Chitungwiza

Chitungwiza
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Chi Town
Motto(s): Pamberi Nekushandira Pamwe
Chitungwiza
Coordinates: 17°59′38″S 31°02′53″E / 17.99389°S 31.04806°E / -17.99389; 31.04806Coordinates: 17°59′38″S 31°02′53″E / 17.99389°S 31.04806°E / -17.99389; 31.04806
Country	Zimbabwe
Province	Harare Province
Formed	1978
Government
• Mayor	Gift Tsverere
Area
• Urban	45 km2 (17 sq mi)
Elevation	1,448 m (4,751 ft)
Population (2012 census)
• City	365,026
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Climate	Cwb
Website	http://www.chitungwiza.co.zw/

Chitungwiza – known colloquially as Chi Town – is a high-density dormitory town in Zimbabwe. It is approximately 30 kilometres south-east of the Harare city centre. It was formed in 1978 from three townships: Seke, Zengeza, and St Marys.From early 2000s another township named Manyame Park (New St Marys) was established making them four then in the mid 2000s another township named Rockview was also formed to make it 5 main townships.

Background

Chitungwiza is the largest high density town in Zimbabwe, it is popularly known for its hospital named Chitungwiza Central Hospital which is located in Zengeza 4 a suburb in Chitungwiza . Chitungwiza came into existence in the late 1970s with most black people who stayed in oldest high density towns like Highfield migrating to Chitungwiza. Chitungwiza has several suburbs. The oldest of the suburbs is St Mary's which is divided into two sections, Manyame Park (New St Mary's) and Old St Mary's, St Mary's is popularly known for being the oldest suburb in Chitown. There is Zengeza, which is divided into 5 sections i.e. Zengeza 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Zengeza 4 being relatively the largest section. There is also Seke another suburb located in Chtown and it is divided into many sections i.e. Unit A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O AND P. There is a shopping mall in Chitungwiza which located between Seke (Unit D) and Zengeza(Zengeza 4) it is popularly known as Chitungwiza Town Centre. Some of the popular shopping centres in Chitungwiza include Makoni, Chikwanha, PaGomba, Pazvido, PaJambanja, Chigovanyika, Huruyadzo, PaDaddy,unit j shopping centre, Zengeza 2 shopping centre. Chitungwiza is also well known as home for some famous people in Zimbabwe including the late John Chibadura (Mr Chitungwiza also Longest reigning King of Sungura), Charles Charamba, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa, Prophet Walter Magaya, and Alick Macheso.

Governing Structures

In Chitungwiza, a prospective city the services are provided by Chitungwiza Municipality ^[1] which is run by the Chitungwiza Municipality Ward Councillors. There are 25 wards in Chitungwiza, and from the 25 ward councillors, a mayor, deputy mayor and finance committee chairperson are selected from these councillors. The councillors including those elected for posts serve for 5-year term of office and are overally elected by the ward residents on Zimbabwe hamornised elections. The one who is in charge of the management and all employees of Chitungwiza Municipality, is the Town Clerk. The current Mayor ^[2] and Deputy Mayor are Mr Gift Tsverere and Mr Jabulani Mathunzi respectively, for the 2018-2023 term of office. The Town Clerk is Dr George Makunde,^[3] and since he is a Government employee, there is no term of office. The Director of Health and Environmental Services is Dr Tonderai Kasu,^[4] the Director of Engineering Services is Eng Maxwell Karenyi and the Finance Director is Mrs Evangelista Machona.

In 1999, Chitungwiza Municipality ^[1] adopted a new way of advocacy, in which they enacted a Junior Council which advocates for the realisation of the rights of the children of Chitungwiza. The Junior Council is a mirror of the senior council (Chitungwiza Municipality Council), though the major difference in structures is that at Junior Council, The Junior Town Clerk is a Junior Councillor elected to uphold the administrative duties of advocacy at Junior Council level. The Junior Council also serve one-year term of office. The wellknown Junior Councillors are Joseph Kauzani,^[5] Munesu Matsenga, Memory Chibundu, Tinayeishe Gurupira and Poseidon Tsautsau who served as Junior Public Relations Officer (2008–09), Junior Town Clerk (2013–14), Junior Mayor (2013-14), Junior Mayor (2015-16 current) and Junior Town Clerk (2015-16 current)

Infrastructure

There are two main highways which connect the city to Harare.^[6] Public transport is composed of regular single level buses and more reliably minibus taxis (called emergency taxis locally). Chitungwiza has over 30 primary schools and over 25 secondary schools.

In terms of education, Chitungwiza has several schools some run by the local council, some by government and a few privately owned. Among the schools you find Zengeza 1 High School, Seke 1 High School and Nyatsime College which each holds national records of both being the best result producers of the year. In higher education, Seke Teachers' College which opened its doors to the public in 1982 trains primary school teachers in the general course and Early Childhood Development. St Mary's ECD centre, the national model ECD centre is also found in Chitungwiza.

There are several public municipal clinics and privately owned surgeries which compliment the Chitungwiza Hospital efforts and another bigger hospital called South Medical or CitiMed as of present.

Chitungwiza's infrastructure is fast growing with private people Fradreck Mabamba, Sifra, Ngonidzashe Jiji and others building shopping malls and businesses premises. individuals are also building houses at a very fast pace. Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa is building a multimillion-dollar mega Church between Zengeza and Unit D

The Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, built in 1995 for the All Africa Games, is no longer functional, and serves as a music and church venue.^[7]

The infrastructure in Chitungwiza and run by Chitungwiza Municipality, was blasted by a local poet Poseidon Tsautsau, in his poem named Chitungwiza Municipality ^[8] (2014). Tsautsau brings out the topics of outdated infrastructure and its cause which is mainly corruption by the city fathers.

Demographics

Chitungwiza is located in the traditional territory of the Hera people. Its most distinguished historical figure is the Pasipamire, the pre-colonial svikiro (spirit medium) of Chaminuka. He is remembered for predicting the colonisation of the country by the British.

Johane Masowe we Chishanu is one of largest religion worshiping in the open spaces and vleis. There are several churches, belonging to different Christian denominations including the United Family International Church let by Prophet Makandiwa, the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe, Power of the holy spirit and Royal Family International Church led by Apostle Collin Shumba.

The economy is supported by informal trade, residents earn a living through selling green groceries at informal markets such as Chikwanha, Jambanja and Huruyadzo.

Artists

Many musicians come from Chitungwiza, including

• Alick Macheso
• Mechanic Manyeruke
• Maskiri
• Leonard Dembo
• System Tazvida

Chitungwiza is also a pioneer in the advent of Zimdancehall ^[9] as the popular music genre. Long term Zimdancehall from Chitungwiza include

• Dhadza D
• Guspy Warrior
• Ricky Fire
• Lady Squanda

Chitungwiza is also home to several Shona sculptors, including Nesbert Mukomberanwa, Sylvester Mubayi, and Fanizani Akuda.

Chitungwiza Art Centre was established in 1997 to facilitate the growth of the visual arts industry, art promoters like AVAC Arts have created a platform for artists to market and sell their artworks internationally. Chitungwiza is also home to photographers like Kwanele Mswelanto,Lamech Gowero,Kundai Mandevere,Kuda Bwititi, Munyaradzi Chaziya and Victor Mpfurutsa. Takudzwa Dzoro and Godknows Makaliel are among the best graphics designers to hail from chitungwiza.

With young and Vibrant Enteprenuers Like Gilbert Bene, Kelvin Chimbizi Elkisha and So many to Mention, the city is full of young Talent.

History

The name Chitungwiza was adopted from a Shona name which is shrine of an inspirational spirit medium (Svikiro) Chaminuka who had his shrine called *dungwiza* raChaminuka in the modern day Chitungwiza back in the late 19th century.^[10]

Chitungwiza gained full municipal status in 1996 and is the third-largest and the fastest-growing urban centre in Zimbabwe. According to the 2012 Population Census, the city had a population of 321,782. . Most of the people work in Harare, as there is very little industry in Chitungwiza. There are growth points (an urban area with limited tax breaks) there and bus ranks. The Chitungwiza City Council is dominated by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Chitungwiza was one of the areas targeted by Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 in which many residents lost their homes and businesses.Some of the Businesses that were lost during Operation Murambatsvina include a home industry that was operating in the outskirts adjacent to Zengeza 1, in this complex were over 50 Businesses, and over a thousand people lost their jobs.

References