Gweru

Gweru
City

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): Progress
Gweru
Coordinates: 19°27′41″S 29°48′08″E / 19.46139°S 29.80222°E / -19.46139; 29.80222Coordinates: 19°27′41″S 29°48′08″E / 19.46139°S 29.80222°E / -19.46139; 29.80222
Country Zimbabwe
Province Midlands
Founded 1894
Incorporated (town) 1914
Incorporated (city) 1971
Elevation 1,424 m (4,672 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 141,862
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
Climate Cwb
Website https://gwerucitycouncilsite.wordpress.com/

Gweru (named Gwelo until 1982) is a city in central Zimbabwe. Located near the geographical centre of the country, it is the capital of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the indigenous Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high banks, in 1894 it became the site of a military outpost established by Leander Starr Jameson.[1] In 1914 it attained municipal status, and in 1971 it became a city.

The city has a population of 141,862 as of 2013. Gweru is known for vibrant farming activities in beef cattle, crop farming, and commercial gardening of crops for the export market.[2] It is also home to a number of colleges and universities, most prominently Midlands State University and Mkoba Teachers College.

Geography

Climate

Climate data for Gweru (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 26.3
(79.3)		 25.8
(78.4)		 25.8
(78.4)		 24.7
(76.5)		 22.9
(73.2)		 20.6
(69.1)		 20.5
(68.9)		 23.3
(73.9)		 26.8
(80.2)		 28.3
(82.9)		 27.4
(81.3)		 26.3
(79.3)		 24.9
(76.8)
Average low °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5)		 15.1
(59.2)		 13.8
(56.8)		 11.3
(52.3)		 7.6
(45.7)		 4.9
(40.8)		 4.5
(40.1)		 6.5
(43.7)		 10.0
(50)		 13.1
(55.6)		 14.5
(58.1)		 15.1
(59.2)		 11.0
(51.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 139.1
(5.476)		 124.8
(4.913)		 55.9
(2.201)		 29.0
(1.142)		 7.7
(0.303)		 1.9
(0.075)		 1.0
(0.039)		 1.9
(0.075)		 9.3
(0.366)		 35.1
(1.382)		 96.2
(3.787)		 159.4
(6.276)		 661.3
(26.035)
Average rainy days 12 10 7 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 9 12 60
Source: World Meteorological Organization[3]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19362,165—    
19415,100+135.6%
19467,237+41.9%
19519,800+35.4%
196027,290+178.5%
196936,840+35.0%
197451,000+38.4%
197866,000+29.4%
198278,918+19.6%
1992128,037+62.2%
2002141,260+10.3%
2012157,865+11.8%

Economy

Gweru is known for vibrant farming activities in beef cattle, crop farming, and commercial gardening of crops for the export market.The country`s oldest shoe manufacturer Bata Shoe Company and the Military and Aviation Museums are also some key features Gweru is well known for. [2]

Culture

The Boggie Clock Tower, located at the intersection of Main Street and Robert Mugabe Way, was built in 1928 in memory of Major William James Boggie. The clock tower is one of the city's most famous landmarks.[1]

The Nalatale and Danangombe archaeological sites lie nearby, the former known for its patterned brickwork, the latter for its Portuguese remains. The remains at these sites date back to as early as the Torwa state during the 17th century, the most substantial being a four hundred-year-old stone wall decorated with motifs known to the tradition of stone-building in Zimbabwe. The surrounding area has rich deposits of gold, chrome, iron, asbestos and platinum and supports several mines.[1]

Tourism

The main hotel in the city is the Midlands Hotel, which was opened in 1927 by the Meikles brothers. This hotel was to be demolished but after many protests by the population it was saved. Another important hotel is the Chitukuko (formerly the Hotel Cecil), located in the downtown area of the city. Both hotels were owned by Patrick Kombayi, a former mayor. The Fairmile Motel is just one mile from the city center on the Bulawayo highway .

Sports

Home to Chapungu Football Club (Waru Waru) an Air force of Zimbabwe football club which plays in the Premier Soccer league of the country.

Education

Primary education

Group A

  • Cecil John Rhodes School
  • Lundi Park School
  • Riverside School
  • Stanley School
  • Anderson Adventist Primary School (private)
  • Lingfield Academy (private)
  • Midlands Christian School (private)

Group B

  • Airforce Thornhill Primary School
  • Bata School
  • Bumburwi School
  • Chikumbiro School
  • Matongo School
  • Mkoba 4 Primary School
  • Mpumelelo Primary School
  • Muwunga School
  • Sandara School
  • Senga Primary School
  • Takunda Primary School
  • Takwirira Primary School
  • St. Michael's Primary School (Catholic)
  • St. Paul's School (Catholic)

Secondary education

Group A

Group B

  • Ascot Secondary School
  • Mambo High School
  • Matinunura High school
  • Mkoba 1 High School
  • Mkoba 3 High School
  • Senka Secondary School

Tertiary education

Defunct colleges and universities

  • Midlands College of Commerce (closed 1994)

Media

Gweru's local newspaper, The Gweru Times,once ceased publishing in 2015 but now operational.

Transportation

Railway

Railways arrived in Gwelo (Gweru) in 1902. National Railways of Zimbabwe have the country's largest marshalling yard, Dabuka, on the south side of Gweru. Dabuka plays a pivotal role in rail movement in the country as it is the central hub of the rail links to Mozambique in the east, South Africa in the south and Botswana and Namibia in the south west, lying on the Bulawayo - Harare Line.

Roads

As a central city (hub), it has direct links to all the other cities and towns of Zimbabwe. It is 164 km from Bulawayo, 183 km from Masvingo, 471 km from Beitbridge, and 275 km from Harare.

Road names used are by destination only, for example the Harare-Gweru Road. There are only mainroads, no highways or freeways.[4]

Notable people

  • Raymond Ndlovu, singer
Brendan Ashby, Olympic swimmer

× Maxwell Dube, Footballer × Edmore Makozho,Socialite

Sister cities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gweru - The City of Progress". www.mygweru.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  2. 1 2 "Gweru | Zimbabwe". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  3. ↑ "World Weather Information Service – Gweru". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  4. ↑ The Automobile Association of Zimbabwe
  5. ↑ Local Government International Bureau (LGIB) Database of "Twinning Towns
  6. ↑ "Birmingham Sister City Commission". www.bhamwiki.com. Retrieved 2018-04-25.

Parliament Research Department, Gweru Urban Constituency Profile, 'Parliament of Zimbabwe', Published: 2011, Retrieved: 28 Apr 2014

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