Zimbabwe - Country Profile
Fact File
- Zimbabwe
- Area: 150,872 sq miles (390,757 sq. km)
- Capital: Harare
- Population: 13,228,000. Note: at least 3m Zimbabweans are now estimated to live outside the country
- Life expectancy: 44 (m), 43 (w)
- Child mortality (under 5): 85 per 1000
Zimbabwe is divided up into eight provinces Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands. It is completely landlocked and occupies the high plateau between the Zambezi River to the north and the Limpopo to the south, with a mountainous region in the east. Zimbabwe is bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana (clockwise from the north).
Riders in Zimbabwe
- Number of staff: 32
- Number of vehicles managed: 948
- Programme Director: Anold Kanjanga
- Principal of IAVM: Denis Chiminya
Riders began working in Zimbabwe in 1998 and has a country-wide programme. We run a nationwide programme with a particular focus on managing the motorcycles used by local public health workers for outreach health care delivery. Riders Zimbabwe also provides vehicle management services and training in riding, driving and vehicle maintenance to a large number of international and local NGOs.
In 2009 Riders head office moved to a new building in Ruwa, close to the capital city, Harare. As well as offices for the administration team, Riders is building a new main workshop at the complex. Riders also operates a network of provincial workshops who allow regional technicians to carry out services on vehicles in the communities where the health workers are operating.
In the Binga district of North West Zimbabwe, Riders mobilised 16 health workers. These health workers check the hygiene conditions of a 250km wide area, where there are almost no roads. Their head office is at Binga hospital where they meet to plan their work based on the needs of the various villages.
According to a due-diligence report carried out by the international consultancy OC&C in 2005, the health workers in Binga helped to reduce Malaria deaths by 20%, compared to the neighbouring region which saw a rise in malaria deaths.
Riders also works with local community-based organisations who are providing health care and education to lots of rural communities. By managing their vehicles properly Riders is able to make sure that they are able to reach the most isolated communities with reliable, predictable health care.
In Zimbabwe Riders also runs the International Academy of Vehicle Management. Opened in 2002 the IAVM forms a key part in Riders programme of training and building a culture of maintenance in Africa. Health workers from the ministry of health as well as delegates from other locally based community groups have all attended the IAVM and since opening we have trained over 1,200 delegates at the facility.
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