Chitungwiza

Chitungwiza is an urban centre and town of Harare Province in Zimbabwe.

Chitungwiza
Coat of arms of Chitungwiza
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
Chi Town
Motto: 
Pamberi nekushandira pamwe
Chitungwiza is located in Zimbabwe
Chitungwiza
Chitungwiza
Coordinates: 17°59′38″S 31°02′53″E
CountryZimbabwe
ProvinceHarare Province
Area
 • Total49.02 km2 (18.93 sq mi)
Elevation
1,448 m (4,751 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[1]
 • Total371,244
 • Density7,600/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
ClimateCwb
Websitewww.chitungwiza.co.zw

History

As of the 2022 census, Chitungwiza had a population of 371,244.[1]

There are two main highways which connect the city to Harare[2] namely Seke road and Chitungwiza road.

The Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, built in 1995 for the All Africa Games, is no longer functional, and serves as a music and church venue.[3]

Tonderai Kasu

Informal settlements

Following the civil war, people moved to urban areas. Chitungwiza grew rapidly and the squatted area of Chirambahuyo alone had a population of 30,000 in 1979.[4] Chirambahuyo was demolished by the authorities in 1982 and the inhabitants squatted elsewhere in the city in areas such as Mayambara.[5]

Areas in Chitungwiza were destroyed by Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.[6] By the mid-2010s, the number of people squatting in informal settlements was growing.[7] In 2020, the local authorities abandoned their plans to demolish squatter homes in Nyatsime, Seke, St Mary’s and Zengeza, after a court order was requested.[8]

Destroyed shacks
Demolitions during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005

Notable people

The musician Maskiri comes from Chitungwiza.[9]

The Town Clerk in 2016 was Dr George Makunde, who complained that a reduction in his wage from $10,000 per month to $4,500 per month had put him in difficulties.[10] In 2019 and 2020, Dr. Tonderai Kasu served as the Acting Town Clerk.[11] Emmanuel Makandiwa and Alick Macheso are from Chitungwiza.

Current Mayor: Lovemore Maiko[12]

References
  1. Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Zimbabwe
  2. Financial Gazette editorial of 17 May 2006 "Zimbabwe: It's Chombo's Fault"
  3. "Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex-begging for restoration". Newsday. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  4. MSINDO, Prince Daniel; GUTSA, Ignatius; CHOGUYA, Naume Zorodzai (2013). "Squatter Settlements an Urban Menace in Zimbabwe? Examining Factors behind the Continued Resurfacing of Squatter Settlements in Epworth Suburb, Harare" (PDF). Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning. 4 (2).
  5. Ramsamy, Edward (27 September 2006). World Bank and Urban Development: From Projects to Policy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-28696-6.
  6. Potts, Deborah (2006). "'Restoring Order'? Operation Murambatsvina and the Urban Crisis in Zimbabwe". Journal of Southern African Studies. 32 (2): 273–291. Bibcode:2006JSAfS..32..273P. doi:10.1080/03057070600656200. ISSN 0305-7070. JSTOR 25065092. S2CID 154537881.
  7. Matabvu, Debra; Agere, Harmony (11 January 2015). "Squatters: Housing shortages or lawlessness?". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  8. "Chitungwiza Municipality Halts House Demolition Exercise". New Zimbabwe. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. "Maskiri returns with a bang". The Standard. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  10. "The Oracle: Makunde is blind to the poverty around him - The Standard". 14 February 2016.
  11. Herald, The. "Town clerk, housing director suspended". The Herald.
  12. "Mayor | chitungwiza". Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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