Masvingo

Government and Infrastructure

In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election, Masvingo North returned to Parliament:

• Dzingai Mutumbuka of Zanu PF - 53 438 votes.
• Aaron Betserai Honye of PF-ZAPU - 1 150 votes.
• Leonard Mhangarai Ringisai Nyemba of ZANU - 283 votes.

In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election, Masvingo South returned to Parliament:

• Eddison Jonas Mudadirwa Zvobgo of Zanu PF - 42 672 votes.
• Jemitias Hungwe Matende of PF-ZAPU - 291 votes.

In the 1990 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo Central returned to Parliament:

• Dzikamai Mavhaire of Zanu PF with 26 188 votes,
• Naboth Musabayana of ZUM with 3 905 votes.

Turnout - 32 062 voters or 76.36 %

Masvingo North returned:

• George Mudukuti of Zanu PF, unopposed.

Masvingo South returned:

• Eddison Zvobgo of Zanu PF, unopposed.

In the 2000 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo Central returned to Parliament:

• Silas Joseph Man'ono of MDC with 12 417 votes,
• Dzikamai Calisto Mavhaire of Zanu PF with 8 023 votes,
• Kudzai Savious Mbudzi, Independent, with 314 votes,
• Mbengo Nason Mhlanga of ZANU (Ndonga) with 0 votes,
• Ray Muzanda, Independent MDC, with 0 votes,

Masvingo North returned:

• Gorerazvo Stan Mudenge of Zanu PF with 8 146 votes,
• Joseph Mutema of MDC with 7 224 votes,
• Sylvester Beji, Independent, with 1 050 votes,

Masvingo South returned:

• Edson Jonasi Zvobgo of Zanu PF with 14 954 votes,
• Zachariah Isaac Rioga of MDC with 5 544 votes,
• Mwenzi Isaiah Shumba, alias Mwasvayamwando, of Zanu PF with 22 676 votes.

Following the death of Edson Zvobgo on 22 August 2004, a by election was held 9 October 2004. The result, Masvingo South returned to Parliament:

• Walter Mzembi of Zanu PF. Declared elected unopposed.
  

A candidate from Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance had submitted nomination papers which were technically deficient.

The 2013 election results for six of the 210 constituencies: Buhera South, Bulilima West, Chiredzi North, Masvingo West, Mwenezi West, and Zvimba North, were never released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo North returned to Parliament:

• Davis Marapira of Zanu PF with 10 358 votes or 71.76 percent,
• Noble Mugabe of MDC–T with 3 277 votes or 22.70 percent,
• Emily Chinhema of MDC–N with 587 votes or 4.07 percent,
• Innocent Gahadzikwa, Independent, with 212 votes or 1.47 percent.

Total 14 434 votes

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo South returned to Parliament:

• Walter Mzembi of Zanu PF with n/a votes or n/a percent,
• Lovemore Matongo of MDC–T with n/a votes or n/a percent,
• Ruth Zhou of MDC–N with n/a votes or n/a percent,
• Action Haruchenjerwi, Independent, with n/a votes or n/a percent.

Total n/a votes

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo Urban returned to Parliament:

• Daniel Shumba of Zanu PF with 10 988 votes or 48.94 percent,
• Tongai Matutu of MDC–T with 10 424 votes or 46.41 percent,
• Vitalis Paradza of MDC–N with 587 votes or 4.07 percent,
• Mable Mtshakatshi of ZAPU with 228 votes or 1.02 percent,
• Tichaona Revai of ZAPU with 149 votes or 0.66 percent.

Total 22 461 votes

In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Masvingo West returned to Parliament:

• Ezira Ruvai of Zanu PF with 7 634 votes or 59.99 percent,
• Takanayi Mureyi of MDC–T with 4 687 votes or 36.83 percent,
• Ruzi Hasha of MDC–N with 405 votes or 3.18 percent.

Total 12 726 votes

The Masvingo Local Government is Masvingo Municipality and Masvingo RDC.
Masvingo is the capital of Masvingo Province.

Masvingo is served by Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
See Kyle College.
See Lundi Secondary School.
See Mazambara Secondary School.
See Victoria High School.
See Zimuto High School.
See High Schools Of Zimbabwe.

Founding

Masvingo was Rhodesia's first town having been built by the Pioneer Column when it arrived in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The fort was built in 1890, and was named Fort Victoria after then queen of England, Queen Victoria. By 1899 however the prefix was dropped and it became plain Victoria, only to revert to its original name in 1917.^[1]

In 1982, it was renamed Nyanda, for about six months, after which it was changed again from Nyanda to Masvingo (also in 1982).

Geography and Climate

Masvingo stands at coordinates 20°3'S, 30°52'E. The city has a mean temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius and total annual precipitation that averages 614.4 mm. The sun in Masvingo averages 2991 hours annualy.^[2]

Tourist Attractions

• Great Zimbabwe Monument

The ruins are one of the oldest in Africa having been built without mortar around 1250 AD.

• Lake Mutirikwi and Mutirikwi Recreational Park

This is the largest man-made lake within the country that offers fishing and boating activities.

• Bondolfi, Serima & Driefontein missions
• Bushman Paintings
• Civic centre and gardens
• Copota school for the Blind
• Glenlivet
• Kyle Recreational Park (Mutirikwi Recreational Park)

The area has superb mountains

• Italian Chapel

This magnificent site was built by Italian prisoners of war during World War 2.^[3]

Events

In December 1991, the Maxim gun, removed at independence and taken to the Military Museum in Gweru, was remounted at its original site at the corner of Robert Mugabe Way and Leopold Takawira Avenue, apparently a few days before Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the town in October. The Town Clerk, Cde Tsunga Mhangami, alluding to political reforms taking place worldwide, said the remounting of the gun was “part of the changes.’’ “People are beginning to be politically mature and because the gun has always been a part of this town, it would therefore be unfair for future generations of this town to be deprived of their history’’, he said. ^[4]

(Other information is that the machine gun was the Gardener Gun brought with the Pioneer Column)

References