Zvishabane
THE mining town of Zvishavane is arguably one of the fastest growing towns in the country.
Aided by a flurry of mineral resources abound in the town and its surrounds, Zvishavane’s economy has witnessed meteoric growth over the past decade or so.
Infrastructure
The mineral abundance has charmed many investors, leading to massive infrastructural development in the town.
Not only have the vast minerals helped Zvishavane develop its infrastructure, the gems have also helped the town sustain its day-to-day operations.
A number of established enterprises have opened their doors to the Zvishavane community aiming to tap on the vibrant economy in the town.
Reputable corporates such as banks, Life Assurance companies, fast food outlets have opened their doors to the Zvishavane market, while local entrepreneurs have also responded to the town’s healthy investment environment by opening up enterprises of varying sizes and shapes.
Human Resources
Owing to an abundance of minerals in the town, Zvishavane is also proving to be a magnet for human capital, with a number of professionals trekking to the town from various corners of the country, in search of employment opportunities.
Some of the biggest employers in the town are giant platinum mining concern Mimosa Mining Company, Sabi gold mine and diamond mining concern Murowa diamonds.
Sleeping giant, Shabanie Mine, which used to be the town’s life blood, is another potential employer in the town. If efforts to revitalise the mine pay off, Shabanie could soon complement Mimosa in attracting human capital to Zvishavane.
Shabanie Mine used to have a workforce of about 10 000 employees that lived in the mine’s compound before misfortune befell the company.
Informal sector
Apart from the big mining concerns that are found in Zvishavane, informal traders and small to medium-scale gold miners have also helped keep the town’s economy tick, providing self-employment and sustenance for many a folk.
Location
Zvishavane lies 97 km, west of Masvingo on the main Bulawayo-Masvingo road. Other roads lead from Zvishavane to Gweru (121 km north) and Mberengwa (27 km south-west).
It is also on direct rail links to Gweru and Beitbridge, which then link up with Harare and Bulawayo and to Maputo in Mozambique, and Pretoria in South Africa.
It’s name
The town is engulfed by hills from which the name of the town is said to have been derived from. The significance of the name is the low lying hills with an attractive beauty of nature.
Some historians argue that Zvishavane is a Shona name, which is said to be derived from “zvikomo zvishava”, which means “red hills”. The precise meaning of Zvishavane is said to be “reddish or ‘reddened’ hills”, referring to the many surrounding low hills that are characterised by red soil.
It is further argued that the name Zvishavane also focuses on the colour with the “zvi-” implying the small hills “zvikomo”. The name describes the geographical location of the area although some might need to argue that the name is derived from the Ndebele name shabani meaning finger millet or trading together.
History
The town developed as a residential centre for an asbestos mine which started operations in 1916 but growth was slow until the railway reached the town in 1928. Zvishavane was granted municipal status in 1968.
Asbestos mining was at one point the biggest activity in Zvishavane, but over the past years platinum, gold, beryl, chromite iron ore at Buchwa and recently discovered huge deposits of diamond at Murowa have become part of the town’s life blood.
Home to big names
Besides being home to great mining activities, the town also boasts producing national luminaries. Athlete Elliot Mujaji the Paralympics gold medalist hails from Zvishavane.
The town is also a home of entertainment in its own right, producing great musicians like Zhomozhi jazz band, Deverangwena Jazz Band fronted by Jona Moyo and one of the country’s once leading sungura artiste Gift Amuli.
Zvishavane also boasts some of the country’s finest football talents, housing premier soccer league giants FC Platinum and former topflight league outfit Shabanie Mine FC who are now plying their trade in the unfashionable Zifa Central Soccer League.
Internationally acclaimed poet, Mbizvo Chirasha hails from Zvishavane.
On the political front, Zvishavane has produced some of the country’s great political luminaries, among them Vice-President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Midlands province Governor Cde Cephas Msipa.
Population
According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 26 758, by 1992 this had risen to 32 984. The population was estimated at 35 000 in 2002 and the 2012 national census placed it at 70 047.
Stadium
Zvishavane Town Council boasts of one of the most beautiful stadium in the country if not the best. The facility is world class from the changing rooms, the grand stands, the playing turf and the camera platforms which are a favourite with Super Sport. The stadium accommodates more than 10 000 spectators.
