Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa which underwent a transition from colonial British to African majority rule in 1980. At first the country experienced an annual GDP growth of an average of more than 5% and offered free primary education and improved health services. Zimbabwe was on its way to be one of Africa’s success stories. However, since 1999, the country has experienced extensive political and economic turmoil and increased poverty. GDP began to decline, by 8% in 2001 and by 18.5% in 2003. Although conditions have improved slightly since mid 2009, the underlying situation remains highly unstable. The country has been hard hit by AIDS, which shifted life expectancy from 61 in 1992 to 42 in 2010. More recently, the epidemic has stabilised, with HIV prevalence declining from a peak of 26.5% in 1997 to 14.3% in 2009, following reductions in high-risk behaviour between 1999 and 2004, and AIDS mortality beginning to level off.
The past 6 years have seen the gradual roll-out of ART. The number of Zimbabweans on ART increased from 99,500 in 2007 to 148,100 in December 2008 and 218,600 by end of December 2009, 56% of those needing treatment. The main funders have been the UN-coordinated Expanded Programme of Support, financed by bilateral donors and the Zimbabwe government through the National AIDS Trust Fund, financed by a 1% levy on income tax that is ring-fenced for HIV/AIDS management. The HIV prevalence rate in Manicaland Province was 16.5% for men (17-54 years) and 20.5% for women (15-44 years) in 2005.
Manicaland covers an area of 36,459 km2 (14,077 sq mi) and a population of approximately 1.6 million (2002). Mutare is the capital of the province. The name derives from the fact that the area has been occupied in recent history by the Manyika people. The Manyika are a Shona sub-tribal grouping with their own language variant, the Manyika language. The province is subdivided into seven districts, Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Makoni, Mutare in the center, including the city Mutare, Mutasa and Nyanga in the northeast of the province.
The past 6 years have seen the gradual roll-out of ART. The number of Zimbabweans on ART increased from 99,500 in 2007 to 148,100 in December 2008 and 218,600 by end of December 2009, 56% of those needing treatment. The main funders have been the UN-coordinated Expanded Programme of Support, financed by bilateral donors and the Zimbabwe government through the National AIDS Trust Fund, financed by a 1% levy on income tax that is ring-fenced for HIV/AIDS management. The HIV prevalence rate in Manicaland Province was 16.5% for men (17-54 years) and 20.5% for women (15-44 years) in 2005.
Manicaland covers an area of 36,459 km2 (14,077 sq mi) and a population of approximately 1.6 million (2002). Mutare is the capital of the province. The name derives from the fact that the area has been occupied in recent history by the Manyika people. The Manyika are a Shona sub-tribal grouping with their own language variant, the Manyika language. The province is subdivided into seven districts, Buhera, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Makoni, Mutare in the center, including the city Mutare, Mutasa and Nyanga in the northeast of the province.
