Country Facts :
Country Facts Population: 13,010,000
Capital: Harare; 1,469,000
Area:390,757 square kilometers(150,872 square miles)
Language :English, Shona, Sindebele
Religion:Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous
beliefs), Christian, indigenous beliefs
Currency: Zimbabwean dollar
Life Expectancy : 41
Literacy Percent: 91
Robert Mugabe :
Robert Mugabe Country’s first and only ruler since 1987
Land redistribution campaign, which began
in 2000, caused an exodus of white farmers,
crippled the economy, and caused wide
spread shortages commodities
Printed trillions of Zimbabwean dollars which caused
huge inflation
Education :
Education Following independence in 1980, was regarded the best in the Africa
Under the weight of 7 year political crisis, education has suffered
Children are being asked to bring furniture from home
Standards have declined in past 10 yrs
Qualified teachers are leaving the profession due to low salary
400,000 to 800, 000 per year = 1600-3200 USD
School year was canceled in 2008 because passing rates on standardized tests dropped from average 72 % to 11%...some schools reporting 0%
"One hundred percent of teachers have resigned, mentally, even though they remain in schools," said the teachers union president, Takavafira Zhou.
Publishers :
Publishers Zimbabwe Publishing House
Baobab Books
Sapes Books
Longman
Mambo Press
Charles Mungosghi :
Charles Mungosghi Coming of the Dry Season
Walking Still
One day, Long Ago
Stories from a Shoni Childhood
Noma Award (books pub. in Africa)
Commonwealth Writers Prize (Africa region) 88/98 (Commonwealth of Nations fiction)
International PEN Awards for novels
Slide 8:
Imagings and Sensations
Edited by: Ben J. Hanson
Beggars
By: Ignatius Munsonza
Humba Kumba Goes to School
By: Dickson Mungazi
Chipo and the Bird on the Hill
By: Meshack Asare
Soul Brother Magqhubu
By: Betjane
Thandiwe’s Spirit and the River
By: Stephen Alumenda