Misconceptions of Zimbabwe

What is a misconception? A misconception is a false or mistaken view, opinion, or attitude. What is a perception? A perception is the way of perceiving awareness .How are these misconceptions and perceptions spread about other countries? Most Misconceptions and perceptions about other countries are spread though the media. All countries have misconceptions, like the southern African country Zimbabwe. Some people think its poor/ under developed, some people think that Zimbabwe is very violent, and they all have HIV/AIDS. These misconceptions can be easily dis proven and proven in some ways as you will see.

The republic of Zimbabwe or Zimbabwe for short is a beautiful land locked country at the southern part of Africa less than one percent of Zimbabwe’s land is water. Zimbabwe shares borders with the republic of South Africa, the republic of Mozambique, the republic of Botswana, and the republic of Zambia. The total population of Zimbabwe is twelve million about thirty eight percent of the population living in a major cities such as Harare the capital of Zimbabwe. Most Zimbabwe people live in rural areas and are farmers. 

  

            Not everyone in Zimbabwe is poor and live in mud huts. The city of Harare is a nice well-developed place. Harare is located17°51'50" S and 31°1'47" E (Zimbabwe extends farther to the southwest than in other directions). Though the farther from the cities you get the poorer the people. Estimated 78 percent of Zimbabweans are in poverty. The average person in Zimbabwe will make five hundred U.S. dollars in one year. One U.S. dollar is equal to two hundred fifty Zimbabwe dollars. Most parents in Zimbabwe can’t afford to send their kids to school which is the main reason why three hundred thousand kids a year in Zimbabwe drop out of school each year. Sadly this number is decreasing even though the Zimbabwe government has alternative schools.  Over one million people in Zimbabwe face malnutrition. This poverty in Zimbabwe could have been avoided if it wasn’t for Zimbabwe’s present   Robert Mugabe has been making wrong decisions for the Zimbabwe people. Robert Mugabe has done nothing to help the person in his country the he is running who are in poverty. He also did nothing when food shortages were going on in the country.   

                                   

                At one time Zimbabwe had a booming economy and flourishing farms run by hereditary white farmers and business men. But the native people to Zimbabwe started killing off their white neighbors and soon the knowledge on how to run the country was lost. This is a result of racism. Since this time people thought that it would be unsafe for certain people to settle and visit Zimbabwe. The racism in Zimbabwe and the anger to the white settlers from Europe are caused by the natives who do not want the whites to rule over them. Now in Zimbabwe the most racism in Zimbabwe is in the capital Harare. White people in Zimbabwe are usually beaten, looted and thrown off their farms in Zimbabwe. Even companies in Zimbabwe are against white people. For example a company called VodaCom which is company that shares stokes. Directly in their job packet it states that only black people and black business groups can apply for all of the jobs in their company. Many other companies are doing this, so for the white Europeans in Zimbabwe and southern Africa finding an accepting job is hard to find. This is happening gradually, but it is happening all over southern Africa. No one knows exactly why this is happening, but most people think that the white people are out to get the native Africans. Another huge problem with racism in Zimbabwe is from the president Robert Mugabe. He took away the white Zimbabwe peoples farm land and offered to distribute it so that the indigenous Zimbabwean farmers can also partake in commercial farming.

                   1.3 million People are living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. About one in ten is living with an HIV infection. Many people in Zimbabwe are trying to spread awareness and try to stop HIV AIDS, though it is getting worse every day for the people in Zimbabwe. Between 2002 and 2006, the population is estimated deceased by four million people, because of HIV AIDS. Also with the wide spread of  HIV AIDS infant mortality has doubled since 1990 and the average life expectancy for women has dropped to the age of forty seven. In Zimbabwe there are a higher number of orphans.  About one in four children in Zimbabwe are orphaned as a result of parents dying from AIDS. Most people feel that the Zimbabwean government’s response to the AIDS crisis has been relatively good in comparison with their performance in other areas. Prevention and treatment initiatives have been scaled up and the national HIV prevalence seems to have declined. Yet in the context of such a fragmented political and economic background, the fight against AIDS has been unable to make substantial progress. HIV prevalence is still one of the highest in the world and many of those in need of antiretroviral treatment are not receiving it.HIV/AIDS is just one of many crises in Zimbabwe and, despite optimism following the establishment of a Government of National Unity in late 2008, each day thousands of Zimbabweans are still crossing the borders to neighboring countries, as a matter of survival.  

                These issues about the republic of Zimbabwe are very real. They will get worse before it gets better, but these can be fixed.  The problem that most of the people in Zimbabwe is the president Robert Mugabe. He has been in office for three decades. The people of Zimbabwe are deeply affected by Mugabe who does not even seem to care about what he has done. Even with the help of other countries and awareness of the issues in Zimbabwe people continue to wallow in extreme poverty and hunger in the republic of Zimbabwe.

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Robert Mugabe, Brdit Travels http://www.bradtguides.com/Book/248/Zimbabwe.html May 06, 2012

Zimbabwe: The Truth

http://www.usaid.gov/zw/html/Map.html

Zimbabwe was once an economically healthy and amazing place. It was nicknamed the “Breadbasket” of South Africa.  The crops were overflowing; the tourists were coming by the droves. They were doing well for themselves. And since us Americans only listen to what happens here in the U.S, we still have this image of Zimbabwe being what it once was. I believe that we should be educated on what is really going on in Zimbabwe and understand what they’re going through.

Zimbabwe: The land and how they live

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1560724/Zimbabwe-faces-anarchy-in-months.html

Zimbabwe is located in South-Central Africa and is a land locked country. Its surrounding countries are Zambia, Mozambique, and South Africa.  There are about 3 different languages spoken there. But the main language is English. But not your normal American spoken English. They speak the way they speak in the UK. But unfortunately, they do not live like how they live in the UK. The capital, Harare, was ranked number one worst city to live in. Zimbabwe is full of poverty, crime, and horrible diseases. And I’m not just speaking from the lies I hear. In my research, I learned the troubles Zimbabweans have to face every day, hoping to survive by the end of the night. Over 75 percent of Zimbabweans are living in poverty. Due to lack of farming and food, everyone is starving here. In north Zimbabwe, they have a place called “Starving Island” where there is almost no food. The animals there are even dying off. They are predicting that by the end of the year over 4 million people will be starving in Zimbabwe. There only hope is to feed off of the dead elephants. The houses also show that the Zimbabweans are living in poverty. Your typical Zimbabwean either lives in villages or farms. The houses are usually made out of brick, mud, or plastic with metal roofing. There is usually about 5 people per house. Unfortunately, some are even homeless. It is such a shame that these poor people have to live this way

Zimbabwe: Its leader and why it is the way it is now

When I started this article, I was in shock that most of the blame as to why Zimbabwe is this way is because of it’s President, President Robert Mugabe. As I did my research and read articles, I learned that he did so much harm to this country. In !987, he was elected into power. And surprisingly enough, he still is ruling the country. How he managed to become President multiple times is simple. He promised a bright future, and promising lies. But he broke all the promises and put Zimbabwe in a horrible situation. He has put the country in poverty, economical crisis, and has done many bad things. Many fell for his charm and promises, but little did they know that he would turn this country around…in a bad way. His party, Zanu-PF, was giving many great donations. But they didn’t know that soon Zanu-PF would be taking control. Robert Mugabe ordered the mass murder of his black countryman in Matabeleland, and left 20,000 dead. In competence and corruption were on glaring display. But how did Mugabe do it? By persuasion that he was personally honest, lived on a modesty salary and was uninterested in wealth. But of course the country soon found out that he has been building a six million dollar home that was the largest ever built. He, of course, also took over the four most profitable white farmers. He secretly managed all the profits go to him, and his second wife Grace. In interviews, it shows the ruthlessness Mugabe has. He was asked if he were to meet Rhodesia’s(which was Zimbabwe before they had their independence) white leader, he replied with “Shoot him.” Also  Mugabe, as they say, is probably one of the racist dictators of time. He has driving out all the white farmers, and the whites are afraid of him and what he might do. And as he said, as long as he is still alive, he is still ruling Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: Full of crime

Now I know that a lot of people may disagree, but as I did my research on numerous websites, I’ve come across a couple of Zimbabwe news websites. And as I was looking I was taking back a bit. Almost every headline either had to deal with Mugabe, or with something crime related. In all honesty, I thought it would be a bit nicer. They are dealing with pick pocketing, bribing, con artists, scandals, and of course a horrible President. It seems that this country can’t help it but be crime filled because of the poverty and destruction Mugabe has made.

Wrap up:

Zimbabwe was once a beautiful, great country. But unfortunate to those, it had to go all down hill. There are some upsides to Zimbabwe, though. It has the beautiful Victoria Falls and that is what brings all the tourists. Zimbabwe isn’t a completely forgotten country and I hope people would visit. I hope this blog has shown you the real truth about Zimbabwe and that you would be more aware of what they are going through.

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