Harare

Situated in the north-east of the country in the heart of historic Mashonaland, the city has an estimated population of 1,606,000 (2009), with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area (2006). Administratively, Harare is a metropolitan province, which also incorporates Chitungwiza town and Epworth. It is situated at an elevation of 1,483 metres (4,865 feet) and its climate falls into the subtropical highland category.

The city was founded in 1890 by the Pioneer Column, a small military force in the service of the British South Africa Company, and named Fort Salisbury after the British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury. Company administrators demarcated the city and ran it until Southern Rhodesia achieved responsible government in 1923. Salisbury was thereafter the seat of the Southern Rhodesian (later Rhodesian) government and, between 1953 and 1963, the capital of the Central African Federation. It retained the name Salisbury until 1982, when it was renamed Harare on the second anniversary of Zimbabwean independence.

Harare is Zimbabwe’s leading financial, commercial, and communications centre, and a trade centre for tobacco, maize, cotton, and citrus fruits. Manufactured goods include textiles, steel and chemicals, and gold is mined in the area. The city’s suburbs include Borrowdale,Helensvale, Greendale, Chisipite, Mbare, Highfields, Kuwadzana, Marlborough, Marlbereign, Vainona, Mount Pleasant and Avondale; the most affluent neighbourhoods are to the north. The University of Zimbabwe, the country’s oldest university (founded in 1952), is situated in Mount Pleasant, about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the city centre. Harare is home to the country’s main Test cricket ground, Harare Sports Club, and to Dynamos F.C., Zimbabwe’s most successful association football team.

History:

Colonial and UDI period (1890–1979)

The Pioneer Column, a military volunteer force of settlers organised by Cecil Rhodes, founded the city on 12 September 1890 as a fort. They originally named the city Fort Salisbury after The 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, then British Prime Minister, and it subsequently became known simply as Salisbury. The Salisbury Polo Club was formed in 1896. It was declared to be a municipality in 1897 and it became a city in 1935.

The area at the time of founding of the city was poorly drained and earliest development was on sloping ground along the left bank of a stream that is now the course of a trunk road (Julius Nyerere Way). The first area to be fully drained was near the head of the stream and was named Causeway as a result. This area is now the site of many of the most important government buildings, including the Senate House and the Office of the Prime Minister, now renamed for the use of President Mugabe after the position was abolished in January 1988.

Salisbury was the capital of the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia from 1923, and of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from 1953 to 1963. Ian Smith’s Rhodesian Front government declared Rhodesia independent from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965, and proclaimed the Republic of Rhodesia in 1970. Subsequently, the nation became the short-lived state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia; it was not until 18 April 1980 that the country was internationally recognised as independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Post-independence (1980–1998)

The capital city retained the name Salisbury until 1982.
The name of the city was changed to Harare on 18 April 1982, the second anniversary of Zimbabwean independence, taking its name from the village near Harare Kopje of the Shona chief Neharawa, whose nickname was “he who does not sleep”. Prior to independence, “Harare” was the name of the black residential area now known as Mbare.

Economic difficulties and hyperinflation (1999–2008)

In the early 21st century Harare has been adversely affected by the political and economic crisis that is currently plaguing Zimbabwe, after the contested 2002 presidential election and 2005 parliamentary elections. The elected council was replaced by a government-appointed commission for alleged inefficiency, but essential services such as rubbish collection and street repairs have rapidly worsened, and are now virtually non-existent. 

Operation Murambatsvina

In May 2005 the Zimbabwean government demolished shanties and backyard cottages in Harare and the other cities in the country in Operation Murambatsvina (“Drive Out Trash”). The operation was necessitated by a rise of criminality and disease. This was followed by Operation Garikayi/Hlalani Kuhle (Operation “Better Living”) a year later. 

2009–present

In late March 2010, Harare’s Joina City Tower was finally opened after 14 years of on-off construction, marketed as Harare’s new Pride. Initially, uptake of space in the tower was low, with office occupancy at only 3% in October 2011.By May 2013, office occupancy had risen to around half, with all the retail space occupied.

Future plans

During late 2012, plans to build a new capital district in Mt. Hampden, about twenty kilometres north-west of Harare’s central business district, were announced and illustrations shown in Harare’s daily newspapers. The location of this new district would imply an expansion into Zvimba District. The plan generated varied opinions.

In March 2015, Harare City Council planned a two-year project to install 4,000 solar streetlights, at a cost of $15 million, starting in the central business district.

Geography:

Topography

The city sits on the one of the higher parts of the Highveld plateau of Zimbabwe at an elevation of 1483 metres (4865 feet). The original landscape could be described as a “parkland.”

Climate

Harare has a pleasant subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb). The average annual temperature is 17.95 °C (64.3 °F), rather low for the tropics, and this is due to its high altitude position and the prevalence of a cool south-easterly airflow.

There are three main seasons: a warm, wet season from November to March/April; a cool, dry season from May to August (corresponding to winter in the Southern Hemisphere); and a hot, dry season in September/October. Daily temperature ranges are about 7–22 °C (45–72 °F) in July (the coldest month), about 15–29 °C (59–84 °F) in October (the hottest month) and about 16–26 °C (61–79 °F) in January (midsummer). The hottest year on record was 1914 with 19.73 °C (67.5 °F) and the coldest year was 1965 with 17.13 °C (62.8 °F).

The average annual rainfall is about 825 mm (32.5 in) in the southwest, rising to 855 mm (33.7 in) on the higher land of the northeast (from around Borrowdale to Glen Lorne). Very little rain typically falls during the period May to September, although sporadic showers occur most years. Rainfall varies a great deal from year to year and follows cycles of wet and dry periods from 7 to 10 years long. Records begin in October 1890 but all three Harare stations stopped reporting in early 2004.

The climate supports a natural vegetation of open woodland. The most common tree of the local region is the Msasa Brachystegia spiciformis that colours the landscape wine red with its new leaves in late August. Two South American species of trees, the Jacaranda and the Flamboyant, which were introduced during the colonial era, contribute to the city’s colour palette with streets lined with either the lilac blossoms of the Jacaranda or the flame red blooms from the Flamboyant. They flower in October/November and are planted on alternative streets in the capital. Also prevalent is Bougainvillea.

Government:

Mayors

Dr Tizirai Gwata (1981–1984)

Eng Oliver Chidawu (1984–1985)

Ald. Jabulani Thembani (1988–1989)

Simon Chikwavaire (1989–1993)

Charles Tawengwa (1993–1995)

Tony Gara (1995–1996)

Solomon Tawengwa (1996–1998)

KJS Kelvin J Sithole (1998—2002)

Eng Elias Mudzuri (2002–2003)

Muchadeyi Masunda (2008–2013)

Bernard Manyenyeni (2013–)

Suburbs:

Northern

Alexandra Park; Avenues; Avondale, Belgravia; Groombridge; Gun Hill; Kensington; Mount Pleasant; Northwood; Newlands; Vainona

North-Eastern

Ballantyne Park; Borrowdale; Borrowdale Brooke; Borrowdale West; Chisipite; Mandara(Lichendale); Colne Valley; Colray; Dawn Hill; Donnybrook; Eastlea; Glen Lorne; Glenwood; The Grange; Greendale; Greystone Park; Hatcliffe; Highlands; Helensvale; Hogerty Hill; Kambanji; Lewisam; Luna; Mandara; Philadelphia; Pomona; Quinnington; Rhodesville; Rietfontein; Rolf Valley; Runniville; Chishawasha Hills; Umwinsdale

Eastern

Amby; Athlone; Beverley; Beverley West; Chizhanje; Coronation Park; Green Grove; Hillside; Mabvuku; Manresa; Msasa; Letombo Park; Tafara; Eastlea

Southern (incl. South-Eastern and South-Western

Arcadia; Ardbennie; Aspindale Park; Braeside; Budiriro; Chadcombe; Cranborne; Glen Norah; Glen View; Graniteside; Grobbie Park; Harare Airport; Hatfield; Highfield; Hopley; Houghton Park; Induna; Kutsaga; Lochinvar; Logan Park; Malvern; Msasa Park; Mbare; Midlands; Park Meadowlands; Parktown; Prospect; Queensdale; Rugare; Southerton; St. Martins; Sunningdale; Uplands; Waterfalls; Willowvale; Wilmington Park; Workington

Western (incl. North-Western

Adylinn; Ashbrittle; Ashdown Park; Avonlea; Avondale West; Belvedere North; Belvedere South; Bluff Hill; Bluff Hill Park; Cotswold Hills; Crowborough North; Dzivaresekwa; Emerald Hill; Greencroft; Kambuzuma; Haig Park; Kuwadzana; Lincoln Green; Mabelreign; Marimba Park; Marlborough; Meyrick Park; Milton Park; Monovale; Mufakose; New Marimba; New Marlborough; Ridgeview; Sentosa; Sherwood Park; St. Andrews Park; Strathaven; Sunridge; Sunrise; Tynwald; Tynwald South; Warren Park; Warren Park D; Westlea; Westgate; Budiriro

The Northern and North Eastern Suburbs of Harare are home to the more affluent population of the city including president Robert Mugabe who lives in Borrowdale Brooke. These northern suburbs are often referred to as ‘dales’ because of the common suffix -dale found in some suburbs such as Avondale, Greendale and Borrowdale. The dwellings are mostly low density homes of 3 bedrooms or more and these usually are occupied by families.

International Venue:

Harare has been the location of several international summits such as the 8th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (6 September 1986) and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1991. The latter produced the Harare Declaration, dictating the membership criteria of the Commonwealth. In 1998 Harare was the host city of the 8th Assembly of the World Council of Churches.

In 1995, Harare hosted most of the 6th All-Africa Games, sharing the event with other Zimbabwean cities such as Bulawayo and Chitungwiza. It has hosted some of the matches of 2003 Cricket World Cup which was hosted jointly by Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Several of the matches were also held in Bulawayo.

The city is also the site of one of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), which has featured such acclaimed artists in the past.

Transport:

City and its environs:

The public transport system within the city includes both public and private sector operations. The former consist of ZUPCO buses and National Railways of Zimbabwe commuter trains. Privately owned public transport comprised licensed station wagons, nicknamed emergency taxis until the mid-1990s, when they were replaced by licensed buses and minibuses, referred to officially as commuter omnibuses (Makombi).

Inter-City:

The National Railways of Zimbabwe operates a daily overnight passenger train service that runs from Harare to Mutare and another one from Harare to Bulawayo. Harare is linked by long distance bus services to most parts of Zimbabwe.

Air:

The largest airport of the country Harare International Airport serves Harare.

Sport:

Soccer is most popular among the people of Harare. Harare is home to Harare Sports Club ground. It has hosted many Test, One Day Internationals and T20I Cricket matches. Harare is also home to the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League clubs Dynamos F.C., Harare City, Black Rhinos F.C. and CAPS United F.C..

News and Information:

Residents are exposed to a variety of sources for information. In the print media, there is the Herald, Financial Gazette, Zimbabwe Independent, Standard, NewsDay,H-Metro, Daily News and Kwayedza. Since there has been an explosion of online media outlets. These include ZimOnline, ZimDaily, Guardian, NewZimbabwe, Times, Harare Tribune, H Metro, The Zimbabwean, The Zimbabwe Mail and many others.

Notable Landmarks:

Avonlea Primary School

Borrowdale Race Course

Cairns Holdings

CAPS United F.C.

Cathedral of St Mary and All Saints, Harare (Anglican)

CBZ Holdings

Data Control & Systems

Dynamos F.C.

Eastgate Centre

Gwanzura

Harare Sports Club

ICL Building

Heroes Acre

Harvest House

Karigamombe Centre

KG6

KJS apartment

Livingstone House

Mbare Musika

Munhumatapa Hotel

Mushandirapamwe Hotel

National Gallery of Zimbabwe

National Sports Stadium

Net One Building

NSSA House

Parirenyatwa Hospital

PHD MINISTRIES

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Rainbow Towers – formerly Sheraton Hotel

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Harare

Rufaro Stadium

Sam Levy Village

Sam Nujoma Street

United Family International Church[34]

University of Zimbabwe

Westgate

ZANU-PF Headquarters

Zimbabwe Grounds

Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange