ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Zimbabwe. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe experienced considerable civil strife in 2001. The government took numerous actions restricting civil liberties and political rights, including proposing draconian curbs on press freedom. Zimbabweans do not yet have the right, in practice, to change their government democratically. President Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) enjoy a wide set of incumbency advantages that reflect their ability and willingness to manipulate the political landscape as needed to ensure continued control. Mugabe issued pardons for thousands of people, most from ZANU-PF, for crimes committed during the election campaign.
