Zimbabwe Political Geography

Zimbabwe Political Geography

• Bulawayo

Bulawayo (bōləwäˈyō) [key], city (1992 est. pop. 621,742), SW Zimbabwe. It is the second largest city of Zimbabwe and an important industrial, commercial, and railroad center. Among its manufactures are textiles, motor vehicles, tires, metal products, and cement. Founded by the British in 1893, it was the scene (1896) of a Ndebele (Matabele) revolt. Nearby are the 18th-century precolonial ruins of Khami. After Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, Bulawayo was beset with violence between the Shona and Ndebele peoples until 1988 when an accord was reached.

• Gweru

Gweru (gwāˈrō) [key], formerly Gwelo gwāˈlō, city (1992 pop. 128,037), central Zimbabwe. Founded in 1894, it is an industrial, mining, and commercial center. Manufactures include footwear, ferroalloys, metal goods, and cement.

• Harare

Harare (həˈrärā) [key], formerly Salisbury, city (1992 est. pop. 1,485,615), alt. 4,865 ft (1,483 m), capital of Zimbabwe, NE Zimbabwe. Harare is Zimbabwe's largest city and its administrative, commercial, and communications center. It has a mild climate and is the trade center for an agricultural region whose main products are tobacco, corn, cotton, and citrus fruits. Manufactures include textiles, clothing, processed food and tobacco, beverages, steel, chemicals, furniture, fertilizers, and construction materials. Gold is mined in the area. Harare is connected by rail with Bulawayo, in SW Zimbabwe. The city was founded in 1890 as a fort by the Pioneer Column, a mercenary force organized by Cecil J. Rhodes to seize Mashonaland. The city was originally named Salisbury after the 3d marquess of Salisbury, then British prime minister. It became a municipality in 1897 and a city in 1935. Salisbury was the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–63). After World War II the population grew as many people migrated to the city. After Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, the name of the city was changed to Harare. Harare is the site of the Univ. of Zimbabwe, of the National Gallery, which has collections of African soapstone carvings, and of the National Museum, known for its archaeological holdings.

• Hwange

Hwange (wänˈgē) [key], formerly Wankie wŏngˈkē, city (1992 est. pop. 42,600), W Zimbabwe. It is a coal-mining center. The city was founded in 1903 and named for a local chief. A nearby national park attracts many tourists.

• Kwekwe

Kwekwe, formerly Que Que (both: kwāˈkwāˈ) [key], city (1992 pop. 75,425), central Zimbabwe, founded 1900. It is a gold-mining center and the focal point of Zimbabwe's iron and steel industry.

• Mutare

Mutare (mōtäˈrē) [key], formerly Umtali ŏmtäˈlē, city (1992 est. pop. 131,400), E Zimbabwe, near the Mozambique border. Mutare is the commercial center for a rich agricultural and gold-mining region. Its industries include automobile assembly, petroleum refining, and the manufacture of textiles. The city is connected by rail with the port of Beira in Mozambique, but the line is in disrepair. Founded in 1890, Mutare grew after the coming (1899) of the railroad.

• Que Que

Que Que, Zimbabwe: see Kwekwe.

• Rhodesia

Rhodesia: see Zimbabwe.

• Salisbury

Salisbury: see Harare, Zimbabwe.

• Southern Rhodesia

Southern Rhodesia: see Zimbabwe.

• Umtali

Umtali: see Mutare, Zimbabwe.

• Wankie

Wankie: see Hwange, Zimbabwe.

• Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe (zimˈbäbwā) [key], formerly Rhodesia, officially Republic of Zimbabwe, republic (2005 est. pop. 12,747,000), 150,803 sq mi (390,580 sq km), S central Africa. It is bordered on the north by Zambia, on the northeast and east by Mozambique, on the south by South Africa, and on the southwest and west by Botswana. Harare (formerly Salisbury) is the capital and largest city.