Official Name:
Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia)
Capital:
Harare - population: 1,87m (1997, official estimate)
Head of State:
President Robert Mugabe (since 1980)
National Currencies and current exchange rates:
Zimbabwe dollars (Z$). Average exchange rate in 1999– Z$38.3:US$1. Exchange rate on 20/2/01– Z$55.0:US$1.
National Day and other important days:
1 January (New Year's Day), 18 April (Independence), 1 May (Workers' Day), 25 May (Africa Day), 11 August (Heroes' Day), 12 August (Defence Forces' Day), 25 and 26 December (Christmas); Variable dates: Good Friday, Easter Monday.
System Of Government:
Unitary republic
Ethnic groups:
African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%); white 0.5%; mixed and Asian 1%
Languages:
English (official), Shona, Ndebele and local dialects - Manyika, Karanga and Zeeruru.
Religions:
Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%; Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
