Chiredzi District

A district in Zimbabwe, Masvingo Province

This article is about the district. For the town, see Chiredzi.

Chiredzi District
Chiredzi
District
A baobab tree in Gonarezhou national park, which is found in the district
A baobab tree in Gonarezhou national park, which is found in the district
Masvingo constituency seats for the 2008, showing the division of Chiredzi (District)
Masvingo constituency seats for the 2008, showing the division of Chiredzi (District)
Coordinates: 18°55′S 29°49′E
CountryZimbabwe
ProvinceMasvingo
DistrictChiredzi
Establishedlate 19th century
Population
 (2012 Census)
 • Total275,759
 [1]
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (CEST)

Chiredzi found in the district, is one of a number of centers for HIV/AIDS treatment in the province.[2] The district's Hippo Valley Hospital is one of a number of centers for HIV/AIDS treatment in the province.[3] The district is famous for hosting Hippo Valley Estate and the nearby Mkwasine Estate, both of which specialize in sugar cane and citrus fruit production.[4]

Geography

A large chunk of the district is found in region V, although there are some parts that lie in region IV. Areas in region five are characterized by aridity and uncertain rainfall patterns. Many parts of the district are unfit for agriculture, hence in 1972 they set aside to form Gonarezhou National Park. In terms of surface area, Chiredzi is one of the largest districts in the country with over 95% of its area taken up by Gonarenzou and other conservancies like Malilangwe. With the arid climate,[5] most people grow sorghum, a crop which is drought-tolerant and requires minimal rain to grow to maturity. The red soil found in the district is also suitable for sugarcane, and prior to the land invasions of 2000, the district was a center for sugar production for the whole country.[6]

Population

The district is sparsely populated. The Shangaan/Tsonga people are in the majority, and the predominant language is Shangaan,[7] a dialect that is related to both Zulu and Ndebele.

Government and politics

For the general elections of 2008, Chiredzi District has been divided into four sectors. Candidates from the MDC-T, MDC-M, ZANU-PF and independents would have competed for the four constituency seats available, and the winners would have represented the district in Zimbabwe's new House of Assembly. For the Chiredzi East Sector, Mafamu Dennis (PAFA), Sithole Abraham (Zanu-PF), Chingombe Samson (MDC Mtambara), Chiromo Walter (MDC Tsvangirai) were registered to contest the seat, while Tafamba Olivia (PAFA), Ndava Ronald (Zanu-PF), and Mutambu John (MDC Tsvangirai) would have contested Chiredzi North. Baloyi Alois (Zanu-PF), Zanamwe Nehemiah (MDC), Chirove Joseph (MDC Tsvangirai) vied for Chiredzi South, while Musareva Ernest (PAFA), Samson Aliginia (Zanu-PF), Mungwadzi Godfrey (Independent), Mashiri Robson (MDC Mutambara), and nickrd[8] would have fought it out for Chiredzi West.[9]

See also

References
  1. Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency. "2012 Census Provincial Report: Masvingo". Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. AIDS treatment centers "Zimbabwe Aids Network". Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.(accessed 18 February 2008)
  3. "COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: SPECIAL FOCUS ON AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS OR MALARIA" (PDF). GBC Health.
  4. "Tongaat Hulett Sugar South Africa - Operations - Zimbabwe". huletts.co.za. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  5. "Chiredzi, Chiredzi mining district (Hartley mining district), Masvingo, Zimbabwe". mindat.org. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. "Zimbabwe: Sugar Estates Reduced to Wasteland - allAfrica.com". Zimbabwe Independent. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2016.(subscription required)
  7. Finex Ndhlovu (2009). The Politics of Language and Nation Building in Zimbabwe. Peter Lang. p. 58. ISBN 978-3-03911-942-4.
  8. eDuzeNet. "A leader has been born in Chiredzi West Constituency". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  9. "Chiredzi West MDC Alliance in disarray - NewsDay Zimbabwe". newsday.co.zw. Retrieved 27 November 2018.


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