In Zimbabwe, the majority of the Limpopo River basin falls in Matabeleland South Province, with small portions in Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts located in Masvingo Province, and Mberengwa district in Midlands Province (FAO 2004).
The main settlements in the basin area are Gwanda, Esibomyu, Esigodini, West Nicholson, Colleen Bawn, Filabusi, Beitbridge and Plumbtree (LBPTC 2010).
The average population density ranges from 6 persons/km² in Beitbridge District to 23 persons/km² in Umzingwane. The exception is Mberengwa (37 persons/km²) which has a population density comparable with that of the major city of Harare (FAO 2004). The highest number of economically active people can be found in Beitbridge and Gwanda Rural (17 %) followed by Matabo and Builima (15 %) (see also Distribution of Economic Activities) (LBPTC 2010).
BEITBRIDGE, IS A CENTRE FOR TRADE IN THE ZIMBABWEAN PORTION OF THE BASIN. SOURCE: MACVIVO 2006
Key Indicators
Insuffient data was available to the UNDP HDR to determine Zimbabwe’s Human Development Index. The Gini coefficient for Zimbabwe in the 2007/2008 Human Development Report was 50,1(World Bank 2009).
DISTRICTS OF ZIMBABWE FOUND IN THE BASIN. SOURCE: HATFIELD 2010
