James Baquet

Kazakhstan styles itself the “land of wonders.” Not to be outdone, the Republic of Zimbabwe calls itself a “world of wonders.” The difference in the “wonder” level is not easy to discern. True, both are landlocked, and both have similar populations: Zimbabwe’s is 16 million compared to Kazakhstan’s 18 million.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages (including English and two Bantu languages, Shona and Sindebele), not just two. But being located on a different continent, the people, topography, history — everything about them is so different that it’s like comparing apples and oranges.

Zimbabwe is located in southern Africa, and bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Mozambique to the northeast, South Africa to the south and Botswana to the southwest. The Zambezi River flows along its northern border, and the Limpopo along its southern, both ultimately emptying into the Indian Ocean.

Harare, the capital and largest city, is located in the country’s northeast, and was named Salisbury until 1982. Likewise, the country also went through some changes of name.

Home to native states, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, until enforced colonization, it was known from 1895 as Rhodesia (after the imperialist Cecil Rhodes), then Southern Rhodesia (Zambia was called Northern Rhodesia). The country was consolidated with the other Rhodesia and with Nyasaland (now Malawi) from 1953 until the dissolution of this Central African Federation in 1963. It became Rhodesia again after independence from Great Britain in 1965, then Zimbabwe Rhodesia in 1979, and at last just Zimbabwe after a 15-year guerrilla war in 1980.

But that didn’t mean smooth sailing. The dictator Robert Mugabe, who has been widely criticized for his human rights violations, ran the country for nearly 40 years until his removal as party head in 2017 and the subsequent impeachment proceedings which ended with his resignation as president. Once known as the “jewel of Africa” because of its prosperity, the country’s economy is now attempting to recover from the disastrous effects of the Mugabe years.

Vocabulary:

Which word above means:

1. two things proverbially impossible to compare

2. an easy situation

3. one who promotes the creation of an empire

4. trial of a public official

5. recognize, distinguish

6. calls by a certain title

7. shape of the land

8. be surpassed, be beaten

9. breaking apart

10. put together