15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)

Government Zimbabwe

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*,
Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,
Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,
Midlands

Independence:
18 April 1980 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Constitution:
21 December 1979

Legal system:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31
December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999)
and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since
31 December 1987); Vice President Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999)
and Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the
House of Assembly
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper
signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each
province) and elected by popular vote for a six-year term (no term
limits); election last held 9-11 March 2002 (next to be held March
2008); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent
of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 56.2%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 41.9%

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Assembly (150 seats -
120 elected by popular vote for five-year terms, 12 nominated by the
president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers,
and eight occupied by provincial governors appointed by the
president) and a Senate (66 seats - 50 elected by popular vote for a
five-year term, six nomina