There are two main ethnic groups û the Ndebele (popularly known as the Matabele) in the north and the Shona (known as the Mashona) in the south. The Mashona outnumber the Matabele by about four to one. Europeans and Asians comprise 2% of the population.
Tension between the Matabele and the Mashona was rife in the 1980s. This was caused by the attempt of President Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANUûPF), LINKED TO THE MASHONA, TO SUPPRESS THE LEADING OPPOSITION PARTY, THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN PEOPLE'S UNION (ZAPUûPF), LINKED WITH THE MATABELE. THE CONFLICT WAS MOST INTENSE IN 1983, WHEN THE ARMY KILLED 1,500 MATABELE. TENSION ABATED FOLLOWING THE UNITY ACCORD OF 1987 AND THE 1990 APPOINTMENT OF ZAPU-PF LEADER JOSHUA NKOMO AS VICE PRESIDENT.
AS A LEGACY OF COLONIAL RULE, WHITES ARE STILL GENERALLY FAR MORE AFFLUENT THAN BLACKS. THIS IMBALANCE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT REDRESSED BY GOVERNMENT POLICIES TO INCREASE BLACK EDUCATION AND WHITE-COLLAR EMPLOYMENT.
FAMILIES ARE LARGE; ALMOST HALF OF THE POPULATION IS UNDER 15. ZIMBABWEAN SOCIETY IS TRADITIONALLY PATRIARCHAL, BUT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN MANAGERS IS GROWING, AND INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS SALLY MUGABE, LATE WIFE OF THE PRESIDENT, HAVE ACHIEVED POLITICAL PROMINENCE.
