ZIMBABWE

Area

Total area: 390,580sq km;  Land area: 386,670sq km;  Landlocked

Climate:

Tropical; moderated by altitude

Physical description: 

Mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in the east

Physical Infrastructure:

Communication: per 1,000 inhabitants (1997)

Daily newspapers - 19

Radio receivers - 102

Television receivers - 33

Main telephone lines - 19

No. of internet hosts per 100,000 inhabitants - 5

Transportation

Railways - 2,759 km

Roads - 80,630 kms of which 7,500km paved

Ports and harbours - Djibouti

Airports with paved runways - 8, of which 3 are international

Energy provision:

6.97bn kWh (1998); Source: Fossil fuel 78.19%; Hydro 21.81%. Emphasis is on developing local energy resources, particularly coal and hydropower. Projects under way involve expansion of the huge Hwange coalfield, including two new thermal power stations, and the building of hydroelectric stations on the Zambezi River. Most of the country's fuel needs are imported via the Beira pipeline or through South Africa by rail.