83-474: Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) is an institution of higher learning in the city of Masvingo , Zimbabwe . It is currently situated on the Masvingo Teachers’ College campus seven kilometres east of Masvingo CBD. Currently the institution has a number of campuses in and around the city, including some in the high density suburb of Mucheke, most notably the school of tourism and hospitality situated on
166-688: A plateau at an elevation of 1,483 metres (4,865 feet ) above sea level , and its climate falls into the subtropical highland category. The city was founded in 1890 by the Pioneer Column , a small military force of the British South Africa Company , and was 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
249-465: A tropical or subtropical climate . The average annual temperature is 17.95 °C (64.3 °F), rather low for the tropics. This is due to its high altitude position and the prevalence of cool south-easterly airflow. There are three main seasons: a warm, wet summer from November to March/April; a cool, dry winter from May to August (corresponding to winter in the Southern Hemisphere); and
332-421: A Masvingo artist. Sabhuku Vharazipi is a comedian from Masvingo who rose to fame in 2013 with his famous drama comedy titled Sabhuku Vharazipi which won the hearts of many locals. He is known for his signature rural folk dressing, a shiny bald head as well as an unmistakable Karanga tone which distinguishes his productions from the others. The major soccer club in the town is Masvingo United , whose home ground
415-509: A dearth of employment opportunities outside the informal and public sector . In addition, the city's working-class residents are increasingly moving to nearby South Africa and Botswana , though they are readily replaced by less well-off rural migrants. However, despite over a decade of neglect, the city's infrastructure and human capital still compares favourably with cities in other parts of Africa and Latin America. It remains to be seen whether
498-875: A dining room at the old peoples' home in Mucheke, the Runyararo-Frieden day clinic and the construction of 4 buildings at Alpha cottages orphanage. Many other projects have been realised: cholera medicine, water treatment chemicals, many containers with helping goods, introduction of the medicine Viramune/Nevirapin in 2001 to all hospitals in Zimbabwe by D. Kaiser, given free of charge by the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. 20°4′28″S 30°49′58″E / 20.07444°S 30.83278°E / -20.07444; 30.83278 Harare Harare ( / h ə ˈ r ɑːr eɪ / hə- RAR -ay ), formerly Salisbury ,
581-530: A former mayor of Salisbury. Brown was originally from Iowa and joined the occupying British South Africa Company forces in the 1890s to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The southern portions of Harare have historically been more industrial areas, often home to most of its African population as well as some lower-class European-descended populations. Willowvale,
664-547: A hill on what used to be a hotel. The Herbert Chitepo law school and the library are among the campuses in the center of town. There are also newly built campuses to the west in the industrial zone of the city, whose buildings stand out along the Bulawayo highway. There is another campus in the mining town of Mashava 40km west of Masvingo. A larger campus is soon to be built near the Great Zimbabwe National Monument,
747-403: A lesser extent, Southern Europe . The rapid rise of motor vehicle ownership and the investment in road development greatly accelerated the outward sprawl of suburbs such as Alexandra Park and Mount Pleasant . At the same time, mostly black suburbs like Highfield suffered from overcrowding as their populations boomed. The optimism and prosperity of this period proved to be short-lived, as
830-475: A music album, Dangwe, on 7 April 2017. In 2018, two Great Zimbabwe University lecturers, Munyaradzi Mawere and Tapuwa Rubaya, started a publishing company in Masvingo to promote indigenous stories and encourage the growth of a reading culture. Africa Talent Publishers is reportedly the first such establishment to be founded in the town. In 2019, the anti- ZANU–PF Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) defeated
913-529: A number of projects unfinished. Another challenge to Harare's economy is the persistent emigration of highly educated and skilled residents to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand, largely due to the economic downturn and political unrest. The city's brain drain , almost unprecedented compared to other emerging markets , has led to declining numbers of local entrepreneurs, an overstretched and declining middle class, and
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#1733086014492996-421: A series of fortifications to guard the route from Salisbury to the south. The very first cricket match in Zimbabwe is said to have taken place close by, in 1890. The population was approximately 15,000 in 1970; 30,523 in 1982 and rose to 51,743 in 1992. It had a population of approximately 58,000 in 2002. Masvingo is located 292 kilometres (181 miles) south of Harare . Most of the local population belongs to
1079-722: A significant number of the city's residents dependent on the city's informal minibus taxis. The rise of local ridesharing apps such as GTaxi and Hwindi has partly eased pressure on the city's transportation system, but such rides are still too expensive for most working people to use. In addition, bus services are also available but they are mostly geared towards intercity travel and recreation than journeys within Harare itself. The city's public transport system includes public and private sector operations. The former consists of ZUPCO buses. Privately owned public transport included licensed station wagons (nicknamed 'emergency taxis') until 1993, when
1162-406: A translation of the original name. Masvingo is the oldest colonial settlement in Zimbabwe which developed around an encampment established in 1890, when the British South Africa Company "Pioneer Column" of the first European colonists passed through on their way to what became Salisbury, now Harare . The Old Fort national monument is located in the center of town, and was erected in 1891 as one of
1245-648: A variety of tourist attractions within a thirty-mile (48-kilometre) radius of the town. Within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of Masvingo are the Great Zimbabwe National Monument , old ruins where the country derives its name and the Lake Mutirikwi Recreational Park and Kyle game resort with 12 different species, including the white rhino. Masvingo is known in the country for producing film and theatre productions that compete with those from Harare and Bulawayo. The city's film and theatre hub
1328-645: A warm to 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
1411-468: Is Mucheke Stadium in the suburb of Mucheke . There are many amateur social football clubs in the city and they usually play their games at the various grounds around the city. Annually, a Miss Masvingo Province pageant is held. The city is host to the Charles Austin Theatre located at the civic center, a venue synonymous to many theatre enthusiasts in the country. The film and television industry
1494-513: 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 of 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
1577-485: Is also economically significant, as is the trade of precious minerals such as gold , diamonds and platinum . Early investor optimism following the inauguration of the Mnangagwa government in 2017 has since largely subsided due to the slow pace of reforms aimed at making Harare and Zimbabwe more business-friendly. The economy suffered high inflation and frequent power outages in 2019, which further hampered investment, and
1660-497: Is also home to many Ndebele and Kalanga people as well. Roughly 25,000 white Zimbabweans also live in the Harare metro area. The city sits on one of the higher parts of the Highveld plateau of Zimbabwe at an elevation of 1,483 metres (4,865 feet). The original landscape could be described as a "parkland" or wild place. The soils of Harare are varied: the northern and central areas largely have reddish brown, granular clay; some of
1743-551: Is also taking shape to the north east of the town along Bulawayo Road. Another suburban development is taking place close to the affluent Clipsham Park and is aptly named Clipsham Heights as it straddles the hills running parallel to the Beitbridge-Masvingo road. Masvingo also has peri-urban plots such as Morningside, Glenlivet, and Bushmead. Masvingo Polytechnic, Great Zimbabwe University , Bondolfi Teachers College, Morgenster Teachers College and Masvingo Teachers College are
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#17330860144921826-520: Is concentrated in the wealthier northern suburbs, particularly Borrowdale. Harare is a relatively young city, mostly growing during the country's post- Federation and post-independence booms. It was also segregated along racial and class lines until 1976. As a result, Harare today is a mostly low-density urban area geared towards private motorists, lacking a convenient public transportation system. Very little investment has been made to develop an effective and integrated public transportation system, leaving
1909-699: Is crossed by Transafrican Highway 9 (TAH 9) , which connects it to the cities of Lusaka and Beira . The largest airport in Zimbabwe, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport , serves Harare. The University of Zimbabwe is located in Harare. Founded in 1952, the university is the country's oldest and largest, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The student population stands at 20,399, with 17,718 undergraduate students and 2,681 postgraduate students. Harare has long been regarded as Zimbabwe's sporting capital due to its role in developing Zimbabwean sport,
1992-567: Is growing in the city with the up-and-coming generation at the forefront of the development. The Southern Rocks , one of the five first-class cricket teams in Zimbabwe until its disbandment after the 2013–14 season, played its home games at the Masvingo Sports Club . Africa Talent Publishers is a publishing company based in Masvingo. The company was started in 2018 by two Great Zimbabwe University lecturers, Munyaradzi Mawere and Tapuwa Rubaya, to promote indigenous stories and encourage
2075-455: Is home to a nine-hole golf course and a freight railway line . It lies on the Mucheke River , with a civic centre at the town centre. Shagashe Game Park and an Italian memorial church built during World War II are nearby. Masvingo also has an airstrip . The national airline, Air Zimbabwe, has reintroduced a domestic flight connecting Masvingo to Harare in the north and Buffalo Range in
2158-470: Is located at the Charles Austin Theatre found at the city's Civic Centre gardens. It was run by the Masvingo Drama Circle from 1971 until its decline in 2015. Young artists took over the running of the facility under the name Masvingo Theatre and Arts Clubs and that resulted in film and theatre productions that have put Masvingo on the map in the arts industry. One notable play that came from Masvingo
2241-452: Is named after the ghetto. KMP and Runyararo suburbs are relatively new high and medium density suburbs beyond Mucheke. The middle-density suburbs are Eastvale located close to Zimuto Police Camp and Target Kopje located on the southern part of town on a small hill close to Flamboyant Hotel . Rhodene , a low-density suburb on the northern part of the city centre, is the most affluent suburb in Masvingo. A new suburban development, Zimre Park,
2324-696: Is one of the government run colleges from which Great Zimbabwe devolved. The college has still remained at the campus and the university has a new site. Other teachers' colleges around Masvingo include the Reformed Church of Zimbabwe run Morgenster Teachers' College and the Catholic run Bondolfi Teachers' College. High schools in the city include Victoria High School , located just north of the city centre. Kyle College , Masvingo Christian High School, Ndarama High School and Mucheke High School. There are also privately run high schools commonly referred to as colleges around
2407-479: Is perhaps best known for the 1988 Willowgate scandal, which implicated several members of the ZANU-PF party in a scheme where automobiles were illegally resold by various government officials. Harare's south-west also contains many high-density townships, which were set up by the government from the 1930s onwards. For example, Highfield , established in 1930, is the second-oldest high-density suburb in Harare. Highfield
2490-752: Is the New Reserve Bank Tower , one of the city's major landmarks. Harare was the location of several international summits during this period, such as the 8th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 1986 and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1991 . The latter produced the Harare Declaration , dictating the membership criteria of the Commonwealth . In 1998, Harare was
2573-454: Is the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe . The city proper has an area of 982.3 km (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
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2656-489: The English Premier League and elsewhere. Cricket and rugby are also popular sports with those from middle-class backgrounds. In 1995, Harare hosted most of the sixth All-Africa Games , sharing the event with other Zimbabwean cities such as Bulawayo and Chitungwiza . It hosted some of the matches of 2003 Cricket World Cup , which was hosted jointly by Kenya , South Africa and Zimbabwe . Harare also hosted
2739-456: The Karanga and Manyika , Shona sub-tribes. The city is divided into suburbs including Mucheke , Rujeko , Rhodene , Target Kopje and Eastvale . The suburbs are divided into high-density, middle-density and low-density suburbs. Mucheke , the oldest township and Rujeko are the most populous high-density suburbs. Mucheke is also the site of the city's main bus rank as well as the stadium which
2822-699: The King's Road . It is known as Harare's legal district, home to the Harare Magistrate's Court, the city's central library, and the ZANU-PF building, along with numerous law offices. The neighbourhood also lends its name to the eponymous book by Petina Gappah published in 2016. The northern and north-eastern suburbs of Harare are generally home to its more affluent residents, including former president Robert Mugabe , who lived in Borrowdale Brooke. These northern suburbs are often referred to as "dales" because of
2905-554: The Zimbabwe Museum of Human Sciences , are located here. Rotten Row is a sub-district of downtown Harare that begins at the intersection of Prince Edward Street and Samora Machel Avenue and runs to the flyover where it borders Mbare on Cripps Road. Rotten Row was named after a road in London of the same name. The name "Rotten Row" is an altered form of the French phrase "Route du Roi,"
2988-476: The 2000s, but since the Great Recession it has stabilised and experienced significant population growth and uneven economic growth. There has nonetheless been substantial international investment and speculation in the city's financial and property markets. Development on the urban fringes of the city has occurred in areas such as Borrowdale , Glen Lorne, The Grange , Mount Pleasant Heights , as well as in
3071-458: The Federation collapsed, which hindered the city's prosperity. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved in 1963. Ian Smith 's Rhodesian Front government declared Rhodesia independent from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965, with Salisbury retained as the capital. Smith's Rhodesia later became the short-lived state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia ; it was not until 18 April 1980 that
3154-794: The Kopje Africa Unity Square, the Harare Gardens, the National Gallery, the August House parliamentary buildings, and the National Archives . Causeway , a road and sub-neighbourhood of central Harare, is a busy workaday area that acts as the city's "embassy row" (along with Belgravia to the north-east) in which numerous embassies, diplomatic missions, research institutes, and other international organizations are concentrated. Additionally, many government ministries and museums, such as
3237-457: The United Kingdom ), Chinese and South African buyers. Despite gentrification and speculation, the country's and city's unemployment rates remain high. In 2020, Harare was classified as a Gamma city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . As of 2012, Harare has a population of 2,123,132. Over 90% of people in Harare are Shona-speaking people of African descent . Harare
3320-467: The University of Zimbabwe was accordingly launched in 1999/2000. Two years later, an Act of Parliament created the autonomous Masvingo State University. The name was changed to Great Zimbabwe University two years later. The university offers degree and diploma programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the arts, commerce, education and the sciences. The programmes are designed to be responsive to
3403-465: The capital. Bougainvillea is prevalent in Harare as well. Some trees from Northern Hemisphere middle latitudes are also cultivated, including American sweetgum , English oak , Japanese oak and Spanish oak . Harare is Zimbabwe's leading financial, commercial, and communications centre, as well as an international trade centre for tobacco , maize , cotton , and citrus fruits. Manufacturing of products including textiles , steel , and chemicals
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3486-480: The central business district, at a cost of $ 15,000,000. In November 2017, the biggest demonstration in the history of the Republic of Zimbabwe was held in Harare, which led to the forced resignation of the long-serving 93-year-old President of Zimbabwe , Robert Mugabe , an event which was part of the first successful coup in Zimbabwe. Since 2000, Harare has experienced periods of spectacular decline, particularly in
3569-487: The city. In May 2006, Zimbabwean newspaper Financial Gazette described the city in an editorial as a "sunshine city-turned-sewage farm". In 2009, Harare was voted the world's toughest city to live in according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's livability poll, which factors in stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The situation was unchanged in 2011, according to
3652-461: The city. Pamushana High School , Zimuto High school, Gokomere High School are some of the highly esteemed mission boarding schools in Masvingo Province and are all located few kilometres outside town. The landscape in southern Zimbabwe is relatively flat, interspersed with rounded granite mountains. Known as kopjes (Dutch: little heads), they are often quite smooth. Msasa trees dominate
3735-458: The club with the most titles in Zimbabwean football . 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- Prime Minister of the United Kingdom , and it subsequently became known simply as Salisbury. The Salisbury Polo Club
3818-537: The collapse of several institutions, particularly in the textile industry. In the early 21st century, Harare was adversely affected by the political and economic crises that plagued Zimbabwe, particularly following the contested 2002 presidential election and 2005 parliamentary elections. The elected council was replaced by a government-appointed commission due to alleged inefficiency. Still, essential services such as rubbish collection and street repairs rapidly worsened, and are now virtually non-existent in poorer parts of
3901-452: 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 are usually occupied by families. Borrowdale in particular is home to some of the most extensive real estate developments in the city. The north-western suburb of Emerald Hill is named so either due to the green colour of the tree-covered hill or its Irish connections — many of
3984-537: The country takes its name and close to Lake Mutirikwi , its recreational park, the Kyle dam and the Kyle National Reserve that is home to a range of animal species. It is mostly populated by the Karanga people who form the biggest branch of the various Shona tribes in Zimbabwe. The city was known as Fort Victoria until 1982, when its name was briefly changed to Nyanda , after a mountain about 10 kilometres south of
4067-513: The country was internationally recognised as independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe . The city initially boomed under a wave of optimism and investment that followed the country's independence in 1980. 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
4150-934: The current government can entice its diverse and well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora , numbering some 4 to 7 million people, to invest in the economy, let alone consider returning. Locally produced art, handicrafts and souvenirs can be purchased at locations including Doon Estate, Uwminsdale, Avondale Market and Mbare Musika. Msasa Park and Umwinsdale in particular host a number of galleries that produce high-quality Shona soapstone sculptures and textiles, such as Patrick Mavros Studios, which has another gallery in Knightsbridge , London . International brands are generally less common in Harare than in European cities. However, conventional and luxury shopping can be found on Fife Avenue, Sam Nujoma (Union) Avenue, Arundel Village, Avondale, Borrowdale, Eastgate and Westgate. Virtually all luxury shopping
4233-948: The de facto day-to-day form of transport relied upon by the majority of Harare's population. As of May 2023, Harare is not served by any passenger rail service. The National Railways of Zimbabwe previously operated daily overnight passenger train services to Mutare and Bulawayo using the Beira–Bulawayo railway . Long-distance rail service was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not been restarted. Between 2001 and 2006, three commuter rail routes operated in Harare, serving Tynwald, Mufakose and Ruwa . These commuter rail routes, nicknamed 'Freedom Trains', were reintroduced in 2021, but were suspended again in November 2022 due to payment disputes with ZUPCO . Long-distance bus services link Harare to most parts of Zimbabwe. The city
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#17330860144924316-471: The expense of other Zimbabwean cities such as Gweru and particularly Bulawayo , which is increasingly characterized by stagnation and high unemployment due to the collapse of many of its heavy industries. Today, Harare's property market remains highly priced, more so than regional cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town . The top end of the market is completely dominated by wealthy or dual-citizen Zimbabweans (see Zimbabwean diaspora and Zimbabweans in
4399-406: The government began to replace them with licensed buses and minibuses, referred to officially as 'commuter omnibuses'. Harare has two kinds of taxis, metered taxis and the much more ubiquitous share taxis or 'kombis'. Unlike many other cities, metered taxis generally do not drive around the city looking for passengers and instead must be called and ordered to a destination. The minibus "taxis" are
4482-645: The growth of a reading culture. It is the first such establishment to be founded in Masvingo. Masvingo is twinned with: The twinning was signed by the town mayors in 1990. This led to the forming of the Kernen-Masvingo association by Kernens Mayor Mr. Haussmann, the school headmaster Franz Miller and its board manager D. Kaiser for 7 years. This organisation has led many projects in Masvingo, including school partnerships, such as that between Karl-Mauch-Schule in Kernen and Bondolfi primary school (25 km), building of
4565-559: The highest population increase and urban development of any major Zimbabwean city since 2000, with other cities such as Bulawayo , Gweru , and Mutare largely stagnating during the same period. Beginning in 2006, the city's growth extended into its northern and western fringes, beyond the city's urban growth boundary . Predictions that by 2025 the metropolitan area population will reach 4 to 5 million have sparked concerns over unchecked sprawl and unregulated development. The concentration of real estate development in Harare has also come at
4648-519: The host city of the 8th Assembly of the World Council of Churches . However, by 1992, Harare began to experience an economic downturn and the government responded by enacting neoliberal reforms. These policies provoked a boom in banking , finance and agriculture, but also led to significant job losses in manufacturing , thereby greatly increasing unemployment and income inequality . Domestic firms struggled to compete with foreign imports, leading to
4731-558: The immediate aftermath of the Second World War , Salisbury expanded rapidly, boosted by its designation as the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland . This growth ushered in a wave of liberalism , investment and developmentalism from 1953 to 1963, transforming the city's skyline in the process. This was accompanied by significant post-war immigration by White people, primarily from Great Britain , Southern Africa and, to
4814-428: The lake, which was completed in 1960, is 1,378 million cubic metres (48.7 billion cubic feet). The town used to have large cattle ranches, but the country's Land Reform Programme is sometimes blamed for decimating that industry. Small scale farmers now make up the majority of suppliers of agricultural produce. Masvingo is mainly a residential city. The informal sector also dominates industry in town. There are
4897-518: The likelihood of mass action against the government by driving people out of the cities. The government claimed its actions were necessitated by a rise of criminality and disease. This was followed by Operation Garikayi/Hlalani Kuhle (Operation "Better Living") a year later, which consisted of building poor-quality concrete housing. In late March 2010, Harare's Joina City Tower was finally opened after fourteen years of delayed construction, marketed as 'Harare's New Pride'. Initially, uptake of space in
4980-512: The main centres of higher education in the city. The three institutes are run by the government, while Bondolfi and Morgenster are privately owned. Great Zimbabwe University grew out of what was once Masvingo State University . Reformed Church University (RCU) is another university 25 km (16 mi) south of Masvingo run by the Reformed Church of Zimbabwe. It was formerly the Great Zimbabwe University. Masvingo Teachers' College
5063-545: The namesake of the university. One of a number of universities the government opened after independence in 1980, Great Zimbabwe University began life as the Masvingo State University (MASU). which was established through the recommendations of the 1995 Chetsanga Report. The report had proposed the devolution of teachers’ and technical colleges into degree-awarding institutions that would eventually become universities in their own right. A university college attached to
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#17330860144925146-574: The natural vegetation of open woodland. The most common tree of the local region is the msasa or Brachystegia spiciformis whose wine-red leaves are most visible in the city in late August. Two introduced species of trees, the jacaranda and the flamboyant from South America and Madagascar respectively, were introduced during the colonial era and contribute to the city's colour palette with their lilac and red blossoms. The two species flower in October/November and are planted on alternating streets in
5229-541: The needs of the job market in Zimbabwe's ever-changing economy. The Department of Visual and Performing Arts in the Simon Muzenda School of Arts, Culture and Heritage Studies on Friday 19 May 2017, premiered a movie, Solo naMutsai. The film, explores university student life; the ups and downs, the love life, dealing with external forces and different social classes and it was written by Charles Munganasa and directed by Sydney Taivavashe . The department also launched
5312-490: The new suburbs of Hogerty Hill, Shawasha Hills, Bloomingdale and Westlea. Urban sprawl has also expanded into the nearby areas of Mount Hampden , Ruwa and Norton. In addition, inner city areas such as Avondale , Eastlea, Belgravia, Newlands and Milton Park have seen increased gentrification driven by speculation from expat Zimbabweans. This speculation has also attracted other foreign buyers, resulting in high property prices and widespread rent increases. Harare sustained
5395-528: The oldest buildings in Zimbabwe such as The victoria hotel and the building opposite to it that now houses The High Court of Zimbabwe. The tallest building is the 9-storey Zimre center located in the CBD. The Bell Tower is a historical building and formed part of the fort erected by the British South African Company in 1892 to protect settlers around Fort Victoria. The town lies near Lake Mutirikwi and
5478-415: The poor implementation of adequate monetary reforms alongside deficit reduction attempts had a similar effect. Although the government has repeatedly stressed its commitments to improving transparency, increasing the ease of doing business, and fighting corruption, progress remains limited under the Mnangagwa administration. Harare experienced a real estate boom in the 2000s and early 2010s, particularly in
5561-419: The pro-ZANU–PF Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU). This article on a Zimbabwean institution of higher education is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Masvingo Masvingo , known as Fort Victoria during the colonial period, is a city in southeastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province . The city lies close to Great Zimbabwe , the national monument from which
5644-414: The range and quality of its sporting events and venues, and its high rates of spectatorship and participation. The city is also home to more professional sports teams competing at the national and international levels than any other Zimbabwean city. Football is the most popular sport in Harare, particularly among working-class residents, with the city producing many footballers who have gone on to play in
5727-451: The roads in the suburb have Irish names, such as Dublin , Belfast , Wicklow, and Cork. To the east of Harare's city center, notable suburbs include Arcadia , Newlands , Arlington, and others. Newlands was named by Colin Duff, Zimbabwe's agricultural secretary in the 1920s. Arlington is a newer suburb adjacent to Harare International Airport and was previously owned by William Harvey Brown,
5810-575: The same poll. In May 2005, the Zimbabwean government demolished shanties, illegal vending sites, and backyard cottages in Harare, Epworth and other cities in Operation Murambatsvina ("Drive Out Trash"). It was widely alleged that the true purpose of the campaign was to make sure shantie towns would not develop in any urban areas that might favor the Movement for Democratic Change , and to reduce
5893-441: The savannah landscape, with the occasional baobab tree. The weather is hot and dry throughout the year, except during the summer when the rains come. There is a range of small hills to the south of the city centre. Mucheke and Shagashe rivers run close to the centre and both of them act as de facto boundaries of the central business district. Robert Mugabe way, one of the city's main streets, is lined with pine trees adjacent to some of
5976-586: The second-highest number of embassies in Southern Africa and serves as the location of the African headquarters of the World Health Organization , which it shares with Brazzaville . Harare has hosted multiple international conferences and events, including the 1995 All-Africa Games and the 2003 Cricket World Cup . In 2018, Harare was ranked as a Gamma World City . It is also home to Dynamos FC ,
6059-465: The south starting on 5 December 2014. Masvingo is situated in a drought-prone area, with average rainfall of 600 mm/a. The raw water source for the city is Lake Mutirikwi . Apart from providing water for the city, Lake Mutirikwi supports water supply schemes for several riparian farmers and large sugar cane irrigation schemes in the Triangle, Zimbabwe and Hippo Valley areas. The storage capacity of
6142-465: The southern parts have gray-brown sand over pale, loamy sand or sandy loam. The City of Harare is divided into suburbs, outside of which are independent municipalities such as Epworth , Mount Hampden , Norton , Ruwa, and Chitungwiza , which are still located within the greater metropolitan province. The central business district of Harare is characterized by wide streets and a mix of historic, post-war, and modern buildings. Downtown sights include
6225-549: 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. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Harare as the world's least livable city (out of 140 surveyed) in February 2011, rising to 137th out of 140 in August 2012. In March 2015, Harare City Council planned a two-year project to install 4,000 solar street lights , starting in
6308-486: The town, on the Masvingo to Beitbridge Road. That led to protests, because "nyanda" means "one who has lice", and public sentiment was that Masvingo would be more reflective of the history of the city. Within a few months, the name was changed to Masvingo, which means "fort" in Shona , and the Great Zimbabwe , which is essentially a walled fort, is often referred to as "Masvingo eZimbabwe" or sometimes "Masvingo eVitori",
6391-428: The wealthy northern suburbs, with prices rising dramatically over the last decade despite challenges in other sectors of the economy. This boom was largely fueled by members of the Zimbabwean diaspora and by speculation, with investors hedging against the local currency. However, the once-growing market began to cool off due to a 2019 hike in interest rates and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic , leaving
6474-468: Was "he who does not sleep". Before independence, "Harare" was the name of the black residential area now known as Mbare . Significant investment in education and healthcare produced a confident and growing middle class , evidenced by the rise of firms such as Econet Global and innovative design and architecture , exemplified by the Eastgate Centre . A notable symbol of this era in Harare's history
6557-471: Was a stage play by playwright Charles Munganasa titled Operation Restore Regasi which made international headlines and told the story of Robert Mugabe's fall from power. In 2017, a short film titled Seiko directed by Sydney Taivavashe won the outstanding short film production at the National Arts Merit Awards, Zimbabwe's top entertainment award ceremony making it the first film award to be won by
6640-456: Was created as a place for black workers to settle, providing labor for the industrial areas of Southerton and Workington. Under the Köppen climate classification , Harare has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb ), an oceanic climate variety. Because the city is situated on a plateau, its high altitude and cool south-easterly airflow cause it to have a climate that is cooler and drier than
6723-463: Was formed in 1896. Salisbury was declared a municipality in 1897, and it became a city in 1935. At the time of the city's founding, its site and surroundings were poorly drained. The earliest development was on sloping ground along the left bank of a stream, in an area where the Julius Nyerere Way industrial road runs today. The first area to be fully drained was near the head of the stream and
6806-641: Was named Causeway. Causeway is now the site of many important government buildings, including the Senate House and the Office of the Prime Minister. After the position was abolished in January 1988, the office was renamed for the use of the President . Salisbury was the seat of the British South Africa Company administrator and became capital of the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. In
6889-1114: 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 Zimbabwe's independence from the United Kingdom . The national parliament moved out of Harare upon completion of the New Parliament of Zimbabwe in Mount Hampden in April 2022. The commercial capital of Zimbabwe, Harare has experienced recent economic turbulence. However, it remains an important centre of commerce and government , as well as finance , real estate , manufacturing , healthcare , education , art , culture , tourism , agriculture , mining and regional affairs. Harare has
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