Zimbabwe

Humanitarian Aid

WER has been working to provide humanitarian relief to areas of Zimbabwe in great need of aid. Working in conjunction with Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Zimbabwe, WER has been able to source pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to districts of the country hardest hit by the recent cholera epidemic. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 4,000 Zimbabweans and affected nearly 100,000 others.

Total population (millions): 11.7

Life expectancy at birth (years): 47.6

Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and above): 90.7

GDP per capita (PPP US$): < 100

Combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio (%): 48.6

Formerly Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern part of Africa, bordered by Mozambique to the east, Zambia to the northwest, Botswana to the southwest, and South Africa to the south.

After gaining its independence from Britain in 1980, the new Zimbabwean government (headed by incumbent President Robert Mugabe, the only president in Zimbabwean history) was accredited to improving the overall standard of living within the country. However, due to political corruption, economic mismanagement and reports of human rights abuses, Zimbabwe has been in a constant state of decline over the past decade. Mugabe’s controversial regime has deterred the US and the EU from providing financial aid to the country.

Agriculture, tourism, and mineral exports (particularly platinum) are integral parts of the Zimbabwean economy, though all have decreased substantially since 2000. The failing economy and subsequent hyperinflation have had tremendous repercussions in terms of medical aid – three out of the four major hospitals in the country have shut down, and those that are still open are not able to obtain the basic drugs and medicine their patients need. Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans die of HIV/AIDS every year, leaving an estimated one million children orphaned.

Despite these hardships, Zimbabwe is acclaimed for its magnificent tropical climate and landscape. Zimbabwe boasts a mountainous eastern region and is home to Victoria Falls, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Due to a lack of data regarding human development issues, the Human Development Report is not able to rank Zimbabwe or assign it a Human Development Index (HDI) value.

WER has worked in Zimbabwe in partnership with Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Zimbabwe.