An Analysis of Zimbabwean Health Crises Since Independence

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Creator
  • McClure, James
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Global Studies
Abstract
  • In 2007, the lowest average female life expectancy in the world was Zimbabwe, at just thirty-four years of age. However, over the span of the last decade the estimated female life expectancy has risen to sixty-four years. From these measures, we can assume that the quality of life for Zimbabweans has significantly improved in the last decade, yet quantitative data does not paint the entire picture. Today Zimbabwe remains the eighth highest Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-prevalent nation in the world, despite a drop from twenty-nine to fifteen percent in the infection rate since its peak in 1997. A full understanding of the seriousness of Zimbabwe’s health crisis requires examination of the history of Zimbabwe, changes in its political leadership, and governmental response to various disease outbreaks. While Zimbabwean life expectancy and health outcomes have improved since the 2007 lows, high rates of infectious disease and malnutrition remain due to gross incompetence by former president Robert Mugabe, as well as continuing economic hyperinflation and instability. Recurring authoritarian tendencies of current president Emmerson Mnangagwa suggest that he is likely to repeat the same mistakes as Mugabe.
Date of publication
DOI
Resource type
  • Article
Rights statement
  • In Copyright
Journal title
  • The Internationalist: Undergraduate Journal of Foreign Affairs
Journal volume
  • 5
Journal issue
  • 1
Page start
  • 32
Page end
  • 38
Language
  • English

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