Chirumhanzu District

Location:
Chirumhanzu District is a Second-order Administrative Sub-division of Midlands (Zimbabwe) between Mvuma and Masvingo.

Its center is about 46 km south of Mvuma but the administrative centre has moved to Mvuma a small mining town just off the Harare-Beitbridge Highway near Gweru Turn-off.

Chirumanzu communal lands occupy the southern part of Chirumanzu district between longitude 29˚50́E and 30˚45Έ and between latitudes 19˚30́S and 20˚20́S.

Background:

Chirumhanzi District derives its name from the legendary Chirumhanzu chieftain. Chirumhanzu was actually a discriptive name for a particular chief. The correct spelling should be Chiri-muhanzu meaning “that which is in the garment”. The original Chief Chirimuhanzu had a celebrated garment made of dassie or rock-rabbit skins. He had special a pouch he kept under the garment skirts which many still think was a talisman or a stollen treasure. Local people, following their custom dared no to mension the chief traditional name, would just say “Chirimuhanzu”; meaning “that whatever in the garment”. No one really knew what dangled from underneath his garment, and they referred to that thing as “it in the garment” _ Chiri-mu-hanzu.

Geography:
The distruct is 496 square kilometers in area.

Population:
In 2002 census there were 70,441 people, thus 16,319 households and given a growth rate of 1.1% per annum, the current population is estimated at +/- 80,000. (2016)

Weather:
The mean annual rainfall is 650mm while the mean temperature ranges from 12-28˚C. 

Local Government:
Chirumhanzu Rural District Council now officially called Takawira Rural District Council is the local authority in this district. It operates in terms of the Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Act.

Takawira RDC covers 2 parliamentary constituencies, Chirumhanzu constituency and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe constituency.

Economy:
The chrome rich Great Dyke passes through the districts. There are a number of small mines along the Great Dyke which include Mine Latitude: -19°19’26.47″ Longitude: 30°9’9.97″ and Africa Chrome Fields.

The bigger mines are Duration Gold, Athens Mine, ZIMASCO and Zim Alloys.[

Health:
There are several mission hospitals in Chirumhanzu District; Mwoyomusande Mission, Driefontein, Holy Cross Mission, Hama Mission, Muonde Mission and St Theresa.

Education:

Primary School

• Angley Ranch Primary School
• Batanai Primary School
• Chapwanya Primary School
• Chihosho Primary School
• Chilimanzi Primary School
• Chimbindi Primary School
• Chinyuni Primary School
• Chitenderano Primary School
• Chitora Primary School
• Chiweshe Primary School
• Driefontein Primary School
• Fairfield Primary School
• Gwanza Primary School
• Govere Primary School
• Guramatunhu Primary School
• Machekano Tokwe Primary School
• Makanya Primary School
• Mazvimba Primary School
• Mhende Primary School
• Munikwa Primary School
• Mutya Primary School
• Mwire Primary School
• Nyatongwe Primary School
• Rupepwe Primary School
• Shashe Primary School

Secondary Schools

• Chengwena Secondary School
• Chizhou Secondary School
• Gonawapotera Secondary School
• Lalapanzi Secondary School
• Mapiravana Secondary School
• Mutenerende Secondary School
• Siyahokwe Secondary School
• Holy Cross High School
• Hama Mission School