Zimbabwe Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Government == {{Main|Politics of Zimbabwe|Elections in Zimbabwe|Foreign relations of Zimbabwe}} [[File:Harare parlament 24032005.jpg|thumb|[[Parliament of Zimbabwe]] in Harare]] Zimbabwe is a republic with a [[presidential system]] of government. The [[semi-presidential system]] was abolished with the adoption of a new constitution after [[2013 Zimbabwean constitutional referendum|a referendum in 2013]]. Under the constitutional changes in 2005, an [[Upper house|upper chamber]], the [[Senate of Zimbabwe|Senate]], was reinstated.<ref name="reinstated">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/legisl/050916czamd17ac.asp?sector=LEGISL |title=Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 17) Act, 2005 |date=16 September 2005 |website=kubatana.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233356/http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/legisl/050916czamd17ac.asp?sector=LEGISL |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |publisher=NGO Network Alliance Project}}</ref> The [[National Assembly of Zimbabwe|House of Assembly]] is the [[Lower house|lower chamber]] of Parliament. In 1987 Mugabe revised the constitution, abolishing the [[Parliamentary republic|ceremonial presidency]] and the prime ministerial posts to form an executive president—a presidential system. His ZANU-PF party has won every election since independence—in the 1990 election the second-placed party, [[Edgar Tekere]]'s Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), obtained 20% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/review27.15680.html|title=Tekere says Mugabe 'insecure' in new book|access-date=6 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227185709/http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/review27.15680.html|archive-date=27 December 2007}}</ref><ref>Mugabe, Robert. (2007). ''Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite'', Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.<!--ISSN/ISBN needed, page(s) needed--></ref> === Politics === During the 1995 parliamentary elections most opposition parties, including the ZUM, boycotted the voting, resulting in a near sweep by the ruling party.<ref name="Frankel">{{Cite web|last=Frankel |first=Matthew |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-26-la-oe-frankel-burma-20100526-story.html |title=Myanmar boycott is misguided |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223213933/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-26-la-oe-frankel-burma-20100526-story.html |archive-date=23 February 2021 |url-status=live |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 May 2010}}</ref> When the opposition returned to the polls in 2000, they won 57 seats, only five fewer than ZANU-PF.<ref name="Frankel" /> [[2002 Zimbabwean presidential election|Presidential elections were again held in 2002]] amid allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation and fraud.<ref name="allegations">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140104021201/http://www.africa.upenn.edu/afrfocus/afrfocus041805.html Zimbabwe: Election Fraud Report, 04/18/05]. [[University of Pennsylvania]], 18 April 2005.</ref> The [[2005 Zimbabwean parliamentary election|2005 Zimbabwe parliamentary elections]] were held on 31 March, and multiple claims of vote rigging, election fraud and intimidation were made by the [[Movement for Democratic Change (1999–2005)|Movement for Democratic Change]] party and [[Jonathan Moyo]], calling for investigations into 32 of the 120 constituencies.<ref name="moyo">[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw111061602454B251 "Mugabe's former ally accuses him of foul play"], ''Independent Online Zimbabwe'', 12 March 2005.</ref> Moyo participated in the elections despite the allegations and won a seat as an independent member of Parliament.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Makgetlaneng |first=Sehlare |title=ZIMBABWE'S 2005 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: Lessons for the Movement for Democratic Change |url=https://www.eisa.org/pdf/JAE4.2Makgetlaneng.pdf |journal=Africa Institute of South Africa |pages=124}}</ref> [[File:Election campaign March 2005.jpg|thumb|Supporters of the [[Movement for Democratic Change (prior to 2005)|Movement for Democratic Change]] in 2005]]In 2005, the MDC split into two factions: the Movement for Democratic Change – Mutambara ([[MDC-M]]), led by [[Arthur Mutambara]] which contested the elections to the Senate, and the [[Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai]] (MDC-T) led by [[Morgan Tsvangirai]] which was opposed to contesting the elections, stating that participation in a rigged election is tantamount to endorsing Mugabe's claim that past elections were free and fair. The two MDC camps had their congresses in 2006 with Tsvangirai being elected to lead MDC-T, which became more popular than the other group.<ref name="findarticles1">{{cite news |author=Latham, Brian |date=4 March 2002 |title=Contrast in styles as contenders hold rallies in Harare townships |work=The Independent |location=UK |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1660337.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229132808/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1660337.html |archive-date=29 December 2013}}</ref> In the [[2008 Zimbabwean general election|2008 general election]], the official results required a run-off between Mugabe and Tsvangirai. The MDC-T challenged these results, claiming widespread election fraud by the Mugabe government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/03/27/zimbabwe.election|title=Mugabe critics predict fraud in Zimbabwe elections|date=28 March 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7322468.stm|title=Zimbabwe stands 'on a precipice'|work=BBC News|date=31 March 2008|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> The run-off was scheduled for 27 June 2008. On 22 June, citing the continuing unfairness of the process and refusing to participate in a "violent, illegitimate sham of an election process", Tsvangirai pulled out of the presidential run-off, the election commission held the run-off, and President Mugabe received a landslide majority.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7467990.stm|title=Mugabe rival quits election race|work=BBC News|date=22 June 2008}}</ref> The MDC-T did not participate in the Senate elections, while the MDC-M won five seats in the Senate. The MDC-M was weakened by defections from members of parliament and individuals who were disillusioned by their manifesto.<ref name="findarticles1"/> On 28 April 2008, Tsvangirai and Mutambara announced at a joint news conference in [[Johannesburg]] that the two MDC formations were co-operating, enabling the MDC to have a clear parliamentary majority.<ref name="SABCre">{{cite web|url=http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,168544,00.html |title=Zimbabwe's MDC factions reunite |access-date=13 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502155226/http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0%2C2172%2C168544%2C00.html |archive-date= 2 May 2008 }}, SABC News, 28 April 2008.</ref><ref name="Reunites">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7371823.stm|title=Opposition reunites in Zimbabwe|work=BBC News|date=28 April 2008|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> Tsvangirai said that Mugabe could not remain president without a parliamentary majority.<ref name="Reunites" /> In mid-September 2008, after protracted negotiations overseen by the leaders of South Africa and Mozambique, Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed a power-sharing deal in which Mugabe retained control over the army. Donor nations adopted a 'wait-and-see' attitude, wanting to see real change being brought about by this merger before committing themselves to funding rebuilding efforts, which were estimated to take at least five years. On 11 February 2009 Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister by Mugabe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Services|first=Msnbc com News|date=2009-02-11|title=Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe's PM|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29134750/ns/world_news-africa/t/tsvangirai-sworn-zimbabwes-pm/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=msnbc.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tsvangirai sworn in as Zimbabwe PM - CNN.com|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/02/11/zimbabwe/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=www.cnn.com}}</ref> [[File:Mnangagwa and Putin met during sidelines Russia-Africa Summit, 27 July 2023.jpg|thumb|Zimbabwean President [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] at the [[2023 Russia–Africa Summit]] on 27 July 2023]] In November 2008, the government of Zimbabwe spent US$7.3 million donated by [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]]. A representative of the organisation declined to speculate on how the money was spent, except that it was not for the intended purpose, and the government has failed to honour requests to return the money.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/world/africa/03zimbabwe.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Aid Group Says Zimbabwe Misused $7.3 Million|work=The New York Times|date=3 November 2008|first=Celia W.|last=Dugger}}</ref> The status of Zimbabwe politics has been thrown into question by a coup taking place in November 2017, ending Mugabe's 30 year presidential incumbency. Emmerson Mnangagwa was appointed president following this coup and was officially elected with 50.8% of the vote in the [[2018 Zimbabwean general election]], avoiding a run-off and making him the third president of Zimbabwe. The government has received negative comments among its citizens for always shutting down the internet in the past amid protests such as the one planned on 31 July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shiangala|first=Mike|date=2020-07-31|title=Zimbabwe to allegedly shutdown the Internet on 31st July|url=https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/zimbabwe-to-allegedly-shutdown-the-internet-on-31st-july/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Smatt Geeks Media|language=en-US|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810180309/https://smattgeeksmedia.com/news/zimbabwe-to-allegedly-shutdown-the-internet-on-31st-july/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2023, Zimbabwean President [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]] voiced support for the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |date=28 July 2023 |title=Zimbabwe and Uganda leaders meet with Russian President Putin |work=Africanews |url=https://www.africanews.com/2023/07/28/zimbabwe-and-uganda-leaders-meet-with-russian-president-putin/}}</ref> ===Armed forces=== {{Main|Zimbabwe Defence Forces}} [[File:Flag of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.svg|thumb|The flag of the [[Zimbabwe Defence Forces]]]] The Zimbabwe Defence Forces were set up by unifying three insurrectionist forces – the [[Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army]] (ZANLA), the [[Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army]] (ZIPRA), and the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF) – after the [[Second Chimurenga]] and Zimbabwean independence in 1980. The integration period saw the formation of the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] (ZNA) and [[Air Force of Zimbabwe]] (AFZ) as separate entities under the command of General [[Solomon Mujuru]] and Air Marshal [[Norman Walsh]], who retired in 1982 and was replaced by Air Marshal Azim Daudpota who handed over command to Air Chief Marshal [[Josiah Tungamirai]] in 1985. In 2003, General [[Constantine Chiwenga]], was promoted and appointed Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Lieutenant General P. V. Sibanda replaced him as Commander of the Army.<ref name="minist">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.zw/zdf/zdf.htm |title=Zimbabwe Ministry of Defence|access-date=17 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102151320/http://www.mod.gov.zw/zdf/zdf.htm|archive-date=2 November 2007}}</ref> The ZNA has an active duty strength of 30,000. The Air Force has about 5,139 standing personnel.<ref name="Airforce of Zimbabwe">{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbabwedefence.com/AFZ0.html|title=Zimbabwe Defence Forces News|publisher=ZDF News|access-date=17 April 2009}}</ref> The [[Zimbabwe Republic Police]] (includes Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police) is part of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and numbers 25,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3364&cat=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105170018/http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=3364&cat=4|archive-date=5 January 2008|title=MILITARISATION OF ZIMBABWE: Does the opposition stand a chance?|author=Chari, Freeman Forward|publisher=zimbabwejournalists.com|date=24 December 2007}}</ref> Following majority rule in early 1980, [[British Army]] trainers oversaw the integration of guerrilla fighters into a [[battalion]] structure overlaid on the existing Rhodesian armed forces. For the first year, a system was followed where the top-performing candidate became battalion commander. If he or she was from ZANLA, then his or her second-in-command was the top-performing ZIPRA candidate, and vice versa.<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter|last=Godwin|author-link=Peter Godwin (writer)|year=1996|title=Mukiwa – A White Boy in Africa|isbn=978-0-333-67150-4|publisher=Macmillan|location=London, UK}}</ref> This ensured a balance between the two movements in the command structure. The ZNA was originally formed into four [[brigade]]s, composed of a total of 28 battalions. The brigade support units were composed almost entirely of specialists of the former Rhodesian Army, while unintegrated battalions of the [[Rhodesian African Rifles]] were assigned to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Brigades. The Fifth Brigade was formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1988 after the demonstration of mass brutality and murder during the brigade's occupation of Matabeleland in what became known as ''Gukurahundi''.<ref name="watch" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.zw/army/zna.htm|title=Ministry of Defence, Zimbabwe|access-date=11 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102184314/http://www.mod.gov.zw/army/zna.htm|archive-date=2 November 2007}}</ref> The brigade had been re-formed by 2006, with its commander, Brigadier General John Mupande praising its "rich history".<ref name="Herald Reporter">{{cite news|url=http://www.zimbabwedefence.com/News_5th_Gets_Comm.html|publisher=Zimbabwe Defence Forces News|title=5th Brigade gets new commander|date=22 February 2006|access-date=18 April 2009}}</ref> ===Human rights=== {{Main|Human rights in Zimbabwe}} {{See also|Child marriage in Zimbabwe}} [[File:Demonstration against Mugabe.JPG|thumb|right|A demonstration in [[London]] against [[Robert Mugabe]]. Protests are discouraged by Zimbabwean police in Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/03/2437229.htm|title=Police baton charge Harare protesters|date=3 December 2008|work=ABC News}}</ref>]] There are widespread reports of systematic and escalating violations of human rights in Zimbabwe under the Mugabe administration and the dominant ZANU–PF party.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Howard-Hassmann|first=Rhoda E.|date=24 November 2010|title=Mugabe's Zimbabwe, 2000–2009: Massive Human Rights Violations and the Failure to Protect|journal=Human Rights Quarterly|volume=32|issue=4|pages=898–920|doi=10.1353/hrq.2010.0030|s2cid=143046672|issn=1085-794X}}</ref> According to human rights organisations such as Amnesty International<ref name="AI">{{cite web|url=http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/zwe-summary-eng|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203015112/http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/zwe-summary-eng|archive-date=3 December 2007|title=Zimbabwe|access-date=2 December 2007|publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref> and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref name="hrw">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/zimbab14720.htm|title=Zimbabwe – Events of 2006|access-date=2 December 2007|publisher=Human Rights Watch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011095246/http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/zimbab14720.htm |archive-date=11 October 2007}}</ref> the government of Zimbabwe violates the rights to shelter, food, [[freedom of movement]] and residence, [[freedom of assembly]] and the [[rule of law|protection of the law]]. In 2009, Gregory Stanton, president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, stated there was "clear evidence that Mugabe government was guilty of crimes against humanity and that there was sufficient evidence of crimes against humanity to bring Mugabe to trial in front of the [[International Criminal Court]]."<ref>Howard-Hassmann 2010, p. 909</ref> Male [[homosexuality]] is [[LGBT rights in Zimbabwe|illegal in Zimbabwe]]. Since 1995, the government has [[LGBT rights opposition|carried out campaigns]] against both homosexual men and women.<ref>{{cite web|title=State Sponsored Homophobia 2016: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition|url=http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf|work=[[International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association]]|date=17 May 2016}}</ref> President Mugabe has blamed gays for many of Zimbabwe's problems and viewed homosexuality as an "un-African" and immoral culture brought by European colonists and practised by only "a few whites" in his country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/523162.stm|title=BBC News – Africa – Zimbabwe gay rights face dim future|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Opposition gatherings are frequently the subject of reprisals by the police force, such as the crackdown on an 11 March 2007 MDC rally and several others during the 2008 election campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10517688|title=Zimbabwe election violence spreads to Harare|access-date=7 December 2008|work=The New Zealand Herald|first=Raymond|last=Whitaker|date=22 June 2008}}</ref> Police actions have been strongly condemned by the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]], the European Union, and the United States.<ref name="bbc_Morgan">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6449691.stm|title=Unbowed Tsvangirai urges defiance|access-date=2 December 2007|date=14 March 2007|publisher=BBC}}</ref> There are also concerns over Fox Southwest media rights and access. The Zimbabwean government is accused of suppressing freedom of the press and freedom of speech.<ref name="AI" /> It has been repeatedly accused of using the public broadcaster, the [[Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation]], as a propaganda tool.<ref name="propaganda">[http://www.pressreference.com/Uz-Z/Zimbabwe.html Zimbabwe Press, Media, TV, Radio, Newspapers] ''Press Reference'', 2006.</ref> Newspapers critical of the government, such as the ''[[Daily News (Harare)|Daily News]]'', closed after bombs exploded at their offices and the government refused to renew their licence.<ref name="bombs">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1141168.stm|title=Zimbabwe newspaper bombed|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2001|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="license">{{cite news|last=Wines|first=Michael|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0DB1E3BF934A35751C0A9629C8B63|title=Zimbabwe: Newspaper Silenced|work=The New York Times|date=7 February 2004|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref> [[BBC News]], [[Sky News]], and [[CNN]] were banned from filming or reporting from Zimbabwe. In 2009 reporting restrictions on the BBC and CNN were lifted.<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/5935043/Zimbabwe-lifts-reporting-ban-on-BBC-and-CNN-after-eight-years.html "Zimbabwe lifts reporting ban on BBC and CNN"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 30 July 2009.</ref> Sky News continues to report on happenings within Zimbabwe from neighbouring countries like South Africa.<ref name="networks">{{cite news|author=Nkosi, Milton|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4400000/newsid_4401700/4401767.stm|title=Why did Zimbabwe ban the BBC?|work=BBC News|date=1 April 2005|access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/06/22/al-jazeera-kicked-out-of-zimbabwe |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080623173259/http://zimbabwemetro.com/2008/06/22/al-jazeera-kicked-out-of-zimbabwe |archive-date=23 June 2008 |title=Al Jazeera kicked out of Zimbabwe |url-status=dead |access-date=1 June 2016 }}, zimbabwemetro.com, 22 June 2008.</ref> On 24 July 2020, the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (OHCHR) expressed concerns over allegations suggesting that Zimbabwean authorities may have used the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]] crisis as a pretext to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly on the streets. OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell stated that people have a right to protest corruption or anything else. The authorities in Zimbabwe used force to disperse and arrest nurses and health workers, who were peacefully protesting for better salaries and work conditions. The reports suggest that a few members of opposition party and investigative journalists were also arbitrarily arrested and detained for taking part in a protest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1069011|title=Zimbabwe: COVID-19 must not be used to stifle freedoms, says UN rights office|access-date=24 July 2020|website=UN News|date=24 July 2020}}</ref> On 5 August 2020, the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter campaign on [[Twitter]] drew attention of international celebrities and politicians towards human rights abuses in the country, mounting pressure on Emmerson Mnangagwa's government. The campaign was in response to arrests, abductions and torture of political activists and the incarceration of journalist [[Hopewell Chin'ono]] and the [[Booker Prize]] shortlisted author [[Tsitsi Dangarembga]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/aug/05/zimbabweanlivesmatter-celebrities-join-campaign-against-human-rights-abuses|title=#ZimbabweanLivesMatter: celebrities join campaign against human rights abuses|access-date=5 August 2020|website=The Guardian|date=5 August 2020}}</ref> ===Administrative divisions=== {{Main|Provinces of Zimbabwe|Districts of Zimbabwe|Wards of Zimbabwe}} [[File:Administrative Divisions of Zimbabwe.svg|upright=1.35|thumb|right|[[Provinces of Zimbabwe|Administrative divisions of Zimbabwe]]]] Zimbabwe has a [[Centralized government|centralised government]] and is divided into eight provinces and two cities with provincial status, for administrative purposes. Each province has a provincial capital from where government administration is usually carried out.<ref name="CIA-WF"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Province !! Capital |- | [[Bulawayo]] || [[Bulawayo]] |- | [[Harare]] || [[Harare]] |- | [[Manicaland]] || [[Mutare]] |- | [[Mashonaland Central]] || [[Bindura]] |- | [[Mashonaland East]] || [[Marondera]] |- | [[Mashonaland West]] || [[Chinhoyi]] |- | [[Masvingo Province|Masvingo]] || [[Masvingo|Masvingo city]] |- | [[Matabeleland North]] || [[Lupane District]] |- | [[Matabeleland South]] || [[Gwanda]] |- | [[Midlands Province|Midlands]] || [[Gweru]] |} The names of most of the provinces were generated from the Mashonaland and Matabeleland divide at the time of colonisation: Mashonaland was the territory occupied first by the British South Africa Company Pioneer Column and Matabeleland the territory conquered during the First Matabele War. This corresponds roughly to the precolonial territory of the Shona people and the Matabele people, although there are significant ethnic minorities in most provinces. Each province is headed by a provincial governor, appointed by the president.<ref name="constitution">{{cite web|url=http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/cms/UsefulResourses/ZimbabweConstitution.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221053703/http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/cms/UsefulResourses/ZimbabweConstitution.pdf|archive-date=21 December 2008|title=Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe|publisher=Parliament of Zimbabwe|access-date=19 December 2008}}</ref> The provincial government is run by a provincial administrator, appointed by the Public Service Commission. Other government functions at provincial level are carried out by provincial offices of national government departments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/PROVINCIAL_COUNCILS_AND_ADMINISTRATION_ACT_29_11.pdf|title=Provincial Councils and Administration Act (Chapter 29:11)|publisher=Parliament of Zimbabwe|access-date=19 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227155122/http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/PROVINCIAL_COUNCILS_AND_ADMINISTRATION_ACT_29_11.pdf|archive-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> The provinces are subdivided into 59 [[Districts of Zimbabwe|districts]] and 1,200 [[List of wards of Zimbabwe|wards]] (sometimes referred to as municipalities). Each district is headed by a district administrator, appointed by the Public Service Commission. There is also a Rural District Council, which appoints a chief executive officer. The Rural District Council is composed of elected ward councillors, the district administrator, and one representative of the chiefs (traditional leaders appointed under customary law) in the district. Other government functions at district level are carried out by district offices of national government departments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/RURAL_DISTRICT_COUNCILS_ACT_29_13.pdf|title=Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13)|publisher=Parliament of Zimbabwe|access-date=19 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227145728/http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/RURAL_DISTRICT_COUNCILS_ACT_29_13.pdf|archive-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> At the ward level there is a Ward Development Committee, comprising the elected ward councillor, the kraalheads (traditional leaders subordinate to chiefs) and representatives of Village Development Committees. Wards are subdivided into villages, each of which has an elected Village Development Committee and a headman (traditional leader subordinate to the kraalhead).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/TRADITIONAL_LEADERS_ACT_29_17.pdf|title=Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17)|publisher=Parliament of Zimbabwe|access-date=19 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904033010/http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/attachments/article/116/TRADITIONAL_LEADERS_ACT_29_17.pdf|archive-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> === Sanctions === Since the early 2000s, Zimbabwe has been under sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union that have shaped Zimbabwe's domestic politics as well as the country's relations with the [[Western world|Western nations]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ndakaripa|first=Musiwaro|date=2021-04-03|title=Zimbabwe's Economic Meltdown: Are Sanctions Really to Blame?|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2021.1934997|journal=The Washington Quarterly|volume=44|issue=2|pages=95–120|doi=10.1080/0163660X.2021.1934997|s2cid=235465633|issn=0163-660X}}</ref> In 2002, Zimbabwe held general elections and ahead of that election the EU sent observers, but the election observer team was forced to leave the country. In February 2002 the EU placed targeted or restrictive measures on Zimbabwe. At least 20 government officials were banned from entering Europe, and EU funding was halted. Prior to the elections there was $128 million that was budgeted for the Zimbabwean government from 2002 to 2007, this was cancelled. Nevertheless, the EU only stopped funding the government directly but it continued sending money only through aid agencies and NGOs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe: Background|url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32723.html|access-date=2021-11-14|website=www.everycrsreport.com|language=en}}</ref> After some years the EU and Zimbabwe resolved some of their disputes and a lot of the EU sanctions were removed. Only Mugabe and his wife remained on the list while other government officials were removed. However, the EU still did not give Zimbabwe money. So, the government channels money through NGOs as it was seen on 4 March 2019 – 21 March 2019 [[Cyclone Idai]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-18|title=Cyclones Idai and Kenneth|url=https://www.unocha.org/southern-and-eastern-africa-rosea/cyclones-idai-and-kenneth|access-date=2021-11-14|website=OCHA|language=en|archive-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205181317/https://www.unocha.org/southern-and-eastern-africa-rosea/cyclones-idai-and-kenneth|url-status=dead}}</ref> The United States also imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. There are two types of U.S. sanctions on Zimbabwe. The first one is [[Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001|Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act]] (ZIDERA) and the second one is the Targeted Sanctions Program. ZIDERA made several demands, the first one was that Zimbabwe must respect human rights, second Zimbabwe must stop its interference in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], third Zimbabwe must stop the expropriation of white farms. If none of these demands were met, the U.S. would block the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] and the [[World Bank]] from lending money to Zimbabwe.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe|url=https://www.europeansanctions.com/region/zimbabwe/|access-date=2021-11-14|website=EU Sanctions|language=en-GB}}</ref> A new ZIDERA came into effect in 2018 with the motto that, Restore Democracy or there won't be any friendship, there must be free elections, free media and human rights, Zimbabwe must enforce the ruling of the [[SADC Tribunal]]. The Targeted Sanctions Program was implemented in 2003, which lists Zimbabwean companies and people who are not allowed to deal with U.S. companies. The sanctions on Zimbabwe have been in place for more than two decades. In March 2021 the U.S. renewed its sanctions on Zimbabwe.<ref name=":11" /> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page