Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a land in Africa.

It sits between two big rivers. It is near lands like Zambia.

Many people live there. Most people are Shona. They use many ways to talk.

Long ago, people built stone houses. These are called Great Zimbabwe.

The name means houses of stone. It is a very special place.

Zimbabwe is a country in Southeast Africa.

It is a landlocked place. This means it has no ocean coast. It sits between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

It is near South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique.

About 16.9 million people live there. Most people belong to the Shona group. They speak 16 different languages. English, Shona, and Ndebele are common.

Long ago, the Shona built Great Zimbabwe.

This was a major center for trade. The name Zimbabwe comes from a Shona term. It can mean "houses of stone." This refers to the stone buildings found there.

In the past, the land had other names. It was once called Rhodesia. After a long struggle, it became Zimbabwe in 1980. Robert Mugabe was the first leader after this change. Since then, the country has had new leaders. Emmerson Mnangagwa is the president now. The economy has changed a lot over the years. It saw a hard time with rising prices. Now, it has seen rapid growth again.

Zimbabwe is a country in Southeast Africa.

It is a landlocked nation, which means it has no ocean coast. The country sits between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

It shares borders with South Africa to the south. Botswana sits to the southwest. Zambia is to the north, and Mozambique is to the east.

The capital city is Harare, which is also the largest city. Bulawayo is the second largest city in the country.

About 16.9 million people live in Zimbabwe according to 2025 estimates. The Shona people are the largest ethnic group. They make up about 80% of the population. The Northern Ndebele are the next largest group.

There are also many smaller minority groups. People in Zimbabwe use 16 official languages. English, Shona, and Ndebele are the most common ones used.

This variety of people and languages makes the culture very rich.

The name Zimbabwe comes from a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe.

This was a medieval city located in the southeast near Masvingo. One theory says the name means "houses of stones." This comes from the Karanga dialect of Shona. Another theory says it means "venerated houses." This comes from the Zezuru dialect of Shona. These stone buildings were part of a major trade center by the 13th century.

Long ago, the San people lived in this region. Bantu-speaking farmers arrived about 2,000 years ago. The Shona people built Great Zimbabwe starting in the 11th century. Later, the Mutapa and Rozvi empires were established.

In 1890, the British South Africa Company began to rule the area. They called the region Rhodesia. The country was later known as Southern Rhodesia.

After a 15-year war, the country became Zimbabwe in April 1980.

Robert Mugabe was the first Prime Minister after independence.

He later became the President in 1987. He led the country until he resigned in 2017. The economy had a hard time between 1997 and 2008. This period included a time called hyperinflation.

Since then, the economy has seen rapid growth. This happened after the country began using other currencies.

Now, Emmerson Mnangagwa serves as the president of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked nation located in Southeast Africa.

It sits between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

The country shares borders with Zambia to the north and Mozambique to the east. To the south lies South Africa. Botswana is located to the southwest.

Harare serves as the capital and the largest city. Bulawayo is the second largest urban center. As of 2025 estimates, the population is roughly 16.9 million people. The Shona people are the largest ethnic group, making up 80% of the population. The Northern Ndebele and various smaller minorities also live there. Zimbabwe recognizes 16 official languages. English, Shona, and Ndebele are the most common languages used in the country.

The name "Zimbabwe" is deeply connected to the country's history and architecture.

It stems from a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, a medieval city in the southeast near Masvingo. There are two main theories regarding the word's origin. Many sources suggest it comes from the Karanga dialect term "dzimba-dza-mabwe." This translates to "houses of stones." Another theory involves the Zezuru dialect. Archaeologist Peter Garlake suggests it is a contracted form of "dzimba-hwe." This means "venerated houses," which refers to the homes of chiefs or graves. The name was first used as a national reference in 1960 by Michael Mawema. He proposed it as an alternative to "Rhodesia," which nationalists found inappropriate due to its colonial roots.

Human history in this region spans hundreds of thousands of years.

Archaeological records show archaic human settlement dating back at least 500,000 years. The San people were among the earliest known inhabitants. They left behind cave paintings and arrowheads. Around 2,000 years ago, Bantu-speaking farmers arrived during the Bantu expansion. By the 9th century, proto-Shona societies emerged in the middle Limpopo River valley. These groups eventually moved into the Zimbabwean highlands. The Zimbabwean plateau became the heart of Shona states starting around the 10th century. By 1300, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe had eclipsed the earlier Kingdom of Mapungubwe.

These early kingdoms were powerful trading states. They used unique dry stone architecture to build their cities. These states traded valuable resources like gold, ivory, and copper. In exchange, they received goods such as glass and cloth. From 1450 to 1760, the Mutapa Empire ruled much of the area. This empire was also known as the Mutapa, Mwene Mutapa, or Monomotapa empire. It maintained strategic trade routes with the Portuguese and Arab merchants. However, Portuguese attempts to monopolize this trade led to wars. These conflicts caused the empire to collapse in the early 17th century. In response, the Rozwi Empire emerged and eventually expelled the Portuguese in 1683.

The colonial era began with the arrival of European colonists in the 1880s.

Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company sought control of the region. Rhodes obtained mining concessions from King Lobengula of the Ndebele. In 1890, the company sent the Pioneer Column to establish Fort Salisbury. This location is now known as Harare. The company used Maxim guns to defeat the Ndebele in the First Matabele War. In 1895, the territory was named "Rhodesia" after Rhodes. It later became the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. This period saw the displacement of indigenous peoples to favor European settlement.

Zimbabwe achieved sovereignty through a long and difficult struggle. The white minority government declared independence as Rhodesia in 1965. This led to international isolation and a 15-year guerrilla war.

Black rebel forces fought against the minority rule. This conflict ended with a peace agreement in April 1980. At that time, the nation officially became Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe and his ZANU–PF party won the first general election. Mugabe served as Prime Minister and later as President from 1987 to 2017. His administration was characterized by an authoritarian regime. The state security apparatus was responsible for widespread human rights violations. These actions received significant condemnation from the rest of the world.

Economic shifts have shaped the modern nation. Between 1997 and 2008, the economy suffered a consistent decline. This period was marked by hyperinflation, where prices rose extremely quickly.

Since then, the economy has experienced rapid growth. This recovery occurred after the government permitted the use of currencies other than the Zimbabwean dollar. In 2017, following a year of protests and economic decline, a coup d'état occurred. This led to the resignation of Robert Mugabe. Emmerson Mnangagwa has served as the president since that time. Today, Zimbabwe remains a member of the United Nations and the African Union. It also participates in the Southern African Development Community.