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.
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).
^Ministries of Local Government International |Chapter 29:15 Urban Councils Act|Zimbabwe Urban_Councils Act mlgi.org.za|Retrieved 2 March 2016
^Notice Board Local Authority Results-Midlands-Shurugwi Town Council Zec.gov.zw|Retrieved 2 March 2016
^The Herald (zw)candidates - 'Harmonised' elections 29 March 2008: Local Government - Midlands kubatana.net|archive|Retrieved 2 March 2016
March 17, 2023
shurugwi, district, this, article, about, administrative, district, town, shurugwi, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed,. This article is about the administrative district For the town see Shurugwi This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Shurugwi District news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Shurugwi originally known as Selukwe is a district located in Midlands Province southern Zimbabwe Map of the districts in Midlands Province Contents 1 Background 2 Demography 3 Geography 4 Politics 5 Local Government 6 Health 7 Education 8 See also 9 ReferencesBackground EditIt 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 EditShurugwi 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 EditThe 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 EditPolitically 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 EditTown CouncilShurugwi 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 RDCShurugwi 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 CouncilElectoral Commission 2 Ward Councillor Gender Party01 Mukokanduku Janet F ZANU PF02 Nyamatendedza obert M MDC T03 Mukorovi Zvidzai M MDC T04 Mavhenyegwa Samue Obriel M MDC T05 Mapwanya Davias M ZANU PF06 Kasama Jackson M MDC T07 Machiya Fanuel M MDC T08 Makore Tsungai M ZANU PF09 Mahachi Yudit Tsungirirai F ZANU PF10 Mudzimu Maggie F ZANU PF11 Gara Brighton M ZANU PF12 Hapazari Paradzai M ZANU PF13 Pedzisai Wonder M ZANU PF2008 2013 CouncilSource Kubatana Aechive 3 Ward Councillor Gender Party01 Mukokanduku Janet f Zanu PF02 Nyamatendedza Obert m MDCZ03 Mukorovi Zvidzai m MDCZ04 Madziture Bulle m MDCZ05 Mashoko Onisimo m MDCZ06 Mbizo Regiment m MDCZ07 Zamuchiya Reketayi MDCZ08 Chauke Gibson m MDCZ09 Mahachi Tsungurirai Yudit Zanu PF10 Mudzimu Maggie f Zanu PF11 Takavarasha Jericco m MDCZ12 Madzivire Lucia m MDCZ13 Venantio Phiri m MDCZHealth EditShurugwi has not escaped the scourge of the AIDS pandemic with many of its youthful people succumbing to the deadly virus Education EditShurugwi 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 EditTongogara RDCReferences Edit Ministries of Local Government International Chapter 29 15 Urban Councils Act Zimbabwe Urban Councils Act mlgi org za Retrieved 2 March 2016 Notice Board Local Authority Results Midlands Shurugwi Town Council Zec gov zw Retrieved 2 March 2016 The Herald zw candidates Harmonised elections 29 March 2008 Local Government Midlands kubatana net archive Retrieved 2 March 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shurugwi District amp oldid 1140455591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
