Located in Southern Africa between Zambia and South Africa, Zimbabwe has a population of approximately 11.4 million people, with a life expectancy of about 44 years. Zimbabwe is about the size of Montana, and it is made up of eight provinces and two cities, Bulawayo and Harare. In 2004, the estimated percentage of the population living below the poverty line was 68%. In 2007, the exchange rate was 17, 563 Zimbabwean dollars per U.S. dollar, and the inflation rate was 6,072%. Zimbabwe is famous for housing the world's largest waterfall, Victoria Falls.
The story of Zimbabwe is sad — and even more so because it so unnecessary. Zimbabwe's greatest problem is its president, Robert Mugabe. He has been in power since 1980, and for the first 20 years, he was able to coast on the residual prosperity from the time when the nation was known as Rhodesia. However, when he nationalized the farms in 2000, he seriously damaged the main source of exports and foreign exchange for his country and instantly eliminated approximately 400,000 jobs. Thus, under his leadership, Zimbabwe's economy has been destroyed. The dollar is worthless, unemployment is over 90%, and the infrastructure of the nation is collapsing. In addition, over a fourth of the people have AIDS Ð and cholera is spreading along with everyday concerns such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and malaria. The nation's people are hurting and without much hope for the future.
Our efforts in Zimbabwe are focused in Bemhiwa, a village in the southeast corner of the country, approximately 150 miles from the capital of Harare. In this village a modest school educates approximately 600 students, 150 of them having lost both parents to AIDS. Through our Orphan Project, we are already working out a system to provide food and tuition to as many of these children as we can through our personal support. The AIDS pandemic is so great that we as a church must do something Ð and caring for orphans is the best thing we can do.
In addition to meeting these kids' physical and educational needs, we want to help them to grow spiritually. Three village churches in the area have great pastors who could use our help. One idea for the future would be to develop children's ministries and youth programs that would reach many kids for years to come.
Please note: The factual information above was gathered from the 2008 World Fact Book and The World Bank websites. Interested in learning more? Visit the sites at: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook and http://www.worldbank.org.
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