Chirumhanzu District

Coordinates: 19°16′54″S 30°31′50″E / 19.2816°S 30.5305°E / -19.2816; 30.5305

Chirumhanzu District is a Second-order Administrative Sub-division of Midlands (Zimbabwe) between Mvuma and Masvingo.

Its center is about 46 km south of Mvuma but the administrative centre has moved to Mvuma a small mining town just off the Harare-Beit Bridge Highway near Gweru Turn-off.

Geography

The distruct is 496 square kilometers in area. In 2002 cencus there were 70,441 people, thus 16,319 households and given a growth rate of 1.1% per annum, the current population is estimated at +/- 80,000. (2016)

Chirumanzu communal lands occupy the southern part of Chirumanzu district between longitude 29˚50́E and 30˚45Έ and between latitudes 19˚30́S and 20˚20́S.[1]

Weather

The mean annual rainfall is 650mm while the mean temperature ranges from 12-28˚C. [2]

Climate change means that weather and climate information should now be packaged timely and with greater relevance to specific areas, to help small-scale farmers plan better. For Chirumanzu District, click |this | external link for an updated current and weekly weather forecast.

Background

Chirumhanzi District derives its name from the legendary Chirumhanzu chieftain. Chirumhanzu was actually a discriptive name for a particular chief. The correct spelling should be Chiri-muhanzu meaning "that which is in the garment". The original Chief Chirimuhanzu had a celebrated garment made of dassie or rock-rabbit skins.[3][4] He had special a pouch he kept under the garment skirts which many still think was a talisman or a stollen treasure. Local people, following their custom dared no to mension the chief traditional name, would just say "Chirimuhanzu"; meaning "that whatever in the garment". No one really knew dangled from underneath his garment, and they referred to that thing as "it in the garment" _ Chiri-mu-hanzu.

Local Government

Chirumhanzu Rural District Council now officially called Takawira Rural District Council is the local authority in this district. It operates in terms of the Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Act[5]

Takawira RDC covers 2 parliamentary constituencies, Chirumhanzu constituency and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency.

Economy

The chrome rich Great Dyke passes through the districts. There are a number of small mines along the Great Dyke which include Mine Latitude: -19°19'26.47" Longitude: 30°9'9.97" and Africa Chrome Fields [6]

The bigger mines are Duration Gold, Athens Mine, ZIMASCO and Zim Alloys.[7]

Hospitals

There are several mission hospitals in Chirumhanzu District; Mwoyomusande Mission, Driefontein, Holy Cross Mission, Hama Mission, Muonde Mission and St Theresa.[8]

Education

Primary School

Source: Chirumanzu Primary Schools[9]

Secondary Schools

Source: Chirumanzu Secondary Schools[10]

See also

Chirumhanzu RDC

Chirumhanzu RDC Homepage

References

  1. ↑ Homepage Geograpjical Location and Statistical Data chirumanzurdc.co.zw|Retrieved 5 March 2016
  2. ↑ Homepage Geograpjical Location and Statistical Data chirumanzurdc.co.zw|Retrieved 5 March 2016
  3. ↑ Chief Information Officer|September 1960 Lore and Legend_CHILIMANZI |A district between Umvuma and Fort Victoria. Correctly Chirimuanzu, meaning “it is in the garment”. The original Chief Chirimuanzu had a celebrated garment made of rock-rabbit skins. rhodesianheritage.blogspot.nl|Retrieved 4 March 2016
  4. ↑ Isibindi |Colourful Place Names of Rhodesia: Chilimamzi |... The district is named after a local chief who was originally and more correctly called Chirimuanzu, meaning "it is in the garment". The original Chief Chilimanzi had a celebrated garment made of rock-rabbit skins, and the people, following local custom of not daring to mention his tribal name, used to say "it" (the chief) "is in the garment". rhodesia.me.uk|Retrieved 4 March 2016
  5. ↑ Ministries of Local Government International Rural District Councils Act. MLGI|Resources|Retrieved 4 March 2016
  6. ↑ Harmony Agere|5 July 2016 for small-scale miners |The miners are also hoping to sell some of their stock piled ore to the recently commissioned Africa Chrome Fields’ chrome processing plant in Chirumhanzu. Sunday Mail|News|4 March 2016
  7. ↑ Homepage History chirumanzurdc.co.zw|Retrieved 5 March 2016
  8. ↑ Homepage Ring | Simple.Safe.Smart| CHIRUMHANZU Muonde Mission Hospital & St Theresa Hospital thering.co.zw|Locations|Retrieved 4 March 2016
  9. ↑ Info Primary Schools Zimbabwe Schools|Retrieved 4 March 2016
  10. ↑ Info Secondary Schools Zimbabwe Schools|Retrieved 4 March 2016
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