Zimbabwe

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Zimbabwe}}

===Population===
Expanding from a population of 2,746,396 in 1950, Zimbabwe's population has rapidly increased. Based on {{UN_Population|source}}, the population of Zimbabwe was estimated by the [[United Nations]] at {{UN_Population|Zimbabwe}} in {{UN_Population|Year}}.

===Ethnic groups===
[[File:Tonga wall baskets producer from Zimbabwe.JPG|alt=Tonga Woman|thumb|upright|A Tonga woman pleating a basket]]
According to the 2012 census report, 99.7% of the population is of African origin.<ref name="zimstat.co.zw">{{Cite web |title=Census 2012 National Report |url=http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/CensusResults2012/National_Report.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901192722/http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/CensusResults2012/National_Report.pdf |archive-date=1 September 2014 |access-date=4 May 2016 |work=[[ZIMSTAT]]}}</ref> The majority people, the Shona, comprise 82%, while Ndebele make up 14% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoplease.com/world/social-statistics/ethnicity-and-race-countries |title=Ethnicity and Race by Countries |date=21 May 2020 |website=Infoplease}}</ref> The Ndebele descended from Zulu migrations in the 19th century and the other tribes with which they intermarried. Up to one million Ndebele may have left the country over the last five years,{{when|date=June 2021}} mainly for South Africa. Other ethnic groups include [[Venda]], [[Tonga people (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]], [[Tsonga people|Tsonga]], [[Kalanga people|Kalanga]], [[Sotho people|Sotho]], [[Ndau people|Ndau]], [[Nambya people|Nambya]], [[Tswana people|Tswana]], [[Xhosa people|Xhosa]] and [[Lozi people|Lozi]].

Minority ethnic groups include [[white Zimbabweans]], who make up less than 1% of the total population. White Zimbabweans are mostly of British origin, but there are also [[Afrikaners|Afrikaner]], [[Greeks in Zimbabwe|Greek]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]], [[Franco-Mauritians|French]] and Dutch communities. The white population dropped from a peak of around 278,000, or 4.3% of the population, in 1975.<ref>Wiley, David and Isaacman, Allen F. (1981). ''Southern Africa: society, economy, and liberation''. Michigan State University, University of Minnesota. p. 55</ref> The 2012 census lists the total white population at 28,782 (roughly 0.22% of the population), one-twentieth of its peak.<ref>Quarterly Digest Of Statistics, Zimbabwe Printing and Stationery Office, 1999.</ref> Most emigration has been to the United Kingdom (between [[Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom|200,000 and 500,000]] Britons are of Rhodesian or Zimbabwean origin), South Africa, Botswana, [[Zimbabweans in Zambia|Zambia]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Business Zimbabwe's land reform: Zambia's gain, a cautionary tale for South Africa? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/zimbabwes-land-reform-zambias-gain-a-cautionary-tale-for-south-africa/a-47095154 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Mozambique,<ref>{{cite news |title=Zimbabwe's white farmers start anew in Mozambique |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/10/zimbabwe-white-farmers-start-anew-mozambique-151027095006428.html |work=Al-Jazeera |date=28 October 2015}}</ref> Canada, Australia and New Zealand. [[Coloureds]] form 0.5% of the population, and various [[Asian people|Asian]] ethnic groups, mostly of Indian and Chinese origin, are also 0.5%.<ref>Quarterly Digest of Statistics, 1998, Zimbabwe Printing and Stationery Office.<!--ISSN/ISBN needed--></ref>

===Largest cities===
{{Largest cities
| country = Zimbabwe
| stat_ref = Source:<ref name=ZIMBABWECITIES>{{cite web |url=https://www.geonames.org/ZW/largest-cities-in-zimbabwe.html|title=Zimbabwe Cities by Population 2022}}</ref>
| list_by_pop =
| div_name = 
| div_link = Provinces of Zimbabwe{{!}}Province
| city_1 = Harare| div_1 = Harare Province{{!}}Harare| pop_1 = 2,123,132| img_1 = Harare_secondst.jpg
| city_2 = Bulawayo | div_2 = Bulawayo Province{{!}}Bulawayo | pop_2 = 1,200,337| img_2 = Bulawayo_Nkomo_Str.jpg
| city_3 = Chitungwiza| div_3 = Harare Province{{!}}Harare| pop_3 = 371,244| img_3 =Chitungwiza Shopping Center.jpg
| city_4 =  Mutare | div_4 = Manicaland| pop_4 = 224,802	| img_4 = Mutare Custom house.jpg
| city_5 = Gweru | div_5 = Midlands Province{{!}}Midlands| pop_5 = 158,200
| city_6 = 	Kwekwe| div_6 = Midlands Province{{!}}Midlands| pop_6 = 119,863
| city_7 = Kadoma, Zimbabwe{{!}}Kadoma| div_7 = Mashonaland West | pop_7 = 116,300
| city_8 =Ruwa| div_8 = Mashonaland East| pop_8 = 94,083
| city_9 = 	Chinhoyi| div_9 = Mashonaland West | pop_9 = 90,800
| city_10 = Masvingo| div_10 = Masvingo Province{{!}}Masvingo| pop_10 = 90,286
}}

===Languages===
{{main|Languages of Zimbabwe}}
Zimbabwe has 16 official languages and under the constitution, an Act of Parliament may prescribe other languages as officially recognised languages.<ref name="language" /> English is the main language used in the education and judicial systems. The [[Bantu languages]] [[Shona language|Shona]] and [[Northern Ndebele language|Ndebele]] are the principal indigenous languages of Zimbabwe. Shona is spoken by 78% of the population, Ndebele by 20%. Other minority Bantu languages include Venda, [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], Shangaan, Kalanga, Sotho, Ndau and Nambya. Less than 2.5%, mainly the white and "coloured" (mixed race) minorities, consider English their native language.<ref name="languages">{{cite web |url=http://www.gapadventures.com/docs/pdi/africa/Zimbabwe.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325004301/http://www.gapadventures.com/docs/pdi/africa/Zimbabwe.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |title=Zimbabwe |url-status=dead |access-date=1 June 2016}}, gapadventures.com; accessed 4 May 2016.</ref> Shona has a rich oral tradition, which was incorporated into the first Shona novel, ''Feso'' by [[Solomon Mutswairo]], published in 1956.<ref name="feso">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.unc.edu/~ottotwo/mothertongue.html |title=Mother Tongue: Interviews with Musaemura B. Zimunya and Solomon Mutswairo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326150740/http://www.unc.edu/~ottotwo/mothertongue.html |archive-date=26 March 2018 |url-status=dead |journal=The Journal of African Travel-Writing |first=Angela A. |last=Williams |issue=4 |date=April 1998 |pages=36–44}}</ref> English is primarily spoken in the cities but less so in rural areas. Radio and television news are broadcast in Shona, Sindebele and English.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

There is a large community of Portuguese speakers in Zimbabwe, mainly in the border areas with Mozambique and in major cities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Martins|first=Margarida|date=12 March 2019|title=Português em África|language=pt|trans-title=Portuguese in Africa|work=Diário de Notícias|location=Portugal}}</ref> Beginning in 2017, teaching Portuguese was included in secondary education of Zimbabwe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Português vai ser introduzido no ensino secundário no Zimbabué|url=https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/portugues-vai-ser-introduzido-no-ensino-secundario-no-zimbabue|access-date=2020-07-21|website=SAPO 24|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zimbabwe: Português vai ser introduzido no ensino secundário do país - África - Angola Press - ANGOP|url=http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/africa/2017/0/3/Zimbabwe-Portugues-vai-ser-introduzido-ensino-secundario-pais,7e5aad04-47b2-4b4f-aee8-c8351c5ae23f.html|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.angop.ao|language=PT-PT|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806105712/http://www.angop.ao/angola/pt_pt/noticias/africa/2017/0/3/Zimbabwe-Portugues-vai-ser-introduzido-ensino-secundario-pais,7e5aad04-47b2-4b4f-aee8-c8351c5ae23f.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Religion===

{{Main|Religion in Zimbabwe}}
[[File:Sacred Heart Cathedral, Harare.jpg|thumb|left|[[Catholic]] church in [[Harare]]]]
According to the 2017 Inter Censal Demography Survey by the [[Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency]], 84% of Zimbabweans are Christian, 10% do not belong to any religion, and 0.7% are [[Islam in Zimbabwe|Muslim]].<ref name="2017survey" /><ref name="pewzimb">{{cite web|url=http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf |title=Table: Religious Composition by Country |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310101254/https://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=dead |website=pewforum.org |publisher=Pew Research Center |location=Washington, D.C. |year=2012}}</ref><ref name="US_state">{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe – International Religious Freedom Report 2005 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51503.htm |access-date=3 December 2007 |publisher=U.S. Department of State |quote=An estimated 1% of the total population is Muslim.}}</ref> An estimated 62% of the population attend religious services regularly.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=MSN Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575825_3/Zimbabwe.html |access-date=13 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031022353/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575825_3/Zimbabwe.html |archive-date=31 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Approximately 69% of Zimbabweans belong to [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity, while 8% are Roman Catholic.<ref name="2017survey" /> Pentecostal-charismatic forms of Christianity, in particular, have grown rapidly in recent years and are playing a prominent role in public, social and political life.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chitando |first=Ezra |title=Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-3501-7601-0}}</ref> The largest Christian churches are [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe |url=http://adventistatlas.org/ViewCountry.asp?CtryCode=zw |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724224739/http://adventistatlas.org/ViewCountry.asp?CtryCode=zw |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=22 January 2008}}</ref> and [[Methodism|Methodist]].

As in other African countries, Christianity may be mixed with enduring traditional beliefs. [[Indigenous religion in Zimbabwe|Indigenous religion]], which predates colonialism, has become relatively marginal but continues to be an important part of the Zimbabwean religious field.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shoko |first=Tabona |title=Karanga Indigenous Religion in Zimbabwe: Health and Well-Being |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-754-65881-8 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Moyo |first=Method |title=Traditional Religion and Its Impact on the Practices of Apostolic and Zionist Churches in Zimbabwe |publisher=GRIN Verlag |year=2020 |isbn=978-3-346-21835-3}}</ref> [[Ancestral worship]] is the most practised non-Christian religion, involving spiritual intercession; central to many ceremonial proceedings is the [[mbira dzavadzimu]], meaning "voice of the ancestors", which is an instrument related to many [[lamellophone]]s ubiquitous throughout Africa.

===Health===
{{See also|Health in Zimbabwe|HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe|Zimbabwean cholera outbreak}}
[[File:Life expectancy in select African countries, 1950–2019.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Life expectancy in select Southern African countries, 1950–2019. [[HIV/AIDS]] has caused a fall in life expectancy.]]
[[File:MOP 50.jpg|thumb|Mother of Peace AIDS orphanage, [[Mutoko]] (2005)]]

At independence, the policies of racial inequality were reflected in the disease patterns of the black majority. The first five years after independence saw rapid gains in areas such as immunisation coverage, access to health care, and contraceptive prevalence rate.<ref>Davies, R. and Sanders, D. (1998). "Adjustment policies and the welfare of children: Zimbabwe, 1980–1985". In: Cornia, G.A., Jolly, R. and Stewart, F. (eds.) ''Adjustment with a human face, Vol. II: country case studies''. Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp. 272–99; {{ISBN|0198286112}}.</ref> Zimbabwe was thus considered internationally to have achieved a good record of health development.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Dugbatey, K. |year=1999|pmid=10414831 |title=National health policies: sub-Saharan African case studies (1980–1990)|journal=Soc. Sci. Med.|volume=49|pages=223–239|doi=10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00110-0|issue=2}}</ref>

Zimbabwe suffered occasional outbreaks of acute diseases. The gains on the national health were eroded by structural adjustment in the 1990s,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Marquette, C.M. |year=1997|doi=10.1016/S0305-750X(97)00019-3 |title=Current poverty, structural adjustment, and drought in Zimbabwe|journal=World Development|volume=25|pages=1141–1149|issue=7}}</ref> the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic<ref name="nofix" /> and the economic crisis since 2000. In 2006, Zimbabwe had one of the lowest life expectancies in the world according to UN figure—44 for men and 43 for women, down from 60 in 1990, but recovered to 60 in 2015.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42013720|title=Zimbabwe in 10 numbers|date=18 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=18 November 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/socind/health.htm|title=United Nations Statistics Division|access-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> The rapid drop was ascribed mainly to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. [[Infant mortality]] rose from 6% in the late 1990s to 12.3% by 2004.<ref name="nofix">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7346042.stm|title=No quick fix for Zimbabwe's economy |date=14 April 2008|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 December 2008 | first=Jorn | last=Madslien}}</ref> Official fertility rates over the last decade were 3.6 (2002),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zimbabwe Profile based on the 2002 Population Census |url=http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/Census.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121155/http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/Census.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 |work=[[ZIMSTAT]]}}</ref> 3.8 (2006)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2005–06 |url=http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/ZDHSOLD/ZDHS2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092621/http://www.zimstat.co.zw/dmdocuments/Census/ZDHSOLD/ZDHS2006.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=4 May 2016 |work=[[ZIMSTAT]]}}</ref> and 3.8 (2012).<ref name="zimstat.co.zw" /> The 2014 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Zimbabwe was 614<ref name="Worldbank" /> compared to 960 in 2010–11<ref name="Worldbank" /> and 232 in 1990. The under five mortality rate, per 1,000 births was 75 in 2014 (94 in 2009).<ref name="Worldbank" /> The number of midwives per 1,000 live births was unavailable in 2016 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women 1 in 42.<ref name="SOWMY">{{cite web |title=The State of the World's Midwifery |url=http://www.unfpa.org/sowmy/report/home.html |access-date=1 June 2016 |publisher=United Nations Population Fund}}</ref>

In 2006 an association of doctors in Zimbabwe made calls for Mugabe to make moves to assist the ailing health service.<ref>{{cite news |author=Thornycroft, Peta |date=10 April 2006 |title=In Zimbabwe, life ends before 40 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=Harare |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/world/in-zimbabwe-life-ends-before-40/2006/04/09/1144521210993.html |access-date=10 April 2006}}</ref> The [[HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe|HIV infection rate in Zimbabwe]] was estimated to be 14% for people aged 15–49 in 2009.<ref name="UNAIDS">{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe |url=http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/zimbabwe |access-date=16 January 2011 |publisher=UNAIDS}}</ref> [[UNESCO]] reported a decline in HIV prevalence among pregnant women from 26% in 2002 to 21% in 2004.<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web |title=HIV Prevalence Rates Fall in Zimbabwe |url=http://www.harare.unesco.org/educaids/zimprevalence.html |access-date=3 December 2007 |publisher=UNESCO |archive-date=30 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330055849/http://www.harare.unesco.org/educaids/zimprevalence.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2016 HIV/AIDS prevalence had been reduced to 13.5%<ref name=":2" /> compared to 40% in 1998.<ref name="Worldbank" />

At the end of November 2008, some operations at three of Zimbabwe's four major referral hospitals had shut down, along with the Zimbabwe Medical School, and the fourth major hospital had two wards and no operating theatres working.<ref name="hospitalsprnid">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7714892.stm|title=The death throes of Harare's hospitals|date=7 November 2008|publisher=BBC |access-date=3 December 2008 | first=Brian | last=Hungwe}}</ref> Those hospitals still open were not able to obtain basic drugs and medicines.<ref name="coping">{{cite news|url=http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/zimbabwe-feature-261108?opendocument|title=Zimbabwe: coping with the cholera outbreak|date=26 November 2008|access-date=3 December 2008}}</ref> The situation changed drastically after the Unity Government and the introduction of the multi-currency system in February 2009 although the political and economic crisis also contributed to the emigration of the doctors and people with medical knowledge.<ref name="Zimbabwe cholera deaths near 500">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7760088.stm|title=Zimbabwe cholera deaths near 500|date=2 December 2008|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 December 2008}}</ref>
[[File:2008 Zimbabwe Cholera Outbreak Combined.svg|thumb|Map showing the spread of [[cholera]] in and around Zimbabwe put together from several sources]]
In August 2008 large areas of Zimbabwe were struck by the ongoing cholera epidemic. By December 2008 more than 10,000 people had been infected in all but one of Zimbabwe's provinces, and the outbreak had spread to Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7768740.stm |title=PM urges Zimbabwe cholera action |work=BBC News |date=6 December 2008 |access-date=6 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="Milliband">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5294534.ece "Miliband backs African calls for end of Mugabe"], ''[[The Times]]'', 5 December 2008.</ref> On 4 December 2008 the Zimbabwe government declared the outbreak to be a national emergency and asked for international aid.<ref name="Zimbabwe declares national emergency over cholera">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B31T420081204?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=69&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0|title=Zimbabwe declares national emergency over cholera|date=4 December 2008|work=Reuters|access-date=4 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="emergency">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsW9YNn1roEp0rzjeGSJo0pKcj2A|title=Zimbabwe declares cholera outbreak a national emergency|date=4 December 2008|agency=Agence France-Presse |access-date=4 December 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927163223/http://www.undp.org.zw/component/docman/doc_download/230-zimbabwe-poverty-report-2011-april-17-2013 |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> By 9 March 2009 The World Health Organization estimated that 4,011 people had succumbed to the waterborne disease since the outbreak began, and the total number of cases recorded had reached 89,018.<ref name="On the cholera frontline">[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83378 On the cholera frontline]. [[The New Humanitarian|IRIN]]. 9 March 2009</ref> In Harare, the city council offered free graves to cholera victims.<ref name="rain">{{cite news|url=http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4AT06A.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206151846/http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4AT06A.html|archive-date=6 December 2008|title=Zimbabwe says cholera epidemic may spread with rain|date=30 November 2008|work=Reuters|url-status=dead|access-date=3 December 2008}}</ref>

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Zimbabwe}}
[[File:Saint-Georges-College.jpg|thumb|[[St. George's College, Harare]] was established in 1896 by a French [[Jesuit]].]]
Large investments in education since independence has resulted in the highest adult literacy rate in Africa which in 2013 was 90.70%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ranking of African Countries By Literacy Rate: Zimbabwe No. 1|url=http://theafricaneconomist.com/ranking-of-african-countries-by-literacy-rate-zimbabwe-no-1/|publisher=The African Economist}}</ref> This is lower than the 92% recorded in 2010 by the [[United Nations Development Programme]]<ref name="IRINAfrica">{{Cite web|url=http://ww.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89947 |title=Zimbabwe: Unlicensed and outdoors or no school at all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511094256/http://ww.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89947 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead |website=irinnews.org |publisher=[[OCHA]] |date=23 July 2010 |location=Epworth, Zimbabwe}}</ref><ref name="AllAfrica">{{Cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201007150032.html |title=Zimbabwe: Country Leads in Africa Literacy Race |website=AllAfrica.com |date=14 July 2010 |last=Nyathi |first=Kitsepile}}</ref> and the 97.0% recorded in the 2002 census, while still substantially higher than 80.4% recorded in the 1992 census.<ref>{{cite report|title=Poverty Income Consumption and Expenditure Survey 2011/12 Report|publisher=Zimstat|year=2013|url=http://www.undp.org.zw/component/docman/doc_download/230-zimbabwe-poverty-report-2011-april-17-2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927163223/http://www.undp.org.zw/component/docman/doc_download/230-zimbabwe-poverty-report-2011-april-17-2013 |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>

The wealthier portion of the population usually send their children to independent schools as opposed to the government-run schools which are attended by the majority as these are subsidised by the government. School education was made free in 1980, but since 1988, the government has steadily increased the charges attached to school enrolment until they now greatly exceed the real value of fees in 1980. The Ministry of Education of Zimbabwe maintains and operates the government schools, but the fees charged by independent schools are regulated by the cabinet of Zimbabwe. The education department has stated that 20,000 teachers have left Zimbabwe since 2007 and that half of Zimbabwe's children have not progressed beyond primary school.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nkepile Mabuse |date=28 September 2009 |title=Zimbabwe schools begin fightback |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/25/zimbabwe.schools/index.html |access-date=28 September 2009}}</ref> Education came under threat since the economic changes in 2000, with teachers going on strike because of low pay, students unable to concentrate because of hunger, and the price of uniforms soaring making this standard a luxury. Teachers were also one of the main targets of Mugabe's attacks because he thought they were not strong supporters.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 April 2007 |title=BBC report on 40 years in Zimbabwe's schools |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6566919.stm |access-date=3 November 2007}}</ref>

Zimbabwe's education system consists of two years of pre-school, seven years of primary and six years of secondary schooling before students can enter university in the country or abroad. The academic year in Zimbabwe runs from January to December, with three terms, separated by one-month breaks, with a total of 40 weeks of school per year. National examinations are written during the third term in November, with [[General Certificate of Education|"O" level]] and [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|"A" level]] subjects also offered in June.<ref name="embassy">{{cite web |url=http://harare.usembassy.gov/zimbabwe_educational_profile.html |title=Zimbabwe US Embassy |access-date=15 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118190900/http://harare.usembassy.gov/zimbabwe_educational_profile.html |archive-date=18 November 2007 }}</ref>

There are seven public (government) universities as well as four church-related universities in Zimbabwe that are internationally accredited.<ref name="embassy" /> The [[University of Zimbabwe]], the first and largest, was built in 1952 and is located in the Harare suburb of [[Mount Pleasant, Harare|Mount Pleasant]]. Notable alumni from Zimbabwean universities include Welshman Ncube, [[Peter Moyo]], [[Tendai Biti]], [[Chenjerai Hove]] and Arthur Mutambara. Many of the politicians in the government of Zimbabwe have obtained degrees from universities in the United States or other universities abroad.

[[National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe|National University of Science and Technology]] is the second largest public research university in Zimbabwe located in Bulawayo. It was established in 1991. The National University of Science and Technology strives to become a flourishing and reputable institution not only in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa but also among the international fraternity of universities. [[Africa University]] is a United Methodist university in Manicaland which attracts students from at least 36 African countries.

=== Gender equality ===
{{Further|Child marriage in Zimbabwe|Polygamy in Zimbabwe|Human trafficking in Zimbabwe|Abortion in Zimbabwe}}
Women in Zimbabwe are disadvantaged in many facets including economic, political, and social spheres, and experience sex and gender based violence.<ref name=":22">{{cite web|url=http://www.zw.one.un.org/togetherwedeliver/zundaf/gender-equality|title=Gender Equality {{!}} UN in Zimbabwe|website=www.zw.one.un.org|language=en|access-date=2 October 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814054632/http://www.zw.one.un.org/togetherwedeliver/zundaf/gender-equality|url-status=dead}}</ref> A 2014 UN report found that deep rooted cultural issues, patriarchal attitudes, and religious practices negatively impacted women's rights and freedoms in the country.<ref name=":22" /> These negative views toward women as well as societal norms impact the incentive for women to participate in the economy and hinder their economic production.<ref name=":22" /> Zimbabwe's constitution has provisions in it that provide incentive to achieve greater gender equality, but the data shows that enforcement has been lax and adoption slow.<ref name=":22" /> In December 2016 the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies conducted a case study to determine how to best implement effective policy to address issues such as gender violence and implementation of equality laws.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/document/effective-law-policy-gender-equality-protection-sexual-gender-based-violence-disasters-zimbabwe/|title=Effective law and policy on gender equality and protection from sexual and gender-based violence in disasters – Zimbabwe|work=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|access-date=18 October 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205110239/https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/document/effective-law-policy-gender-equality-protection-sexual-gender-based-violence-disasters-zimbabwe/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was found that sex and gender based violence against women and girls was increasing in areas that had experienced disasters (floods, drought, disease) but could not quantify the extent of the increase.<ref name=":3" /> Some of the obstacles in combating these issues are that there are economic barriers to declaring sex and gender based violence to be unacceptable as well as social barriers.<ref name=":3" /> Additionally, governmental services which were installed to help educate the populace about these issues as well as provide services to victims are underfunded and unable to carry out their duties.<ref name=":3" /> The UN also provided economic incentive to adopt policies which would discourage these practices which negatively impacted women in Zimbabwe.<ref name=":02">{{cite web|url=http://www.zw.one.un.org/togetherwedeliver/zundaf/7-women%E2%80%99s-empowerment-gender-equality-and-equity|title=7. Women's Empowerment, Gender Equality and Equity {{!}} UN in Zimbabwe|website=www.zw.one.un.org|language=en|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003709/http://www.zw.one.un.org/togetherwedeliver/zundaf/7-women%E2%80%99s-empowerment-gender-equality-and-equity|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Women are often seen as inferior, treated as objects, and viewed in subordinate roles in history and philosophy.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Manyonganise |first=Molly |date=2015 |title=Oppressive and liberative: A Zimbabwean woman's reflections on ubuntu |journal=Verbum et Ecclesia |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.4102/VE.V36I2.1438 |issn=2074-7705 |doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Ubuntu philosophy|Ubuntu]], an African philosophy's spiritual aspect, instills the belief that boys should be more valued than girls as boys pass on lineage, and the belief system places high value in respecting one's ancestors.<ref name=":10" /> A common expression used in court, "''vakadzi ngavanyarare''", translates to "''women should keep quiet,''" and as a result women are not consulted in decision-making; they must implement the men's wishes.<ref name=":10" /> The subordination of women in Zimbabwe, and the cultural forces which dictate what they must be, have led to deaths and the sacrifice of professional advancement in order for them to fulfill their roles as wives, mothers, and subordinates.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Chabaya|first1=O.|last2=Rembe|first2=S.|last3=Wadesango|first3=N.|date=1 January 2009|title=The persistence of gender inequality in Zimbabwe: factors that impede the advancement of women into leadership positions in primary schools|url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/saje/article/view/44152|journal=South African Journal of Education|language=en|volume=29|issue=2|pages=235–251|doi=10.15700/saje.v29n2a259|issn=2076-3433|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> Women are taught that they must never refuse their husband's sexual advances, even if they know they are infected with HIV from being unfaithful.<ref name=":10" /> As a result of this practice, Zimbabwean women aged 15–49 have an HIV prevalence rate of 16.1% and make up 62% of the total population infected with HIV in that age group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe |url=http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/zimbabwe |access-date=4 December 2018 |website=www.unaids.org |language=en}}</ref>