he UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] South
Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that
favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally
declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and
demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority
in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla
uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as
Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister,
has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has
dominated the country's political system since independence. His
chaotic land redistribution campaign, which began in 2000, caused an
exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in
widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international
condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure
his reelection. Opposition and labor strikes in 2003 were
unsuccessful in pressuring MUGABE to retire early; security forces
continued their brutal repression of regime opponents. The ruling
ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation to win a two-thirds
majority in the March 2005 parliamentary election, allowing it to
amend the constitution at will and recreate the Senate, which had
been abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005, Harare embarked on
Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization
program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or
businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition,
according to UN estimates. ZANU-PF announced in December 2006 that
they would combine presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010
to ensure MUGABE remains in office.

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@2030 Airports - with paved runways

Afghanistan
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Albania
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)

Algeria
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

American Samoa
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Angola
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5