ABSTRACT
With dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife filling its parks and reserves, Zimbabwe is known for its stunning natural beauty. Prior to its independence in 1980, the country had been known by several names: Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, and Zimbabwe Rhodesia. Officially referred to as the Republic of Zimbabwe, this landlocked country is located in Southern Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers. The country has reserves of metallurgical-grade chromite and other commercial mineral deposits such as coal, asbestos, copper, nickel, gold, platinum, and iron ore. Zimbabwe has a population of about 14.8 million people, with an estimated 3 million people residing in its capital, Harare. This culturally diverse country has 16 official languages, with up to 76 percent of the population speaking Bantu languages and Ndebele (18 percent).
