Mberengwa

History

The name "Mberengwa" comes from the Karanga phrase Mbere-yeingwa. The other widely accepted theory about the meaning of Mberengwa is 'verengwa' which is an act of census believed to have been conducted by the Lemba people stationed at Mount Mberengwa after a terrible plague. Clans that had been counted and accounted for became Mberengwa.

After the census it is belived that various clans of the Lemba migrated to different parts of the district including Thohoyandou in Venda, South Africa. This name is still used as a clan name by the Hadji tribe of the Lemba (Mzezewas) still stationed near the mountain. The Hadji clan in South Africa also uses Mbelengwa (with an 'L' from their local Venda language) to describe themselves. Mount Mberengwa is one of the highest mountains in Zimbabwe, but not as high as the mountains in the Eastern Highlands.

The indigenous languages spoken in Mberengwa are mainly Karanga and Ndebele. Pfumbi, a variation of Karanga which is also close to Kalanga, has also been spoken in chief Muketi areas. The Pfumbi quickly assimilated into the Karanga and most of them crossed Mwenezi river and settled in the Maranda and Shayamavhudzi areas in southern Masvingo. It is thought that Pfumbi used to be more widespread than this in the past before the onset of Shona as the compulsory vernacular language to be taught in schools.

There is evidence that the area was extensively mined for gold prior to the colonial era, and at Mundie Ruins, 250 oz of gold ornaments were found.

Government

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

• Richard Chemist Hove of Zanu PF - 33 897 votes.
• Solomon Mtinsi of PF-ZAPU - 868 votes.
• Laimon Mukosi of UANC - 120 votes.

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

• Ben Ndiringe Mataga of Zanu PF - 27 554 votes.
• Norman Mabena of PF-ZAPU - 3 631 votes.

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

• Richard Hove of Zanu PF with 21 632 votes,
• Ben Shumba of ZUM with 1 004 votes.

Turnout - 23 355 voters or 51.27 %

Mberengwa West returned:

• Ben Mataga of Zanu PF with 22 005 votes,
• Choboro Masarira, Independent, with 1 513 votes,
• Mathias Munyenyiwa of ZUM with 1 242 votes.

Turnout - 26 216 voters or 55.76 %

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

• Makhosini Hlongwane of Zanu PF with 8 895 votes or 74.99 percent,
• Coming Hove of MDC-T with 2 612 votes or 22.02 percent,
• Tandiwe Shumba of MDC with 265 votes or 2.23 percent,
• Welcome Shumba of PIMZ with 89 votes or 0.75 percent,

Total 11 861 votes

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

• Tafanana Zhou of Zanu PF with 15 170 votes or 75.71 percent,
• Betroth Tazvarirevhu of MDC with 2 433 votes or 12.14 percent,
• Takavafira Zhou of MDC-T with 2 433 votes or 12.14 percent,

Total 20 036 votes

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

• Chiratidzo I Mabuwa of Zanu PF with 12 358 votes or 86.80 percent,
• Davies Shoko of MDC-T with 1 562 votes or 10.97 percent,
• Lynia Verenga of MDC with 169 votes or 1.19 percent,
• Lilanda Hungwe of MKD with 148 votes or 1.04 percent,

Total 14 237 votes

In the 2022 By-Elections, (see Zimbabwe By-elections (March_2022)) Mberengwa South returned to Parliament:

• Tasara Hungwe of Zanu PF with 7 935 votes,
• Davies Shoko of Citizens' Coalition for Change with 1 425 votes.

Mberengwa South fell vacant after the death of Alum Mpofu who succumbed to kidney failure in March 2021. ^[1]

Mberengwa Rural District Council has 37 wards and Councillors. It comprises 4 parliamentary constituencies after 2000.

Economy

The district is prone to droughts and high temperatures, but abundant in minerals like gold, iron ore, emeralds and asbestos. Buchwa Mine, Vanguard Mine, Sandawana and C Mine are all in Mberengwa.

It is known for its riches in minerals and fauna. Gold is mined at C Mine and other small claims mines scattered around Mberengwa. Emeralds are mined at Sandawana while Vanguard Mine was once a major player in asbestos production till the 1980s when asbestos lost its importance to the world. Chrome was mined at Rhonda and Inyala mines, but these closed down due to the effects of the Zimbabwean crisis and Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. Buchwa mine was a major Rhodesian source of Iron, and it's closure was also forced by the liberation struggle. Cattle ranching is a major farming activity in Mberengwa.

Further Reading

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