Chisumbanje

Location:
Chisumbanje is an area in the Province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe. It is situated in Chipinge District, one of the seven districts in Manicaland Province. It is located in the Dowoyo communal land on the eastern bank of the Save River, about 95 km south of Birchenough Bridge on the Birchenough Bridge-Chiredzi road.

Social:
Chisumbanje is under Chief Garahwa. Muchongoyo is a dance popular in Chipinge area and people in Chisumbanje respect this type of dance. Besides entertaining villagers, it is also used as a source of unity and love among the locals.

Climate:
The area is arid because it lies in a valley and crop yields are generally poor thus it is prone to food insecurities. It is totally different from the other northern part of Chipinge district which lies in Zimbabwe’s region one. Other districts in region one in Manicaland Province, (eastern part of Zimbabwe) include, Mutare, Chimanimani, Nyanga and Mutasa .

Population:
In terms of population distribution, Chipinge is rural whereas Chisumbanje has a population of about 300 000 people .

Infrastructure:
Chisumbanje is linked by a good tarred road from the Manicaland provincial capital, Mutare, and the district capital, Chipinge town to the Lowveld and to the South African border crossing at Beitbridge.

Cities and Towns:

Cities, towns and places near Chisumbanje include Mkasa, Machuta, Pezenga and Muguibe. The closest major cities include Mutare, Chipinge and Chiredzi.

Economic:

The economy of Chisumbanje is largely agricultural with the most common crops being maize, millet and rapoko. It is interesting that it is a taboo to grow millet in Chief Musikavanhu’s area. The local varieties of crops contrast sharply with the commercial estates where coffee, tea and bananas are grown.

Ethanol Plant:
The Chisumbanje Ethanol Project is a national project of great strategic importance where ethanol is produced from sugarcane. It is seen as one of Africa’s largest ethanol projects. The project consists of sugarcane plantations in Chisumbanje and Middle Sabi, with the ethanol plant being located in Chisumbanje. It is also a consortium of local investors in partnership with the government’s Agriculture and Rural Development Authority, ARDA.

At its peak, the Chisumbanje ethanol project – and ARDA’s cane growing adjacent farms operated by the private investors trading as Rating (at Middle Sabi) and Macdom (at Chisumbanje) – has been projected to create employment for more than 8000 people, becoming one of the single largest job creation ventures in Zimbabwe in recent years.

Irrigation:
World class irrigation infrastructure has been put in place, and an outstanding ethanol producing plant constructed.

Health:
Chisumbanje area has 8 clinics which are run by the Ministry of Health. The Clinics are St Peters, Madhuku, Arda Chisumbanje, Veneka, Mabee, Matandwa, Chisuma,Mutandahwe and Mahenye.

Education:
Primary Schools

Chisumbanje has about 20 primary schools and 12 secondary schools run by the Ministry of Education. These are located in the various wards in the Chisumbanje area.