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DFID Zimbabwe
6th Floor, Corner House, Samora Machel Avenue / Leopold Takawira Street, PO Box 1030, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263 4 774719-28 | Fax: + 263 4 775696
Email:
Map courtesy of the FCO
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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.
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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.
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.
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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
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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.
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Links
Last updated: 1 July 2008
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