Matabeleland South | |
---|---|
Country | Zimbabwe |
Established | 1974 |
Capital | Gwanda |
Area | |
• Total | 54,172 km2 (20,916 sq mi) |
Population (2022 census) | |
• Total | 760,345 |
• Density | 14/km2 (36/sq mi) |
HDI (2018) | 0.537 [1] low · 6th |
Matabeleland South is a province in southwestern Zimbabwe. With a population of 683,893 as of the 2012 Zimbabwean census. It is the country's least populated province after Matabeleland North.Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North were established in 1974, when the original Matabeleland Province was bifurcated. The province is divided into six districts. Gwanda is the capital, and Beitbridge is the province's largest town. The name "Matabeleland" is derived from Ndebele, the province's largest ethnic group.
Matabeleland South is bordered by Bulawayo and Matabeleland North to the north, Midlands to the northeast, Masvingo to the southeast, South Africa to the south, and Botswana to the west. It has an area of 54,172 square kilometres (20,916 sq mi), equal to 13.86% of the total area of Zimbabwe. It is the fourth-largest of the country's ten provinces in area. Matabeleland South sits on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, giving it an arid climate not hospitable to agriculture.
The province sits on the edge of the Kalahari desert, hence it is arid and very dry. The province shares borders with South Africa and Botswana. As a result, there are Tswana, Sotho/Pedi, Venda, Shangani (Tsonga) and the Khoisan speaking people in the province. The other languages that are native in the province are Ndebele and Kalanga.
Towns and villages in Matabeleland South include Antelope Mine, Beitbridge, Brunapeg, Colleen Bawn, Esigodini, Filabusi,Fort Rixon, Gwai, Gwanda, Kafusi, Kezi, Madlambudzi, Makhado, Maphisa, Masendu, Ndolwane, Plumtree, Shangani, Stanmore, Tshitshi, Bulu, West Nicholson, and Zezani.
Census | Population [2] |
---|---|
2002 | 653,054 |
2012 | 683,893 |
2022 | 760,345 |
Matabeleland South is overseen by the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province, a de facto governor who oversees provincial affairs and sits in the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Zimbabwe. The governor is appointed by the President of Zimbabwe and is not appointed to a set term. Historically, the governor held the title Governor of Matabeleland South, but the office has since been renamed to align with the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe, which does not allow for provincial governors.
The current Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province is Abednico Ncube, a ZANU–PF member who was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2017.
Matabeleland South Province is divided into seven districts: Beitbridge, Bulilima, Gwanda, Insiza, Mangwe, Matobo, and Umzingwane.
Year | ZANU–PF | MDC / MDC–T |
---|---|---|
2018 | 49.40%107,008 | 41.69% 90,292 |
2013 | 51.88%81,180 | 37.47% 58,633 |
2008 | 37.92%46,155 | 28.66% 34,885 |
2002 | 43.68% 73,369 | 50.20%84,322 |
1996 | - | - |
1990 | - | - |
Sources: [3] [4] [5] [6] |
Like each of Zimbabwe's ten provinces, Matabeleland South Province is represented in the Senate by six senators, three of whom must be women. [7] Senators are not directly elected by voters, but are instead selected by party lists via a proportional representation system. [7] The province's current senators since the 2018 elections are Themba Mathuthu (ZANU–PF), Alma Mkwebu (ZANU–PF), Tambudzani Mohadi (ZANU–PF), Simon Khaya-Moyo (ZANU–PF), Bekithemba Mpofu (MDC Alliance), and Meliwe Phuthi (MDC Alliance). [8]
Matabeleland South is represented by 13 Members of Parliament in the House of Assembly, Zimbabwe's lower house of Parliament. The province's current MPs since the 2018 elections are Patrick Dube, CCC Mp, Levi Mayihlome, CCC MP, Edgar Moyo, Abednico Ncube, Soul Ncube, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, Albert Nguluvhe, Dingumuzi CCC MP, Spare Sithole, and Farai Taruvinga. All are members of ZANU–PF except for Dube, who represents the MDC Alliance. Fast forward in 2023 now CCC and still under Nelson Chamisa the opposition made serious in roads and managed to wrestle 4 seats that is Mangwe- Matobo, Gwanda North ,Mangwe and Beitbridge west. What surprised the whole province is that opposition won Beitbridge West for the first time dating back from 2000. Also for the first time opposition shared with ZANU PF the senate seats and women quota, but still ZANUPF managed to win the youth quota rep .
Its economy is largely centered around subsistence farming and livestock farming. Droughts and a lack of economic opportunities have resulted in widespread poverty and migration out of the province.
Transport
The province has an important geographical location which can link Botswana to Malawi or South Africa to south Zambia through Bulawayo, but due to lack of investment, the old transport hub of the late 20th century lost its familiarity and use with these two countries.
The politics of Zimbabwe occurs in a society deeply divided along lines of race, ethnicity, gender and geography. The ZANU–PF party has historically been dominant in Zimbabwe politics. The party, which was led by Robert Mugabe from 1980 to 2017, has used the powers of the state to intimidate, imprison and otherwise hobble political opposition in Zimbabwe, as well as use state funds and state media to advance the interests of the party.
Matabeleland North is a province in western Zimbabwe. With a population of 827,645 as of the 2022 census, it is the country's second-least populous province, after Matabeleland South, and the least densely Zimbabwean populated province. Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South were established in 1974, when the original Matabeleland Province was bifurcated, eventually losing territory in 1997 when the city of Bulawayo became a province in its own right. Matabeleland North is divided into seven districts, has its capital in Lupane, and Victoria Falls and Hwange its largest towns. The name "Matabeleland" is derived from the Matabele or Ndebele people, the province's largest ethnic group.
Matabeleland is a region located in southwestern Zimbabwe that is divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers and are further separated from Midlands by the Shangani River in central Zimbabwe. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people who were called "Amatabele"(people with long shields – Mzilikazi 's group of people who were escaping the Mfecani wars). Other ethnic groups who inhabit parts of Matabeleland include the Tonga, Bakalanga, Venda, Nambya, Khoisan, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, and Tsonga.
Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe on 31 March 2005 to elect members to the Zimbabwe House of Assembly. All of the 120 elected seats in the 150-seat House of Assembly were up for election. There were a further 20 members appointed by the President and ten elected by traditional chiefs, who mostly support the government. Electoral colleges for the election of the ten chiefs to the parliament were to be held on 8 April.
Gwanda is a town in Zimbabwe. It is the capital of the province of Matabeleland South, one of the ten administrative provinces in the country. It is also the district capital of Gwanda District, one of the seven administrative districts in the province.
Esigodini, originally known as Essexvale, is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. It is the administrative centre for Umzingwane District, one of the seven administrative districts in Matabeleland South. It was originally an estate of Frederick Selous, a British explorer, officer, professional hunter, and conservationist.
Tsholotsho, originally known as Tjolotjo, is a district in Matabeleland North province in Zimbabwe. Its administrative centre is at Tsholotsho business centre which is located about 98 km north-west of Bulawayo. Districts around Tsholotsho include Lupane, Hwange, Umguza, and Bulilima. The Manzamnyama River separates Tsholotsho from Bulilima District, whilst the Gwayi River separates it from Umguza and Lupane districts, and the Hwange National Park separates it from Hwange District.
Parliamentary elections were held in Zimbabwe on 24 and 25 June 2000 to elect members of the House of Assembly. The electoral system involved 120 constituencies returning one member each, elected by the first-past-the-post system, with the president nominating 20 members and ten tribal chiefs sitting ex officio. This was the first national election in which Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU–PF party had faced any real opposition since the 1980s, with the newly formed Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) challenging their control of parliament.
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Brunapeg is a settlement in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. It is one of the urban centres in Mangwe District, one of the seven administrative districts in the province.
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