Zimbabwe

Harare serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Zimbabwe, positioned in Southern Africa. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Bulawayo, Mutare — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Harare was founded as Fort Salisbury in 1890 by the British South Africa Company's Pioneer Column and was renamed at independence in 1980 after a Shona chief — Neharawa, meaning 'he who does not sleep' — and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, opened in 1957, houses one of the continent's most significant collections of stone sculpture from the Shona school.

With a population of approximately 15.1M, Zimbabwe is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is 16 official languages, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Zimbabwe is reached via the dialling code +263. Zimbabwe's stone-carving tradition — Shona sculpture — emerged in the 1950s when artist Frank McEwen encouraged local artists to work with the country's abundant verdite and springstone, producing a school of modernist figurative sculpture that reached major international galleries in London and New York within a decade.

Zimbabwe spans 390,757 km², in the Southern Africa subregion of Africa. Geographically centred around 20.0°S, 30.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the left-hand rule, in line with surrounding Africa convention.

The official currency is the Zimbabwean dollar ($), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Zimbabwe's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+02:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Zimbabwe is Sadza. Food culture in Zimbabwe is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.

Football / Cricket holds a special place in the heart of Zimbabwe's national identity. Zimbabwe's cricket team produced Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, who wore black armbands at the 2003 World Cup to mourn 'the death of democracy in Zimbabwe' — one of sport's most deliberate political statements, delivered at the risk of prosecution and later exile, by players who prioritised conscience over career.

The highest point in Zimbabwe is Mount Nyangani, rising to 2,592 metres above sea level. Victoria Falls — Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders' in Tonga — spans 1,708 metres across the Zambezi River gorge and produces a spray cloud visible 50 kilometres away; David Livingstone became the first European to see it in 1855 and described it as a sight 'so lovely it must have been gazed upon by angels'.