Political instability and involvement in Democratic Republic of Congo’s civil war has caused incredible economic hardship for the people of Zimbabwe – the official inflation rate soared from 32% in 1998 to 585% in 2005.  A violent land redistribution plan has crippled the farming industry and created food shortages that left millions at risk of starvation.  An estimated 80% of the population is unemployed and lives in poverty.  Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world – 24.6% of adults are infected – and life expectancy is now under 40 years.

Malaria is the second leading killer of children under five in Zimbabwe, following HIV/AIDS.  Approximately 84% of the population is at risk of contracting malaria.  Adding to the burden is the fact that the unstable political situation has decimated much of the health care system, which makes treating and collecting data on malaria very challenging.

NetsforLife^® Implementing Partner

The NetsforLife implementing partner is Zimbabwe is the Church of the Province of Central Africa, which oversees the five dioceses in the country:  Central Zimbabwe, Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare, and Matabeleland.

* Data on Zimbabwe based on figures from UNICEF Info by Country, 2005.
** Data on Zimbabwe based on figures from Center for International Disaster Information, 2006.