Islam in Zimbabwe

Islam is the religion of close to 1 percent of the population of Zimbabwe.[1] The Muslim community consists primarily of South Asian immigrants (Indian and Pakistani), a small number of indigenous Zimbabweans, and a very small number of North African and Middle Eastern immigrants. There are mosques located in nearly all of the larger towns.

Islam by country
Islam portal

Estimates on the number of Muslims in Zimbabwe are around 120,000.[2]

There are stories among Muslims that Arab traders played a significant role in the construction of Great Zimbabwe, similar to their role in neighbouring Northern Mozambique. They point to the indigenous clan of Varemba/Lemba who mostly reside near Masvingo and Mberengwa and retain several common points with Abrahamic faiths, but do not practise Islam. Some identify themselves as the "black jews of Zimbabwe".


A number of Muslims have also arrived since the discovery of diamonds in the Manicaland area from North and Western African regions. The Islamic migrants are otherwise largely coming from the Yao tribe of neighbouring Malawi.

See also

References
  1. "Zimbabwe". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 5 April 2018. An estimated 1 percent of the total population is Muslim.
  2. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html


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