became a household name in the political scene of the country for 37 years after the nation gained independence from the British in April 1980.
President Robert Mugabe (1980-2017) photo credit: Getty Images
The country joined the Commonwealth of Nations but was suspended in 2002 as a result of breaches of international law under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe withdrew from the organization eventually in 2003. However, Zimbabwe has been an active member of the United Nations since August 1980. It is also a member of the African Union and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, The United Nations Conference on Trade Development, and the World Trade Organization. Some of the country’s natural resources are coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
President Mugabe met his waterloo in November 2017 following a military intervention that led to his resignation, paving way for his Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa to take up the mantle of leadership after outsmarting his rivals Grace Mugabe, wife of Robert Mugabe, and the G40 faction of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party’s, Jonathan Moyo. In July 2018, Mnangagwa became the winner of the presidential election, defeating the opposition candidate, Nelson Chamisa.
President, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. Photo credit: Getty images.
Current Governance Structure.
The Republic of Zimbabwe operates a Presidential Republic. The President heads the state and government by the 2013 Constitution, while legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the current leader of the nation.
Trending News
Zimbabwe Minister of Energy and power development, Zhemu Soda announced that the country has an enormous amount of untapped energy resources which offers significant opportunities for investors in Zimbabwe and abroad. The minister remarked while addressing delegates to the fourth International Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2023 in Victoria Falls a week ago. Some of the resources include methane, coal and oil, and gas. He said the exploration of the minerals would assist in improving access to modern and clean energy for
Zhemu Soda, Zimbabwe Minister of Energy and power development.
the people of Zimbabwe. He, therefore, called on investors to take advantage of the opportunity for a better return on their investments.
Zimbabwe-Ottawa Connections
Canada’s bilateral relations with Zimbabwe date back to 1980 when the nation attained independence. Zimbabwe has an Embassy in Ottawa located at 332 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K2 P0J9. Phone:613 421 .2824
Honorable Ruth Masodzi Chikwira is the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Canada.
The Zimbabwe Ottawa Community Association (ZOCA) is on Facebook with 218 members in the group.