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A symbol of failing government policies
From soaring inflation to hunger and a cholera epidemic, Zimbabwe is a symbol of failing government policies and human suffering.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:35 December 22, 2008
From soaring inflation to hunger and a cholera epidemic, Zimbabwe is a symbol of failing government policies and human suffering.
Below are some details of Zimbabwe's decline in figures:
- Inflation
Inflation reached 231 million per cent a year in July, the latest month for which a figure has been announced. Economists think it is now much higher and say prices are doubling daily.
- GDP
Gross domestic product has fallen every year since 2000, down 10.4 per cent in 2003 alone. The IMF estimated that the economy shrank 6.1 per cent in 2007.
Per capita GDP was estimated at $200 (Dh734) in 2007, from nearer $900 in 1990. Zimbabwe has the world's fastest shrinking economy for a country not at war, according to the World Bank.
- Income
An estimated 83 per cent of the population was living on below $2 a day by 2005. Since then, the situation has only worsened.
- Exports
Exports averaged 33.5 per cent of GDP between 1997 and 2001. UBS forecast this would decline to 9.9 per cent in 2007.
- Agriculture
Once the breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe now needs to import maize. The UN agricultural production index for Zimbabwe fell from nearly 107 in 2000 to just over 74 in 2005.
Official figures show maize production at 800,000 tonnes last season against national demand of 2 million tonnes.
- Gold
Gold output, which accounts for a third of export earnings, hit a low of 125 kg in October, from a peak of 2,400 kg, as the economic crisis forced mines to close.
- Unemployment
Unemployment is estimated at over 90 per cent. Well over 3 million Zimbabweans are thought to have fled, mostly to South Africa, in search of work and food.
- Aid
Aid agencies say 5 million people - almost half the population - might need food aid by early 2009.
- IMF arrears
Zimbabwe fell into arrears with the International Monetary Fund in 2001. In February 2008, it owed $88 million, of which nearly $80 million has been in arrears for three years or more. While Zimbabwe has averted expulsion, the IMF has suspended financial and technical assistance.
- Life expectancy
Average life expectancy fell from 63 years in 1990 to 40.9 years in 2005, according to UN figures.
The mortality rate for children under five rose to 132 deaths per 1,000 in 2005 from 76 deaths in 1990.
Diseases claim thousands of lives
- Cholera
The official death toll from a cholera epidemic since August is at least 1,111 with over 20,581 infected, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Zimbabwe.
- HIV/AIDS
In 2007, HIV prevalence was 15.6 per cent among adults aged 15 to 49 - the fourth highest in the world. It causes the death of about 3,200 people per week in the country of 13.3 million.
HIV prevalence among pregnant women at clinics actually fell from 26 per cent in 2002 to 18 in 2006, but some put that down to high mortality and emigration rather than prevention measures.
- Anthrax
Save the Children said this month that an anthrax outbreak in the south west had killed three people and could wipe out at least 60,000 livestock.
Sources: UBS, Reuters, WFP, World Bank, Unicef, UNDP, IMF, CIA World Factbook
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