Chitungwiza

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Chitungwiza is Zimbabwe's third largest and fastest growing urban centre. [1] [2]

Location

Chitungwiza lies 9km south of Harare city boundary.
The city occupies about 49.02 km²[3]

1985 population estimate was 235 000 people.

See Distances in Zimbabwe.

History

Chitungwiza was formed in 1978 by the amalgamation of Seki, Zengeza and St Mary's. Chitungwiza gained municipal status in November 1981. In 2013 it made international headlines after a mysterious explosion which killed six.

Government

In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election Chitungwiza retuned to Parliament:

In the 1990 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Chitungwiza returned to Parliament:

Turnout - 27 533 or 64.97 %

In the 2000 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Chitungwiza returned to Parliament:

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Chitungwiza North returned to Parliament:

Total 15 565 votes

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Chitungwiza South returned to Parliament:

Total 17 343 votes

In the 2022 By-Elections, (see Zimbabwe By-elections (March_2022)) St Mary's returned to Parliament:

There are four constituencies in Chitungwiza.

The Chitungwiza Local Government is Chitungwiza Municipality.

On 12 October 2022, Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo suspended six Chitungwiza Councillors, Lovemore Maiko, Musa Makweza, Kudakwashe John, Chengetai Nyagondo, Richard Chamutsa, and Peter Clever Matiringe. They are said to have convened an illegal meeting. According to the suspension letters there were reasonable grounds for suspecting that the councillors committed acts of gross misconduct, gross incompetence and willful violation of the law. [4]

Mako Re-elected Mayor, Sept 2023

On 18 September 2023, Lovemore Maiko (Cllr, Ward 7) was re-elected a Mayor of Chitungwiza. Jerita Mutingwende (Cllr Ward 12), was elected as Deputy. Both CCC. He received 31 votes. Leah Chidamba of Zanu PF, received 2 votes. The election was overseen by Tafadwa Muguti, Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

Maiko was elected Mayor in 2018, but in March 2022 was recalled by the MDC-T, one of dozens of councillors and legislators who were recalled. In Chitungwiza, there are a total of 33 Councillors, 25 were elected as Ward councillors, 8 were elected through proportional representation.

Infrastructure

It is serviced by Chitungwiza Central Hospital. Opened in 1986.
Chitungwiza is known for producing some of the finest musicians such as Alick Macheso and Mechanic Manyeruke.

See List of Primary Schools in Zimbabwe and Contact Numbers.
See Seke Secondary School / Seke 1 Secondary School.
See Seke 2 High School.
See Seke 3 High School.
See Seke 4 High School.
See Seke 5 High School.
See Seke 6 High School.
See Zengeza High School.
See Zengeza 2 High School.
See Zengeza 3 High School.
See Zengeza 4 High School.

Events

Illegal Structures

Chitungwiza came under the spotlight in 2013 after it was discovered many of the residential stands were illegal. An estimated 14 000 residential stands were said to have been built on land earmarked for churches, schools, cemeteries, recreational activities and roads.[5] For that reason the government initiated a demolition process for all those houses(more than 25,000) built on illegal land such as wetlands and power lines. After the destruction of a few houses, enraged residence went on to bar the driver of a Zim Slate JCB excavator that was being used to pull down the houses.[6] The latter then abandoned his work and fled from the scene. Subsequently, the government came under scrutiny and Residential trusts took the matter to the high court. Under Section 74 of the new Constitution, the high court ordered the government to stop the demolitions, giving the residence relief.[7]

Blast

On the 21 January 2013, a mysterious blast occured in Zengeza 4, in the city. Many conspiracy theories were devised with the outstanding being that the deceased had gone to a local Sangoma (traditional healer). However the investigation carried by the police revealed that explosives had been tampered with. It was revealed grenades and other explosives had of late been a source of money for some unscrupulous dealers. The police also suspected that the deceased (six) had sought to extract red mercury from the explosives which was believed to sell for a fortune on the black market.[8] The traditional heler, his three patients and a seven month old baby were killed in the blast.[9]

Government Response

Though the blast was suspected to have been caused by criminals, the government moved on to assists re-building houses for the victims. The government was assisted by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS), the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) and some corporates.The former's humanitarian ambassodor, Alick Macheso, was there to assist. All in all, three houses were completely detroyed while 12 others were left with cracks.[10]

Inspiration to Musician

One musician and producer Dr Clarence was inspired by the blast to write a song titled 'PaChitungwiza Chakaputika'. The song talks about the blast albeit in a relaxed and hilarious way [11]

Corruption

Corruption in the city's government has been rampant. In 2013, it was reported the city's former mayor and town clerk Godfrey Tanyanyiwa was jailed for six years after swindling over an US$80,000 from the council. He however was given a chance to either serve two-and-half years in jail or restitute the US$80,000. It was stated that Tanyanyiwa was facing 10 counts of fraud, but was cleared of seven due to lack of evidence. It was alleged he used it to buy a house in Chisipite. [12]

In 2014 again, The Chitungwiza municipality was reported to be involved in the Salarygate scandal. It was alleged 18 managers withdrew US$235,000 a month to a secret bank account. Each manager was said to have pocketed between $12,000 and $33,000 per month. Among other details, the documents showed that Town Clerk George Makunde was in January 2013 paid US$10,000 from an identified secret bank account when officially he earns no more than US$5,000. Between January 2013 and February 2014, the municipality was said to have collected $14.5 million but 10 million was not accounted for.[13] Additionaly, they were revelations that the town Council had 10 ghost managers. By so doing, the managers allegedly wanted to fleece government by inflating their salaries and forwarding ghost directors over $500 000.[14]

Further Reading

References

  1. [Katherine Sayce (Ed), Tabex, Encyclopedia Zimbabwe], Tabex, Encyclopedia Zimbabwe, (Quest Publishing, Harare, 1987), Retrieved: 25 July 2019
  2. Chitungwiza Seeks US$2,5m, 'Financial Gazette', Published: 14 Mar 2013 Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  3. Population of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, 'Mongabay', Published: ND, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  4. Local Government Minister Moyo Suspends 6 CCC Councillors In Chitungwiza, Pindula, Published: 12 October 2022, Retrieved: 12 October 2022
  5. Herald Reporters, Human wall blocks Chitungwiza demolitions,'Herald', Published: 25 Jan 2014
  6. Nelson Sibanda, Chitungwiza demolitions commence, 'The Zimbawwean', Published: 24 Jan 2014
  7. Albert Masaka, Court stays Chitungwiza demolitions, 'DailyNews', Published: 25 Apr 2014, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  8. Moses Matenga Chitungwiza blast mystery unravelled, 'NewsDay', Published: 30 Jan 2014, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  9. Michael Chideme, Chitungwiza Blast, 'Herald', Published: 21 Jan 2013, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  10. Staff Reporter, Chitungwiza blast victims houses rebuilding starts, 'Bulawayo 24', Published: 25 May 2013, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  11. Silence Charumbira, Producer looks at lighter side of Chitungwiza blast, 'The Standard', Published: 27 Jan 2013, Retruieved: 5 May 2013
  12. Staff Reporter, 'Greedy' Chitungwiza town clerk jailed, 'New Zimbabwe', Published: 8 Sep 2013
  13. Mthulisi Mathuthu, Parliament hears of Chitungwiza salarygate, 'SW Radio africa', Published: 18 Mar 2014, Retrieved: 5 May 2014
  14. Xolisani Ncube, Salarygate: 10 ghost managers exposed, 'The Zimbabwe Mail', Published: 18 Mar 2014, Retrieved: 5 May 2014

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