National Trade Policy Document 2012 - tralac – trade law centre

1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 COUNTRY PROFILE
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, centrally situated in Southern
Africa and sharing borders with Mozambique (to the East), South
Africa (to the South), Botswana (to the West) and Zambia (to the
North). With a population of about 12 million people, the country’s
literacy rate is over 90% and ranked number one in Africa by UN
Standards (2010).
The country covers an area of 399 757km 2 and has a sub-tropical
climate which supports a wide range of agricultural activities.
Although Zimbabwe is landlocked, the country enjoys access to
the sea ports of Beira and Maputo in Mozambique; Durban, Port
Elizabeth and East London in South Africa; and Walvis Bay in
Namibia.
1.2 MAJOR FEATURES OF ZIMBABWE’S ECONOMY
The country is endowed with rich natural resources including
minerals, energy, popular tourist attractions, as well as an excellent
climate for agriculture. In the mining sector, Zimbabwe has huge
reserves of over forty different types of minerals that include gold,
chrome, nickel, granite, chrysotile asbestos, coal, copper, lithium,
platinum and diamonds. The country is among the low-cost
producers of minerals due to abundant shallow deposits.
In the agricultural sector, the country produces high quality maize,
tobacco, cotton, beef, sugar, tea, coffee, wheat, soya beans,
fruits, timber, floriculture and horticulture products, livestock and
dairy. The country also has a diversified manufacturing industry
base. The major industries include food processing, metals,
leather and leather products, wood and furniture, clothing and
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