Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
GWANDA is a district in Matabeleland South, where the town of Gwanda serves as the commercial and industrial centre of the province.
The district is rich in mineral resources, especially gold, which is mined at various sites such as Vubachikwe, Blanket, Jessie and Freda mines. Lime is also extracted at Colleen Bawn, and several gold stamp mills process the ore within the town’s municipal area.
The town of Gwanda is strategically located, with easy access to Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and to Beitbridge and Musina, the border towns that connect Zimbabwe and South Africa. The district has road and rail links to both countries, making it a potential hub for trade and tourism.
Gwanda is also a district of historical and cultural significance, as it is home to Manama High School, an institution run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe.
The school gained international attention in 1977, when over 400 students, led by their teacher Obert Matshalaga, who is now the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, left their classrooms and crossed the border to join the liberation struggle against the colonial regime.
Among those students were some of the most prominent figures in Zimbabwe’s post-independence era, such as the late former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Sibusiso Moyo, Airforce of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshall Elson Moyo, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chief executive officer Utoile Silaigwana, Beitbridge East National Assembly member and intelligence chief Albert Nguluvhe and Colonel Silibali Masera.
The district also boasts of Pelandaba Stadium, which used to host Premier Soccer League matches for the now-defunct Njube Sundowns. Ilanga newspaper, a subsidiary of New Ziana news agency, is headquartered in Gwanda town.
Gwanda has produced many great individuals in various fields, from politics to academia, from sports to business, from civic to media. One of the most notable is the late Professor Phineas Makhurane, the founding vice chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology (Nust). Professor Makhurane was one of the first Africans to study Physics and Mathematics at the University of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, now the University of Zimbabwe.
He was also the pioneer of industrial attachment for university students in Southern Africa, replacing the old system of vacation training.
He retired in 2004 and passed away in 2018, after a long battle with diabetes. He was honoured as a national hero and buried at his ancestral home in Gungwe, Gwanda district, as per his family’s request.
Another well-known politician and Gwanda elder is Abednico Ncube, the former Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South.
Recently appointed Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Omphile Marupi, is a veteran broadcaster, linguist and developer who hails from Gwanda. So is Mgcini Nkolomi, a renowned businessman and philanthropist, who once served as the board chairman of Highlanders Football Club.
Victoria Falls City Council Town clerk, Ronnie Dube, a die-hard Arsenal fan, is also a proud son of Gwanda, as are football administrator Nkosilathi Ncube and former Gwanda North National Assembly member Thandeko Zinti Mnkandla.
One of the best football commentators to grace the airwaves, Inglam Nyathi, comes from Gwanda and his voice is still remembered by many. Madodana Sibanda, the owner of Phumulani Hotel and an FA badge holder who nurtured talents such as Mkhuphali Masuku, is also from the district, as are Cornwell Dube and retired goalkeeper and socialite Stuza Dube.
The district is also home to many notable personalities from various fields. Among them are Tumeliso Makurane, a veteran journalist and Mvelo Zondo, a reporter for Ilanga newspaper.
The district also honours the memory of John Dube, a late netball coach, and celebrates his daughter Lucia, who follows his footsteps in the sport. Lisa Mangena, a netball enthusiast and a loyal Arsenal fan, is another proud Gwanda resident, as is Tsepa Nare, a respected member of the national parks community.
For leisure and entertainment, the district offers popular spots such as Yellow Door and Mambo, where locals and visitors can enjoy themselves.
Online Reporter