Shurugwi District

Shurugwi District is located in Midlands Province, southern Zimbabwe.

This article is about the administrative district. For the town, see Shurugwi.

Map of the districts in Midlands Province

Background

It is an important centre for gold,platinum and chrome mining, but it is perhaps best known as the home district of the former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith who owned a farm near Gwenoro Dam. Its principal town is also called Shurugwi. It is located about 30 kilometres from the Midlands Provincial capital Gweru. Shurugwi District encompasses much of the rural areas of Nhema and some parts of Chivi. The district has seen a resurgence of mining activities after the discovery of platinum at Unki which lies a few kilometres just after the Wolfshall Pass(Boterekwa). This has seen the establishment of a large mining complex by Implats(Impala Platinum) and the refurbishing of houses which used to belong to the old Zimasco employees.

Demography

Shurugwi district is predominantly occupied by the Karanga ethnic people who form the majority of the population but there are other minorities like Ndebele speaking people in the Rockford small scale purchase farms and the Dlodlo area. Other ethnic people are the few remaining ex-employees of Zimasco who are predominantly of Malawian extraction.

Geography

The region is dominated by the Great Dyke which dissects it in the middle. Much of the other areas are made up of poor sandy soils which support subsistence agriculture. Tokwe river, locally known as Tugwi runs in the middle of Rockford Farmlands making the area potentially viable for agricultural projects in addition to mineral wealth.

Politics

Politically Shurugwi district saw a lot of fighting between Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army fighters and Rhodesian forces which led to significant deaths among the civilian population (1976–79). It has remained a predominantly ZANU-PF stronghold since independence.

Local Government

Town Council

Shurugwi District is run by two local government arms, one for the rural district and the other for the urban district.

For the rural district see Tongogara RDC

Shurugwi Town Council created in terms of the Zimbabwe Urban Councils Act, Chapter 29.15[1] administers 13 urban wards of Shurugwi North Constituency.

2013 - 2018 Council

Electoral Commission [2]

WardCouncillorGenderParty
01Mukokanduku JanetFZANU-PF
02Nyamatendedza obertMMDC-T
03Mukorovi ZvidzaiMMDC-T
04Mavhenyegwa Samue ObrielMMDC-T
05Mapwanya DaviasMZANU-PF
06Kasama JacksonMMDC-T
07Machiya FanuelMMDC-T
08Makore TsungaiMZANU-PF
09Mahachi Yudit TsungiriraiFZANU-PF
10Mudzimu MaggieFZANU-PF
11Gara BrightonMZANU-PF
12Hapazari ParadzaiMZANU-PF
13Pedzisai WonderMZANU-PF

2008 - 2013 Council

Source: Kubatana Aechive[3]

WardCouncillorGenderParty
01Mukokanduku JanetfZanu-PF
02Nyamatendedza ObertmMDCZ
03Mukorovi ZvidzaimMDCZ
04Madziture BullemMDCZ
05Mashoko OnisimomMDCZ
06Mbizo RegimentmMDCZ
07Zamuchiya Reketayi-MDCZ
08Chauke GibsonmMDCZ
09Mahachi Tsungurirai Yudit-Zanu-PF
10Mudzimu MaggiefZanu-PF
11Takavarasha JericcomMDCZ
12Madzivire LuciamMDCZ
13Venantio PhirimMDCZ

Health

Shurugwi has not escaped the scourge of the AIDS pandemic with many of its youthful people succumbing to the deadly virus.

Education

Shurugwi boasts several higher education institutions like Hanke Seventh Day Adventist Mission, Tongogara High School and Pakame Mission which date back many years. It has a significant number of highly educated professionals like lawyers, doctors, accountants, engineers and others. Rockford farmlands were created by the Rhodesian Government in 1934 and became home to some Black elite luminaries of that time the most notable being one of the early Christian faith Black Pastors Philemon Dzimiri (1898-1978).

See also

Tongogara RDC

References
  1. Ministries of Local Government International |Chapter 29:15 Urban Councils Act|Zimbabwe Urban_Councils Act mlgi.org.za|Retrieved 2 March 2016
  2. Notice Board Local Authority Results-Midlands-Shurugwi Town Council Zec.gov.zw|Retrieved 2 March 2016
  3. The Herald (zw)candidates - 'Harmonised' elections 29 March 2008: Local Government - Midlands kubatana.net|archive|Retrieved 2 March 2016
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