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DFID Zimbabwe |
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Map courtesy of the FCO | |
Zimbabwe
Officially, Zimbabwe has a population of
11.6 million people, although approximately
3 million Zimbabweans are thought to be living outside the country. 56% of the population live
on less than US $1 a day whilst 80% live on less than US $2 a day.
Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the world’s worst HIV epidemics. Over 3,200 people die each week from AIDS related illnesses (UN 2005), which also account for some 75% of all hospital admissions. Zimbabwe is the first country in southern Africa to have reduced HIV prevalence. Prevalence fell to 18%. There are an estimated 1.3 million orphans and 1.8 million Zimbabweans living with HIV and AIDS. Life expectancy at birth has fallen below 35 years, having reached over 55 years previously.
Summary of economic and political situation
The Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe Africa National Union - Patriotic Front) has been in power since 1980 under the presidency of Robert Mugabe. On 29 March 2008, the country held General Elections.
- Latest on the situation in Zimbabwe (31 July 2008)
- Read the
written ministerial statement on the situation in Zimbabwe by Foreign Secretary David Miliband (6 May 2008)
The current economic situation in Zimbabwe is very grave and impacts on a large part of the population. Hyperinflation has reduced purchasing power. Real Gross Domestic Product has declined by over 35% in the last six years. The year on year inflation rate is now in excess of 8,000,000%. Continuing hyperinflation hampers development, hitting the poor hardest.
Agricultural production has plummeted in the last six years (for example tobacco is down by more than 70%) and the cost of schooling has risen dramatically, posing serious challenges for low income families. The decline in inward investment and development assistance is further compromising the prospects for economic recovery.
Over 3.5 million people rely on international food aid at the peek of the hungry season. There has been confirmation of almost total crop failure in the southern part of the country this year. The recent food and crop assessment indicates that Zimbabwe has only half its cereal needs this year. We are already working with other donors and the World Food Programme to plan a proportionate response. In the past 12 months there has been an explosion of irregular migration of Zimbabweans to neighbouring countries. South Africa alone is deporting, on average, 17,000 Zimbabweans a month - up by a third on figures from the last quarter of 2006.
DFID in Zimbabwe
DFID channels resources through the agencies of the United Nations and through civil society organisations. No direct funding is going to the Government of Zimbabwe. DFID has spent £200 million on programmes in Zimbabwe since 2001. DFID will spend approximately £45 million in Zimbabwe in 2007/2008. Priorities include tackling HIV and AIDS, food insecurity, and in support to orphans and vulnerable children.
Our main priority in Zimbabwe is to support the international response to the HIV and AIDS crises. DFID has provided over 41 million to tackling HIV and AIDS priorities in Zimbabwe since 2002, and we will provide £47 million more over the next three years. DFID has contributed £20 million over three years to the Expanded Support Programme, for HIV and AIDS, prevention and treatment. The immediate beneficiaries of this support will be the 30,000 people living with HIV and AIDS who are currently unable to access Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
DFID is also supporting a mothers and newborns programme, which aims to protect the lives of mothers and newborns affected by HIV and AIDS and to maintain access to family planning services.
DFID is supporting the increasing numbers of orphans and other vulnerable
children through UNICEF's response to the National Plan of Action for Orphans
and Vulnerable Children (VOC). DFID committed over £22 million in a multi-donor
programme of support managed by UNICEF for orphans and vulnerable children. We
expect to reach over 400,000 orphans by the end of 2007.
DFID is providing £36 million over three years (2004-2007) for a relief
programme to improve the food security of more than 1.5 million of the poorest
and most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe by increasing their access to seeds and
fertilisers, nutrition gardens and safe water. A further £50 million has been
committed over the next five years, for the second phase of the programme which
will start in November 2008. Phase two consolidates and builds on the successes
of phase one.
In 2006, DFID approved £5 million for a three-year programme to benefit mainly
internally displaced people in Zimbabwe. The project is implemented through the
International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and includes temporary shelter,
food and other lifesaving interventions.
DFID has recently approved £5 million for the procurement and distribution of
essential drug supplies in Zimbabwe. This programme will ensure that all health
facilities across all districts in Zimbabwe will be stocked with the most
essential medicines and supplies. The programme will procure essential medicines
for meeting national health policy goals, with particular focus on the needs of
children under five years, women, and the prevention and treatment of
transmissible diseases.
We are also supporting Zimbabwean civil society to monitor human rights abuses
and promote accountable governance. The UK stands ready to play a part in an
international effort to reverse Zimbabwe’s decline, when the Government
implements fundamental improvements in its policies.
More information on DFID's programmes in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Zimbabwe is on track to achieve the MDG target on HIV and AIDS - to “have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS.” Declining HIV prevalence is likely to be a result of high mortality rates and changes in sexual behaviour. DFID and other development partners have committed considerable resources to HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes.
Most of Zimbabwe’s other MDGs are unlikely to be achieved by 2015 unless the political and social situation improves dramatically. Child and maternal mortality indicators show a steadily worsening situation, exacerbated by HIV and AIDS and by a deteriorating health service.
Links
Foreign
and Commonwealth Office: Zimbabwe country profileLast updated: 5 August 2008
