The fortunes of Zimbabwe have for almost three decades been tied to President Robert Mugabe, the pro-independence campaigner who wrested control from a small white community and became the country's first black leader.
Until the 2008 parliamentary elections, Zimbabwe was effectively a one-party state, ruled over by Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF. A power-sharing deal agreed after the polls raised, hopefully Mr.Mugabe might be prepared to relinquish some of his powers. Their partnership was shaky and often acrimonious, but the coalition succeeded in agreeing to a new constitution, which was approved by referendum in July 2013. However, following Mr Mugabe's re-election as president in 2013 and Zanu-PF's gaining of a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary poll, the power-sharing coalition was ditched. Mr.Mugabe continues to preside over a nation whose economy is in deep crisis, where poverty and unemployment are endemic and political strife and repression of a commonplace. For years it was a major tobacco producer and a potential bread basket for surrounding countries. But the forced seizure of (almost) all white-owned commercial farms, with the stated aim of benefiting landless black Zimbabweans, led to sharp falls in production and precipitated the collapse of the agriculture-based economy. The country has endured rampant inflation and critical food and fuel shortages.
- Politics: President Robert Mugabe, in office since 1980, gained a new term in controversial elections in 2013
- Economy: Economy appears to be stabilising after years of crisis with rampant inflation, "de-industrialisation" and shortages of food and fuel. Agricultural production has shrunk
- International: Several countries shun Zimbabwe in the hope of promoting democratic reform
