Zimbabwe's Mugabe, 82, Seeking Exit Strategy?

The Financial Gazette has an interesting article about Zimbabwe, Mugabe's exit, and upcoming elections. While they discuss constitutional amendments, keep in mind the Movement for a Democratic Change (MDC) has been the brunt of violence at each election. Therefore, they do not have a voice in these procedings.

Mugabe's term of office is over, if he stays in office, in 2008. There are talks of having an interim president until 2010, from 2008-2010, so as to ease the country into a new governing body.

Zimbabwe is a country slightly larger than the state of Montana with a population of almost 15 million people (corrected numbers due to type error on Dept of State website). The capitol is Harare (pronounced Ha-RAR-e). It is located in Southern Africa, and it's terrain is mostly desert with a subtropical climate.

While Zimbabwe has had a turmoltuos chaotic time with this government, here is how it is constructed:

Type: Parliamentary.
Constitution: December 21, 1979.
Independence: April 18, 1980.

Branches: Executive--President (chief of state and head of government), Cabinet. Legislative--In the 150-seat House of Assembly, 120 seats are popularly elected and 30 are directly appointed by the president or selected through a process strongly influenced by him. Judicial--High Court, Court of Appeal, local and customary courts.

Administrative subdivisions: Town Councils and District Councils.

Main political parties: Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front [Mugabwe's party] (ZANU-PF); Movement for Democratic Change [Opposition party] (MDC); National Alliance for Good Governance (NAGG), Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga (ZANU-Ndonga).

If you would care to find out more about the people and the economy, you may do so by reading this. Have a good day.