Nkayi
Nkayi is is a rural district located in the North-East of Matabeleland North Province. The district is divided into two constituencies, Nkayi North and Nkayi South. The district administration falls under Nkayi Rural District Council which is run by elected councillors and professional council staff.
Nkayi District offices are located 158km to the north of Bulawayo, 96km to the west of Kwekwe and about 300km south-west of Harare. The Fighting Road links the district to the provincial capital Lupane, which is situated adjacent to Bulawayo - Victoria Falls highway.
Nkayi is served by Nkayi Rural District Hospital.
See Fatima Secondary School.
See Hlangabeza Secondary School.
See Nkayi Rural Secondary School.
Attractions
- Mbazhe Bird Sanctuary; an ecotourism site with a wide range of bird species and aquatic life.
- The Gwampa Valley forest which has diversified wildlife which seasonally migrate to and from Hwange National Park.
Population and Economy
The district comprises of thirty (30) administrative boundary wards, 156 villages, 1 growth point and five chiefs presiding over the area with a total population of 109 371 people. The population survives mainly on agri-business. Livestock-rearing constitute 70% of the district’s economic activities.
Government
In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election, Nkayi returned to Parliament:
- Welshman Mabhena of PF-ZAPU - 25 874 votes.
- Samsom Msindo Ndebele of Zanu PF - 760 votes.
- Solomon Tongani of UANC - 366 votes.
In the 1990 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Nkayi returned to Parliament:
- Welshman Mabhena of Zanu PF with 16 313 votes,
- Rogers Ndlovu of ZUM with 1 182 votes.
Turnout - 19 797 voters or 48.91 %