Our economy may be bad but we have the best education systems.

 

Unicef estimates that in Zimbabwe, 10 children have to share a single textbook. But the country’s Grade 6s still score higher than South African pupils in both literacy and Maths. What does this tell us?

Zimbabwe is one of the very fortunate countries in southern Africa to have basic education, especially for young people. While there are still some people who cannot read or write, most people have at least three years of elementary education. Education is seen as valuable since it can be the way to a good job. Parents are usually willing to spend money on the education of their children as an investment in the future. Children are a form of social security system; they are expected to look after their parents in old age. 

The national adult literacy rate (the percentage of adults that can read and write) has been increasing since the early 1980s. Over three-fourths of all Zimbabweans are literate. The rate is higher—over 90 percent—in cities and towns. In rural areas, only about 70 percent of all people are literate. Everywhere, more men than women can read and write, and more men than women complete higher education levels. 

University or college education brings pride to a family. Most Africans in the country believe in educating sons rather than daughters; when daughters marry, they take their family's resources to another family.

 Zimbabwe’s education system has healed past imbalances and continued to improve. Teachers and students continue to excel. The system is reactive, responsive and enforces teacher accountability through school inspection.

 

 

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Dress code in Zimbawe.

Modern, Western-style clothing is the usual outfit in Zimbabwe. There are very few people who wear traditional clothes on a regular basis. Traditional dress include a headdress, a wraparound cloth, and ornaments such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. This is usually seen on ceremonial and state occasions such as Independence Day and Heroes' Day.

 

Unlike Lesotho or Swaziland Zimbawe's clothing has generally been diluted to look more western. This is largely because of Zimbabwe history of colonization.

During times prior to colonization Zimbabwe people wore animal skin clothing that would cover the front and the back. With the coming of settlers western dressing was introduced and eroded what was once traditional dress. This traditional dress called nhembe is now left to traditionalists who are working hard to preserve cultural heritage. Even with these, they never walk the streets wearing Zimbabwe traditional clothing.

Zimbabwe therefore lacks a national dress. Even though women and men wear shirts, dresses and head gear made from African designed attire as shown in the picture this is no Zimbabwe clothing. It's African but not necessarily unique to Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe a few years ago launched what was officially to be a national dress but it never saw light of day. The nation ignored it.

Most Zimbabwe professionals wear neck ties and suits. This is the same for women professionals. All in all Zimbabwe clothing is heavily western. With the advent of globalization young people dress mostly American with baggy jeans and t-shirts in universities and colleges.

The Zimbabwe population is largely still very resistant to dressing that exposes "more than necessary" especially in women. There have been cases of women being stripped naked altogether by mobs of people for wearing mini-skirts or too short a skirt even in the capital of Zimbabwe. This includes other cities in Zimbabwe. The generality of the population is still heavily conservative.

Most clothing in Zimbabwe comes from outside. Shoes, shirts, suits and skirts are imported from China and countries such as South Africa. Clothing imports rose sharply as the Zimbabwe economy continued to fall. Local clothing factories such as David Whitehead collapsed under the weight of a poor Zimbabwe currency and falling local demand.

Do you have  an experience to share about  Zimbabwe clothing? Submit your experience below. 

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Cheap and simple zimbawe food.

Zimbabwe has the most simplest and cheap foodstuffs you will ever find. For example one can spend a dollar or even 5rands for lunch and still be full.

 Zimbabwe's staple, or basic, food is called sadza. It is made of cornmeal and eaten with vegetables or meat (particularly beef and chicken). Other traditional foods are milk, wild fruits, rice, green maize (corn on the cob), cucumbers, peanuts, beans, and home-brewed beer. 

Since colonization, Zimbabweans have adopted some foods introduced by Europeans, especially sugar, bread, and tea. Most families usually have at least three meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast people may eat porridge made of cornmeal or oatmeal, cereal, or bread and tea. 

 

For lunch, people usually have sadza . A similar meal might be eaten for dinner. However, foreign foods such as macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes are now part of the staple diet. In cities, workers get lunch and sometimes dinner from restaurants or take-out food stores. 

There are taboos (restrictions) associated with certain types of foods. In some cultures, certain foods are eaten only when they are in season. For instance, the Ndebeles discourage the eating of corn on the cob outside its season. Most ethnic groups also discourage people from eating animal, plant, or other form of food that has their family name. For instance, if one's family name is Nkomo (meaning "cattle," "cows," or "oxen"), one is not supposed to eat beef. Young children are discouraged from eating eggs. When a woman is menstruating, she is not supposed to drink milk because it is believed that doing so might harm cows and calves.

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university strikes and the economy.

Zimbabwe’s education is faced with more problems as the country’s tough economic conditions worsen –just last week, 3 government universities  shut down as lectures, non academic stuff down tools due to outstanding salaries.

Students  from the University of Zimbabwe, NUST and MSU missed their lectures as lecturers had downed their tools, demanding their bonuses and February salaries.

Lecturers and non-academic staff at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) reportedly went on strike Tuesday 17 March demanding that government pays them outstanding February salaries.

The decision was announced at a meeting addressed by the Nust Educators Association (Nusteda) at the university's campus.

"We met as academic and non-teaching staff and agreed to down our tools until government pays us our February salaries and December bonuses.

“This time the strike will cripple operations at the university because even the non-teaching staff have also joined in," said a lecturer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Government has been failing to pay civil servants since the controversial 2013 elections. At times the pay dates were shifted without notice and some government departments were given their bonuses in February.