Chitungwiza is the third populous urban centre in Zimbabwe and town of Harare Province in Zimbabwe. It is located on the outskirts of Harare.

Chitungwiza
Coat of arms of Chitungwiza
Nickname: 
Chi Town
Motto: 
Pamberi nekushandira pamwe
Chitungwiza is located in Zimbabwe
Chitungwiza
Chitungwiza
Coordinates: 17°59′38″S 31°02′53″E / 17.99389°S 31.04806°E / -17.99389; 31.04806
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

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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

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Following the civil war, the area experienced rapid Rural-urban migration. 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]

Slum 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]

 
Demolitions during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005

Notable people

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Prominent lawyer, Liveours Mundieta comes from Chitungwiza. [9]

The musician Maskiri comes from Chitungwiza.[10]

The town clerk in 2016 was Dr George Makunde.[11] In 2019 and 2020, Dr. Tonderai Kasu served as the acting town clerk.[12] Emmanuel Makandiwa and Alick Macheso are from Chitungwiza.

Current mayor: Lovemore Maiko[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ "Topic : Liveours Mundieta". Newsday. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Maskiri returns with a bang". The Standard. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  11. ^ "The Oracle: Makunde is blind to the poverty around him". The Standard. 14 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Town clerk, housing director suspended". The Herald.
  13. ^ "Mayor". Chitungwiza. Retrieved 2 February 2022.