Chitungwiza

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Chitungwiza
Chitungwiza Shopping Center.jpg
Chitungwiza logo.jpg
Nickname: 
Chi Town
Motto: 
Pamberi nekushandira pamwe
Zimbabwe adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Chitungwiza
Coordinates: 17°59′38″S31°02′53″E / 17.99389°S 31.04806°E / -17.99389; 31.04806
Country Zimbabwe
Province Harare Province
Area
  Total49.02 km2 (18.93 sq mi)
Elevation
1,448 m (4,751 ft)
Population
 (2022 census) [1]
  Total371,244
  Density7,600/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
Climate Cwb
Website www.chitungwiza.co.zw

Chitungwiza is the third populous urban centre in Zimbabwe and town of Harare Province in Zimbabwe. It is located on the outskirts of Harare.

Contents

History

As of the 2022 census, Chitungwiza had a population of 371,244. [1]

There are two main highways which connect the city to Harare [2] namely Seke road and Chitungwiza road.

The Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, built in 1995 for the All Africa Games, is no longer functional, and serves as a music and church venue. [3]

Tonderai Kasu Tonderai Kasu.jpg
Tonderai Kasu

Informal settlements

Following the civil war, the area experienced rapid Rural-urban migration. Chitungwiza grew rapidly and the squatted area of Chirambahuyo alone had a population of 30,000 in 1979. [4] Chirambahuyo was demolished by the authorities in 1982 and the inhabitants squatted elsewhere in the city in areas such as Mayambara. [5]

Slum areas in Chitungwiza were destroyed by Operation Murambatsvina in 2005. [6] By the mid-2010s, the number of people squatting in informal settlements was growing. [7] In 2020, the local authorities abandoned their plans to demolish squatter homes in Nyatsime, Seke, St Mary’s and Zengeza, after a court order was requested. [8]

Demolitions during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005 Chitungwiza.jpg
Demolitions during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005

Notable people

Prominent lawyer, Liveours Mundieta comes from Chitungwiza. [9]

The musician Maskiri comes from Chitungwiza. [10]

The Town Clerk in 2016 was Dr George Makunde. [11] In 2019 and 2020, Dr. Tonderai Kasu served as the Acting Town Clerk. [12] Emmanuel Makandiwa and Alick Macheso are from Chitungwiza.

Current Mayor: Lovemore Maiko [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting</span> Unauthorized occupation of property

Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there were one billion slum residents and squatters globally. Squatting occurs worldwide and tends to occur when people find empty buildings or land to occupy for housing. It has a long history, broken down by country below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harare</span> Capital and largest city of Zimbabwe

Harare, formerly known as Salisbury, is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 982.3 km2 (379.3 sq mi), a population of 1,849,600 as of the 2022 census and an estimated 2,487,209 people in its metropolitan province. The city is situated in north-eastern Zimbabwe in the country's Mashonaland region. Harare is a metropolitan province which also incorporates the municipalities of Chitungwiza and Epworth. The city sits on a plateau at an elevation of 1,483 metres above sea level, and its climate falls into the subtropical highland category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slum clearance</span> Removal or destruction of slums

Slum clearance, slum eviction or slum removal is an urban renewal strategy used to transform low-income settlements with poor reputation into another type of development or housing. This has long been a strategy for redeveloping urban communities; for example, slum clearance plans were required in the United Kingdom in the Housing Act 1930, while the Housing Acts of 1937 and 1949 encouraged similar clearance strategies in the United States. Frequently, but not always, these programs are paired with public housing or other assistance programs for the displaced communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mabvuku</span> Suburb east of Harare, Zimbabwe

Mabvuku is a suburb east of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe.

Operation Murambatsvina, also officially known as Operation Restore Order, was a large-scale Zimbabwean government campaign to forcibly clear slum areas across the country. The campaign started in 2005 and, according to United Nations estimates, affected at least 700,000 people directly through loss of their homes or livelihood and thus could have indirectly affected around 2.4 million people. Robert Mugabe and other government officials characterised the operation as a crackdown against illegal housing and commercial activities, and as an effort to reduce the risk of the spread of infectious disease in these areas.

Ruwa is a town in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe, situated 22 km south-east of the capital Harare on the main Harare-Mutare highway and railway line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbare, Harare</span> Southern suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe

Mbare, originally known as Harari, is a suburb in the south of Harare, Zimbabwe. Founded in 1907 as a township, it includes an informal settlement. Mbare Musika is the largest farm produce market in Zimbabwe.

Waterfalls is a residential suburb in the southern region of Harare, Zimbabwe and falls under Harare Ward 23 District. Waterfalls neighbourhoods include Ardbennie, Cheviot, Derbyshire, Grobbie Park, Houghton Park, Induna Park, Mainway Meadows, Malvern, Midlands, Parktown, Prospect, Shortstone and Uplands. The name Waterfalls is a reference to the falls that lead into Mukuvisi River. There are squatted informal settlements around Waterfalls. As of 2013, the biggest squatter zone in Harare was Hopley, next to Waterfalls.

Epworth is a bedroom community in south-eastern Harare Province, Zimbabwe, located east of the city center of Harare. Its population exploded in the late 1970s and 1980s as the town saw a rise in Rural-to-urban migration, creating informal settlements.

Dzivarasekwa is a suburb of western Harare, Zimbabwe.

A Junior City Council is a local form of government, governed by minors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harare Province</span> Province in Zimbabwe

Harare Metropolitan Province is a province in northeastern Zimbabwe that comprises Harare, the country's capital and largest city, and three other municipalities, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa. At independence in 1980, it was originally part of Mashonaland Province which in 1983 was divided into three large provinces, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, and Mashonaland West - at this point, the city of Harare became part of Mashonaland East. In 1997, along with Bulawayo, it became a metropolitan province, along with the then two nearby urban settlements. Harare Metropolitan Province is divided into four local government areas - a city council, a municipality and two local boards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonderai Kasu</span> Zimbabwean politician

Tonderai Kasu is a community and corporate leader in Zimbabwe. A medical doctor by training, he was the substantive Director of Health and Environmental Services for Chitungwiza, and has been the Acting Town Clerk or Acting Chief Executive, of the Chitungwiza Municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Serbia</span> Occupation of unused land or derelict buildings in Serbia without permission of owner

Squatting in Serbia refers to the unauthorised occupation of land or buildings. Following World War I, shanty towns emerged in the mostly demolished capital Belgrade, the most notable example being Jatagan Mala. The population of Belgrade rose from 593,000 in 1953 to 1,470,000 in 1981. Between 1961 and 1971, 52% of all private construction of houses in Belgrade was illegal. The percentage was also high in other cities such as Novi Sad and Smederevo. The reasons for squatting and illegal construction were the lack of affordable housing, bad governance and the bureaucracy involved in legalising land clams. Also the punishments were light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Zimbabwe</span>

Squatting in Zimbabwe is the settlement of land or buildings without the permission of the owner. Squatting began under colonialism. After Zimbabwe was created in 1980, peasant farmers and squatters disputed the distribution of land. Informal settlements have developed on the periphery of cities such as Chitungwiza and the capital Harare. In 2005, Operation Murambatsvina evicted an estimated 700,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Ghana</span>

Squatting in Ghana is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Informal settlements are found in cities such as Kumasi and the capital Accra. Ashaiman, now a town of 100,000 people, was swelled by squatters. In central Accra, next to Agbogbloshie, the Old Fadama settlement houses an estimated 80,000 people and is subject to a controversial discussion about eviction. The residents have been supported by Amnesty International, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions and Shack Dwellers International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Brazil</span>

Squatting in Brazil is the occupation of unused or derelict buildings or land without the permission of the owner. After attempting to eradicate slums in the 1960s and 1970s, local governments transitioned to a policy of toleration. Cities such as Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have large informal settlements known as favelas. A more recent phenomenon is the occupation of buildings in city centres by organised groups. In rural areas across the country, the Landless Workers' Movement (MST) arranges large land occupations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Pakistan</span> The occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner

Squatting in Pakistan is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Squatted informal settlements formed following the creation of Pakistan in 1947. They were known first as "bastis" then later "katchi abadis" and the inhabitants were forcibly resettled under military rule. By 2007, there were 7.5 million squatters in Karachi alone. The Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority (SKAA) announced in 2019 that a total of 1,414 katchi abadis had been located and 1,006 of those had been contacted with regards to beginning a regularization process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in the Philippines</span> Occupation of derelict land or abandoned buildings

Urban areas in the Philippines such as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao have large informal settlements. The Philippine Statistics Authority defines a squatter, or alternatively "informal dwellers", as "One who settles on the land of another without title or right or without the owner's consent whether in urban or rural areas". Squatting is criminalized by the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, also known as the Lina Law. There have been various attempts to regularize squatter settlements, such as the Zonal Improvement Program and the Community Mortgage Program. In 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that out of the country's population of about 106 million, 4.5 million were homeless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Taiwan</span> Illegal occupation of property in Taiwan

Squatting in Taiwan is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Squatting was fuelled by migrants from China from the 1950s onwards and in addition cities such as the capital Taipei were swelled by internal migrants from the countryside. In order to create Daan Forest Park, 12,000 squatters were evicted. The informal settlement at Treasure Hill has been recognized as cultural heritage.

References

  1. 1 2 Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Zimbabwe
  2. Financial Gazette editorial of 17 May 2006 "Zimbabwe: It's Chombo's Fault"
  3. "Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex-begging for restoration". Newsday. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  4. MSINDO, Prince Daniel; GUTSA, Ignatius; CHOGUYA, Naume Zorodzai (2013). "Squatter Settlements an Urban Menace in Zimbabwe? Examining Factors behind the Continued Resurfacing of Squatter Settlements in Epworth Suburb, Harare" (PDF). Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning. 4 (2).
  5. Ramsamy, Edward (27 September 2006). World Bank and Urban Development: From Projects to Policy. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-28696-6.
  6. Potts, Deborah (2006). "'Restoring Order'? Operation Murambatsvina and the Urban Crisis in Zimbabwe". Journal of Southern African Studies. 32 (2): 273–291. Bibcode:2006JSAfS..32..273P. doi:10.1080/03057070600656200. ISSN   0305-7070. JSTOR   25065092. S2CID   154537881.
  7. Matabvu, Debra; Agere, Harmony (11 January 2015). "Squatters: Housing shortages or lawlessness?". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  8. "Chitungwiza Municipality Halts House Demolition Exercise". New Zimbabwe. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. "Topic : Liveours Mundieta". Newsday. 18 December 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  10. "Maskiri returns with a bang". The Standard. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  11. "The Oracle: Makunde is blind to the poverty around him". The Standard. 14 February 2016.
  12. "Town clerk, housing director suspended". The Herald.
  13. "Mayor". Chitungwiza. Retrieved 2 February 2022.