Chitungwiza

Chitungwiza is the largest high density town in Zimbabwe. It also has a population of about 456 000, which makes it the third largest city in Zimbabwe.[1] Chitungwiza came into existence in the late 1970s with most black people who stayed in oldest high density towns like Highfield and Mbare 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 known for being the oldest suburb in Chitungwiza. There is Zengeza, which is divided into 5 sections i.e. Zengeza 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Zengeza 4 is the heart of Chitungwiza. Despite being relatively the largest section, Zengeza 4 is home to a shopping mall (Chitungwiza Town Centre) which is located at the boarder with Seke (Unit D). PaGomba is also another major shopping centre located in Zengeza 4. Zengeza 4 is also proud to be home to Chitungwiza Central Hospital one of the major referral centres in Zimbabwe with renal unit and Citimed, the largest private health institution in Chitungwiza. Zengeza 4 also pays homage to Global Institute of Business, publishers of the Nexus Book Series as well as the Chitungwiza Arts Centre.

There is also Seke another suburb located in Chitown 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. Some of the popular shopping centres in Chitungwiza include Town Centre, Makoni, Chikwanha, Pazvido, PaJambanja, Chigovanyika, Huruyadzo, PaDaddy, Unit J shopping centre, Zengeza 2 shopping centre, PaSangos, PaChief.

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.

In Chitungwiza, a prospective city the services are provided by Chitungwiza Municipality [2] 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 a 5-year term of office and are overally elected by the ward residents during Zimbabwe hamornised elections. The Chief executive officer, that is the one who is in charge of the management of the organization, and is in charge of all employees of Chitungwiza Municipality, is the Town Clerk. The current Mayor and Deputy Mayor are Cllr Lovemore Maiko and Cllr Makweza 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. Dr. Makunde is currently on suspension from duty. The Director of Engineering Services is Eng David Duma. The Director of Health and Environmental Services is Dr. Tonderai Kasu, and he has served as the Acting Town Clerk of Chitungwiza. Dr. Tonderai Kasu served as the Acting Town Clerk of Chitungwiza from the 10th of December 2019 to the 21st of August 2020.[4] The Finance Director is Mrs Evangelista Machona, and she is the current Acting Town Clerk of Chitungwiza.

Tonderai Kasu

In 1999, Chitungwiza Municipality [2] 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 well-known 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)

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 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 complement 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.

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.

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 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 perkins chikumbirike.

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.

ChiL FM is a community radio project by the youth of Chitungwiza to promote local talent in areas of arts and business.

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.[9]

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.