Bulawayo is the second largest city in
ZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
after the capital
HarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in
MatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe 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. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from
MatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe 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. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
. The capital of
MatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe 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. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
North is now
LupaneLupane can refer to :*Lupane District in Zimbabwe*Lupane triterpenes...
, as Bulawayo is a stand-alone province.
General information
Bulawayo is also known as the 'City of Kings', 'Skies', 'Bluez', 'Bulliesberg' or 'KoNtuthu ziyathunqa' – a
SiNdebeleThe Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
word for 'a place of smoky fires'. It is a multicultural city with most residents able to speak at least three languages (including
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
,
NdebeleThe Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
,
XhosaXhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
, Kalanga, Sotho, Nambya,
TongaThe Tonga language of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a Bantu Language primarily spoken by the Tonga people in those countries who live mainly in the Southern and Western provinces of Zambia, and in northern Zimbabwe, with a few in Mozambique. The language is also spoken by the Tonga, Ila, Iwe, Toka and...
and
VendaVenda, also known as or , is a Bantu language and an official language of South Africa. The majority of Venda speakers live in the northern part of South Africa's Limpopo Province, but about 10% of speakers live in Zimbabwe. The Venda language is related to Kalanga which is spoken in Botswana...
). The majority of the Bulawayo's population belongs to the
NdebeleThe Ndebele are a branch of the Zulus who split from King Shaka in the early 1820s under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general in Shaka's army....
ethnic and language group, who descend from a 19th century Zulu migration and are a minority in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo has long been and is still regarded as the industrial and business capital of
ZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and is home to the National Railways of Zimbabwe because of its strategic position near
BotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is the nearest large city to
Hwange National ParkHwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe. The park lies in the west, on the main road between Bulawayo and the widely noted Victoria Falls.It was founded around 1928 by a 22-year-old game ranger, Ted Davidson...
, Matopo National Park and
Victoria FallsThe Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
.
Etymology
The name
Bulawayo comes from the
SiNdebeleThe Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
word
KoBulawayo meaning 'a place of killing.' It is thought that at the time of the formation of the city, there was a civil war and a group of Ndebeles not aligned to Prince Lobengula were fighting him as they felt he was not the heir to the throne, hence he gave his capital the name 'where he (the prince) is being killed'. It is said that when King Lobengula named the place "KoBulawayo" his generals asked "who is being killed mtanenkosi (prince)?" and he replied "Yimi umntwanenkosi engibulawayo", meaning "its me the prince who is being killed". At the time Lobengula was just a prince fighting to ascend his father's (Mzilikazi) throne. It was common at the time for people to refer to Bulawayo as "KoBulawayo UmntwaneNkosi" "a place where they are fighting or rising against the prince". The name Bulawayo is imported from Nguniland which is a place once occupied by the Khumalo people. The place still exists and it is next to Richards Bay.
History
The city was founded by the Ndebele king, u
MzilikaziMzilikazi , also sometimes called Mosilikatze, was a Southern African king who founded the Matabele kingdom , Matabeleland, in what became Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. He was born the son of Matshobana near Mkuze, Zululand and died at Ingama, Matabeleland...
kaMatshobana around 1840 after the Ndebele people's great trek from Zululand.
Bulawayo was a centre of imperialist intrigue and many colonial powers cast covetous eyes on Bulawayo and the land surrounding it. Britain made skillful use of private initiative in the shape of Cecil Rhodes and the Chartered Company in order to disarm the suspicion of her rivals.
LobengulaLobengula Khumalo was the second and last king of the Ndebele people, usually pronounced Matabele in English. Both names, in the Sindebele language, mean "The men of the long shields", a reference to the Matabele warriors' use of the Zulu shield and spear.- Background :The Matabele were related to...
once described Britain as a chameleon and himself as the fly.
During the 1893
Matabele WarThe First Matabele War was fought in 1893-1894 between the British South Africa Company military forces and the Ndebele people. Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, avoided outright war with the British settlers because he and his advisors were mindful of the destructive power of the European weapons...
the invasion by British South Africa Company troops led the then king, Lobengula to flee from his burning capital and head north, BSAC troops and white settlers occupied the town. On 4 November 1893,
Leander Starr JamesonSir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
declared Bulawayo a settlement under the rule of the
British South Africa CompanyThe British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
and
Cecil John RhodesCecil John Rhodes PC, DCL was an English-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. He was the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world's rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%...
ordered that the new settlement be built on the ruins of Lobengula's royal town, which is where the State House stands today. In 1897, the new town of Bulawayo acquired the status of municipality, Col. Harry White became the first mayor, and in 1943, Bulawayo became a city.
Siege
Right at the outbreak of the
Second Matabele WarThe Second Matabele War, also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion and in Zimbabwe as the First Chimurenga, was fought in 1896–97 between the British troops and the Ndebele people....
, in March 1896, Bulawayo was besieged by Ndebele forces and a laager was established there for defensive purposes. The Ndebele had experienced the brutal effectiveness of the British
Maxim gunThe Maxim gun was the first self-powered machine gun, invented by the American-born British inventor Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It has been called "the weapon most associated with [British] imperial conquest".-Functionality:...
s in the First Matabele War, so they never mounted a significant attack against Bulawayo even though over 10,000 Ndebele warriors could be seen near the town. But rather than wait passively the settlers immediately mounted patrols, called the Bulawayo Field Force, under legendary figures such as
Frederick SelousFrederick Courteney Selous DSO was a British explorer, officer, hunter, and conservationist, famous for his exploits in south and east of Africa. His real-life adventures inspired Sir H. Rider Haggard to create the fictional Allan Quatermain character. Selous was also a good friend of Theodore...
and
Frederick Russell BurnhamFrederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham...
who rode out to rescue any surviving settlers in the countryside and went on attack against the Ndebele. Within the first week of fighting, 20 men of the Bulawayo Field Force were killed and another 50 wounded.
During the siege, conditions inside Bulawayo quickly deteriorated. By day, settlers could go to homes and buildings within the town, but at night they were forced to seek shelter in the much smaller laager. Nearly 1,000 women and children were crowded into the small area and false alarms of attacks were common. The Ndebele made a critical error during the siege in neglecting to cut the telegraph lines connecting Bulawayo to
MafikengMahikeng – formerly legally, but still commonly known as Mafikeng – is the capital city of the North-West Province of South Africa. It is best known internationally for the Siege of Mafeking, the most famous engagement of the Second Boer War.Located on South Africa's border with Botswana, it is ...
. This gave both the besieged Bulawayo Field Force and the British relief forces, coming from
SalisburyHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
and
Fort VictoriaMasvingo is a town in south-eastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province. The town is close to Great Zimbabwe, the national monument from which the country takes its name.- History :...
, now Harare and Masvingo respectively 300 miles to the North, and from Kimberley and Mafeking 600 miles to the South, far more information than they would otherwise have had. Once the relief forces arrived in late May 1896, the siege was broken and an estimated 50,000 Ndebele retreated into their stronghold of the Matobo Hills near Bulawayo. Not until October 1896 would the Ndebele finally lay down their arms.
Modern city
In recent years, Bulawayo has experienced a sharp fall in living standards coinciding with the severe economic crisis affecting the country. Today it is home to the strongest opposition to the government of
Robert MugabeRobert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. The main problems include poor investment and widespread unemployment. Water shortages due to lack of expansion in facilities and supplies have become steadily more acute since 1992.
CholeraCholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
broke out in 2008.
Geography and climate
Geography
The city sits on a plain that marks the Highveld of Zimbabwe and is close to the watershed between the
ZambeziThe Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
and
LimpopoLimpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
drainage basins. The land slopes gently downwards to the north and northwest. The southern side is hillier, and the land becomes more broken in the direction of the Matobo Hills to the south.
Climate
Due to its relatively high altitude, the city has a subtropical climate despite lying within the tropics. Under the
Koppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Bulawayo features a
humid subtropical climateA humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Cwa), though it’s a drier version of the climate. The mean annual temperature is 19.16°C, similar to
PretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
at a similar altitude but almost 600 km farther south. As with much of southern and eastern Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is cooled by a prevailing southeasterly airflow most of the year, and experiences three broad seasons: a dry, cool winter season from May to August; a hot dry period in early summer from late August to early November; and a warm wet period in the rest of the summer, early November to April. The hottest month is October, which is usually the height of the dry season. The average maximum temperature ranges from 21°C in July to 30°C in October. During the rainy season, daytime maxima are around 26°C. Nights are always cool, ranging from 8°C in July to 16°C in January.
The city's average annual rainfall is 590mm, which supports a natural vegetation of open woodland, dominated by
CombretumThe bushwillows or combretums, Combretum, make up the type genus of the family Combretaceae. The genus comprises about 370 species of trees and shrubs, roughly 300 of which are native to tropical and southern Africa, about 5 to Madagascar, some 25 to tropical Asia and approximately 40 to tropical...
and
TerminaliaTerminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
trees. Most rain falls in the December to February period, while June to August is usually rainless. Being close to the
Kalahari DesertThe Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa extending , covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, as semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains. The Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert...
, Bulawayo is vulnerable to droughts and rainfall tends to vary sharply from one year to another. In 1915, 748mm of rain fell in the three months up to February (December 1914 is the wettest month on record) while in the three months ending February 1983, only 84mm fell.
Economy
Bulawayo has long been known as the industrial hub of Zimbabwe. It has a large manufacturing presence, and large industries such as Merlin Textiles, Zimbabwe Engineering Company (Zeco), Hubert Davies, Radar Metal Industries, National Blankets, G & D Shoes, Merlin, Tregers Group, Stewarts & Lloyds, Hunyani Holdings, Cold Storage Commission. However some of these companies have either moved operations to
HarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
or no longer exist altogether which has crippled Bulawayo's economy. The industries are deserted and the infrastructure has since been left to deteriorate, further deterring investors from operating in the city. The reason for the cities de-industrialization has been heralded to be the lack of infrastructure to support the size of the city and it's operations and an unreliable source of water and the collapse of the rail infrastructure which was a core reason of placing industry in Bulawayo to begin with. Many locals argue that it is because of marginalisation they experience against the government due to cultural differences between the
ShonaShona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
in
HarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
and the Ndebele Proper in Bulawayo because the National railways of Zimbabwe (Headquarters Bulawayo) is a government parastatal and as such should have been thriving had it not been for embezzlement of allocated funds by company executives who are believed to be
ShonaShona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
. The water issue is not new and had brought about the "help a thirsty Matabele" initiative of the 1970s and the
Matabeleland Zambezi Water ProjectThe Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project is an ambitious project being undertaken in the arid Matabeleland North province of Zimbabwe.The project seeks to end the perennial water shortages bedevelling Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo by bringing water from the mighty Zambezi river to the city.-The...
which would put an end to the water issue in
MatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe 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. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
was drafted, however this project was put on hold soon after independence. these allegations have all been labeled hogwash by the relevant authorities, however they have only fueled the
secessionistMthwakazi This word Mthwakazi is derived from the name of Queen Mu-Thwa, the first ruler of the Mthwakazi territory who ruled around 7,000 years ago...
initiative into a general opinion. Before the collapse of Zimbabwe's rail infrastructure, Bulawayo was an important transport hub, providing rail links between
BotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
,
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and
ZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and promoting the city's development as a major industrial centre. The city still contains most of what remains of Zimbabwe's heavy industry and food processing capability including a Thermal Power Station which resumed operations in February 2011 after a capitalisation deal with the Government of
BotswanaBotswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
where Bulawayo would supply 45 Megawatts in three years. Like many parts of the
countryZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Bulawayo has for the past ten years seen a huge drop in service delivery and an increase in unemployment due to the number of resignations of people seeking better prospects across the border. Many people resorted to farming, mining and the black market for sustainance, while others depended on the little foreign currency that would be sent by family in other countries. However, with the introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009, a new approach is seen by investors in the city who admire the already available infrastructure and the huge workforce and Bulawayo as great prospects for the future and is set to once again contribute greatly to the economy of
ZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. The city is served by
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International AirportJoshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport is an airport in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. There are 2 airlines currently operating out of Bulawayo Airport. Air Zimbabwe and South African Airways...
which has been expanded a number of times to cope with the influx of visitors into he region. The Edgars clothing stores are headquartered in Bulawayo. The
Rovos railRovos Rail is a private railway company operating out of Capital Park Station in Pretoria, South Africa. The Society of International Railway Travelers has regularly named the Pride of Africa, as the train is called, as one of the World's Top 25 Trains because of its excellent accommodation, public...
run luxury train,
Pride of AfricaThe Pride of Africa is a luxury train which is run by Rovos Rail. It is billed as the World's Most Luxurious Train. It travels through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania.Rovos Rail was established in 1989.- Locations :...
makes a stop in Bulawayo for pick up and dropping off passengers. Bulawayo is situated along the
Trans-African Highway networkThe Trans-African Highway network comprises transcontinental road projects in Africa being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa , the African Development Bank , and the African Union in conjunction with regional international communities...
important trade route of Cairo – Cape Town Highway. Most of the city's industries are privately owned, especially in the transport sector.
Past Mayors (after independence)
Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu 1981–1983
Ald.Enos Mdlongwa 1983–1985
Ald.Nicholas Joel Mabodoko 1985–1988
Ald. Israel Gadhlula
Clr. Joshua Teke Malinga
Ald. Siwela
Japhet Ndabeni Ncube
Thaba Moyo
Sports
Bulawayo is home to the
Queens Sports ClubQueens Sports Club is a multi-purpose stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 13,000. The club is one of two homegrounds for the Matabeleland Cricket Team, which up until recently was captained by the Zimbabwean international opening pace bowler...
and
Bulawayo Athletic ClubBulawayo Athletic Club is a cricket club that competes in Zimbabwe's National League competition. It is also the name given to the club's ground. It can hold over 12,000 spectators....
, two of the three grounds in Zimbabwe where
test matchTest cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
cricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
has been played. It is also home to Hartsfield Rugby grounds where many international Test matches have been played. Hartsfield was developed by Reg Hart, after whom the grounds were named, and on which field many of southern Africa's greatest rugby players have competed. It is home to two large football teams, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints. Other football teams include Railstars and Bantu Rovers.
- Barbourfields Stadium
Barbourfields Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is owned by Bulawayo City Council but is home to Highlanders F.C., one of the biggest soccer teams in Zimbabwe and Bantu Rovers F.C. Soccer fans commonly refer to the stadium...
- Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds
- Kumalo Hockey Stadium
- Ascot Racecourse
- Khami Ruins
Khami is a ruined city located in what is now Zimbabwe. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Butua of the Torwa dynasty. It is located 22 kilometers west of the modern city of Bulawayo, capital of the province of Matabeleland North. Its ruins are now a national monument in Zimbabwe. Khami is...
- Ascot Centre
- NRZ building
- Bulawayo Centre
- Nesbitt Castle
- Fidelity Life Centre
- National University of Science and Technology
- Mhlahlandlela Government Complex
Newspapers
- The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)
The Chronicle is a popular daily newspaper in Zimbabwe. It is published in Bulawayo and mostly reports on news in the Matebeleland region in the southern part of the country. It is state-owned and therefore usually only publishes news that supports the government and its policies...
- The Sunday News (Zimbabwe)
- Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
- The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
Sister cities
AberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
,
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
,
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
DurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
,
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
PolokwanePolokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population...
,
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Katima MuliloKatima Mulilo is the capital of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia's far north–east extension into central Southern Africa. It comprises two electoral constituencies, Katima Mulilo Rural and Katima Mulilo Urban...
,
NamibiaNamibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
Museums
- Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe
The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe is located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Leopold Takawira Avenue. Officially opened in 1964, the museum contains exhibits illustrating the history, mineral wealth and wildlife of Zimbabwe, including the second largest mounted elephant in the world. The Director is...
- National Gallery, Bulawayo
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is a gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe, dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe’s contemporary art and visual heritage...
- Bulawayo Railway Museum
Bulawayo Railway Museum is a museum next to Bulawayo railway station in Zimbabwe, with several exhibits of the history of railways in Zimbabwe and Rhodesia. Its oldest exhibits date back as far as 1897, and include Cecil Rhodes' personal railway coach....
Suburbs and neighbourhoods
- Adjoining the Bulawayo Ascot race-course
- The suburb was named after a former Mayor, H. R. Barbour. A mayor who during the colonial era, was :greatly interested in the welfare of the indigenous people. There is a place called Barbour in Argyll & :Bute. Barbour is a Scottish family name, though it was apparently first recorded on the English side of :the border, in Cumbria and Northumberland. The father of Scottish vernacular poetry, John Barbour (1320-:1395), is best remembered for his epic poem "The Brus" telling the story of King Robert I. The origin of :the name is occupational (a cutter of hair as well as an extractor of teeth during the Middle Ages).
- The suburb was named after two people. The first was a former Bulawayo City Councillor [ who later :became an Alderman] Mrs. M. E. Barham, M.B.E. and the other was Rev. Rufus Green. The two people were :critical in the establishment of this suburb. During the colonial Rhodesia era, the suburb was :designated for the Coloured Community
- Also known as Beryl Drive, reference is made to fact that it is the High Point of the suburbs and :possess the areas with the highest marking beacon at its summit.
- The area was named after a former Bulawayo City Engineer, Mr. Kinmont
- The suburb was named after estate name. Sometimes spelt Belle Vue. The origin of this universally :popular place name is ultimately French - 'beautiful view'.
- The suburb was named after Mr. Edwin Eugene Bradfield, a pioneer.
- This area used used to be a portion of former town Council area, used be part of Matsheumhlope Farms. :Name is derived from the reference to the river Matsheumhlophe. Burn is a Scottish and northern English :word for a stream.
- This was named after the surrounding industrial area, responsible for the making of Cement.
- The Douglas family, descendants of William de Duglas
William of Douglas was a medieval nobleman of Flemish origin living in Clydesdale, an area under the control of the King of the Scots.-Enigmatic origins:...
(late 12th Century) :was one of the most powerful in :Scotland.
- Emakhandeni is the isiNdebele name for Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo. It was founded as a military outpost in 1896 during the rebellion of the Matabele nation against British colonial rule of Rhodesia....
, which was the area where the regiment, aMakhanda :were located. eMakhandeni is the locative term
- Reference is made to the plentiful Amarula trees in the vicinity.
- This is place where King Mzilikazi was buried.One of the dozens of high density suburbs of Bulawayo :commonly referred to as the "Western Suburbs". The first disturbances that led to the :Gukurahundi
The Gukurahundi refers to the suppression by Zimbabwe's 5th Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of Zimbabwe most of whom were supporters of Joshua Nkomo. A few hundred disgruntled former ZIPRA combatants waged armed banditry against the civilians in Matabeleland, and destroyed government...
were sparked in Entumbane, hence the term "Impi ye Ntumbane" that refers to the :disturbances.
- The suburb was named after, Famona, one of the daughters of King Lobengula. It means jealousy or :envy must end *literally- die*
- Fortunes Gate (Including Mtaba Moya)
- The suburb name comes from the original property name, and gates are those of the original Market :Building.
- The suburb name comes from the original property name, the first house was on top of a hill.
- This name is etched into the Scottish psyche as the bleak glen in the Highlands where, in 1692, a party :of MacDonald men, women and children was treacherously massacred by the Campbells, who were acting under :government orders.
- The suburb was named after its estate name. The "Glengarry" bonnet is an oblong woollen cap, popular :amongst pipe bands.
- Glenville (Including Richmond South)
- The suburb was named after its estate name.
- The suburb name comes from the reference to scenery and topography.
- Named after one of Ndebele chiefs, Gwabalanda Mathe
- The suburb name comes from the reference to topography. It is Greenhill's Crest
- The suburb name comes from the reference to topography. (Greenhill's slope))
- The suburb name comes from it's position as the south facing slope of Greenhill
- Hume/Home is a Lowland Scottish family name.
- The name originates from the large amount of residents which trace their ancestry to England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- Ndebele name for the Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
- The name of the type of tree common in that area.
- The name was given as a commemoration to the Mhlanga family which originally set :out with the Khumalo family under Mzilikazi
Mzilikazi , also sometimes called Mosilikatze, was a Southern African king who founded the Matabele kingdom , Matabeleland, in what became Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. He was born the son of Matshobana near Mkuze, Zululand and died at Ingama, Matabeleland...
as gratitude to their contribution to the Ndebele Kingdom, MthwakaziMthwakazi This word Mthwakazi is derived from the name of Queen Mu-Thwa, the first ruler of the Mthwakazi territory who ruled around 7,000 years ago...
. the Ntini is the totem of the Mhlanga-Mabuya clan, not to be confused with the Gasela which are originally Tsonga/ Shangaan incorporated into the state
- Reference is made to the Jacaranda
Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America , Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is also found in Asia, especially in Nepal...
trees
- Kelvin (Industrial area, includes North East and West)
- The area was named in reference to a suburb of Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. It takes its name from the river Kelvin, a tributary of the river Clyde.
- The suburb was named after its estate name.
- Killarney
Killarney is a suburb of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The population of Killarney is about 150,000 people. It is named after the town of Killarney in Co. Kerry in southwest Ireland. Due to its vicinity to the National University of Science and Technology many students live there, who due to transport...
- Khumalo
The Khumalo are an African clan that originated in northern KwaZulu, South Africa. The Khumalos are part of a group of Zulus and Ngunis known as the Mtungwa. Others include the Mabaso, located between the Ndwandwe and the Mthethwa....
- The suburb was named after the Royal Clan of the Matabele
- Reference to the position of Kumalo Suburb
- Lakeside is the stretch of water at the junction of the Old Essexvale Road and the road to the suburb of Waterford, and then onto Hope Fountain Mission
- Named after the second and last Matabele King, Lobengula
Lobengula Khumalo was the second and last king of the Ndebele people, usually pronounced Matabele in English. Both names, in the Sindebele language, mean "The men of the long shields", a reference to the Matabele warriors' use of the Zulu shield and spear.- Background :The Matabele were related to...
- The suburb name is derived from a combination of King Lobengula's name and Umguza Valley
- The suburb name is in reference to Lakeside Dam and is famous in the city for its large Scottish residents and the Scottish style houses. According to the Bulawayo City Suburb Names website, the suburb was named in reference to Lakeside Dam
- Named after Ndebele chief Luveve. Established in 1935
- The suburb name means “where the soldiers are”, the name was given in reference to a bachelor quarters.
- The suburb name is named after Magwegwe, who was one of the significant people in King Lobengula's royal Bulawayo town.
- Reference to the position relative to that of Magwegwe.
- Reference to the position relative to that of Magwegwe.
- Makokoba
Makokoba is a parliamentary constituency of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe located in the township of the same name in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The current member of parliament for Makokoba, since June 2000, is Thokozani Khuphe, the vice-president of the Morgan Tsvangirai faction of the Movement for...
- The suburb got its name from the actions of Mr. Fallon, who used walk around with a stick. The name comes from the word "umakhokhoba" which was the locals referred to Fallon as, meaning “the little old man who walks with a stick” . The word actually describes the noise of the stick hitting the ground ko-ko-ko or the doors. It is the oldest African dwelling in the city. Political activism was rife pre-Zapu era.
- Mahatshula is named after one of the Ndebele Indunas. This induna's name was Mahatshula Ndiweni
- The suburb was named after the mother of Faluta, who was the mother of Lobengula i.e. named after Lobengula's maternal grandmother.
- Named after of the developer suburb
- The name comes from the association with river (“White Stones”). White stones in Ndebele Proper and Zulu
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
language are amatshe amhlope.
- The suburb was named after Matshobana, who was a chief of the Khumalo clan and more significantly he was the father of Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele Kingdom.
- The suburb was named by the Estate Developers and Street names are of many Cotswold Villages and towns.
- named after Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
a decorated British Army commander
- The name comes from a descriptive Ndebele name for the area, which was derived from the sound the Mpopoma river makes when flowing.
- The Tonga
The Tonga language of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a Bantu Language primarily spoken by the Tonga people in those countries who live mainly in the Southern and Western provinces of Zambia, and in northern Zimbabwe, with a few in Mozambique. The language is also spoken by the Tonga, Ila, Iwe, Toka and...
name for a plot of land on which people would farm
- Suburb was named after the founder of uMthwakazi, King Mzilikazi.A stone's throw away from Barbourfields suburb separated by a road called Ambulance Drive that leads to one of Zimbabwe's large hospitals called Mpilo.
- Reference is made to the suburb Luveve, see Luveve suburb.
- Estate name
- Reference to position (Newton).
- Named after Lobengula’s son and heir.
- Named after one of Lobengula’s sons
- Named after the Traditional Heritage Site of Nketa Hill on which King Lobengula assembled his entire kingdom and divided it's citizens according to cultural ethnicity and different stages of incorporation into three groups the Zansi which is Xhosa
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
for "south", referring to the people who left the Zulu Kingdom originally, the Enhla or Nxele which referred to the second mass incorporated group which was the SwatiSwati may refer to:* Swati language, Bantu language spoken in Swaziland and South Africa* Swati , Pashtun tribe in Pakistan** Riffat Akbar Swati** Sa'adat Khan Swati* Swati the Star, star in ancient Sanskrit scriptures that corresponds to Arcturus...
, PediPedi, , has been a cultural/linguistic term. It was previously used to describe the entire set of people speaking various dialects of the Sotho language who live in the northern Transvaal of South Africa...
, Sotho with whom they settled in Mhlahlandela 1Centurion is an area with 279,430 inhabitants in Gauteng Province of South Africa, located between Pretoria and Midrand . Formerly an independent municipality, with its own town council, it is now part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality...
and the final group was the Hole (ˈxɒli), which constituted of the ShonaShona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
, KalangaThe Kalanga, also known as the Bakalanga are one of the first Bantu speaking tribes to migrate to present day Botswana, followed by the Bakgalagadi and then the Batswana . The Kalanga had first settled in Mapungubwe in South Africa, the first Kalanga state. They later moved to the Great Zimbabwe...
and Bakwena. Most historians argued that this was clear evidence of Lobengula's lack of foresight and political tact as he was literally undoing what his father had spent his lifetime trying to achieve, a unified kingdom with a single identity.
- One of the sons of King Mzilikazi and heir, founder of the Matebele kingdom.
- Reference to direction of Suburb.
- Former Town Council area, reference to position and (Umguza) Valley
- Reference to position relative to that of Trenance.
- Named after Major Cecil Paddon, O.B.E., (Pioneer).
- Estate Name. Park Lands Estate A (Portion of original grant to Dominican Sisters).
- Situated on the location adjacent to the Centenary Park and proposed location of Bulawayo Zoo
- Phelandaba translates “The matter is concluded”, a reference to the successful conclusion to the struggle for security.
- Phumula means “A Resting Place” reference to the fact that many have built homes there to retire to.
- Named in reference to relative position of Pumula
- A reference to the Queen and the three main roads – Victoria, Alexandra and Elizabeth
- A reference to the position relative to that of Queen Park.
- A reference to the position relative to that of Queen Park.
- Suburb adopted the original estate name.
- Suburb adopted the original estate name.
- Derived from the original Estate name, which was in reference to the Umguza River
- The suburb was named after George Romney
George Romney was an English portrait painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures - including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson....
, a British Painter
- Named after Dr. Han Sauer, original owner of the land
- Named after the main road of Selbourne Avenue, now called L.Takawira Avenue, facing Ascot Mansions
- Battle regiment of Mzilikazi
Mzilikazi , also sometimes called Mosilikatze, was a Southern African king who founded the Matabele kingdom , Matabeleland, in what became Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. He was born the son of Matshobana near Mkuze, Zululand and died at Ingama, Matabeleland...
of the Matabele
- Composite name referring to industry.
- This was the first suburb and retained that name.
- The suburb was named by the Estate Developers and Street names are of many Cotswold Villages and towns.
- After British Royal residence (given to present Queen at time of marriage).
- Chosen from list of suggested names
- The name is derived from a Ndebele word ukwethekela meaning “to visit”.
- Suburb name came from the large number of Mimosa (Thorn) trees in the area.
- Estate name
- The “isibongo” or praise name for Lobengula’s mother, Faluta, who was of Swazi extraction.
- Extension in reference to the suburb of Tshabalala
- Named after the Umguza River which runs through it
- Name in reference to Rangemore suburb.
- Estate name
- Named after English town or Guildford Castle
Guildford Castle is in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is thought to have been built shortly after the 1066 invasion of England by William the Conqueror.-Construction and development:...
grounds
- Chosen from a list of suggested names
- Retained the old Estate Name.
Schools
In Bulawayo, there are 128 primary and 48 secondary schools.
- Petra High School
- Petra Primary School
- Whitestone School
- Bulawayo Polytechnic College
Bulawayo Polytechnic is an academic institution established in 1942 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.The polytechnic provides a number of higher education qualifications. It has played host to exchange students from many countries including the United States and western Europe...
- Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo
St. Patrick's Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo is a private multiracial boys only high school located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It was founded in the 1950s and is the most prestigious school in Bulawayo,and probably one of the best schools in the country....
- Falcon College
Falcon College is a private institution of higher learning for boys aged 12–18 in the southern Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1954 near Esigodini , 55 km southeast of Bulawayo on the remains of the Bushtick Mine...
– outskirts of Bulawayo, Esigodini
- Gifford High School
Gifford High School is a government-owned boys only high school in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The school was founded in 1927 as Bulawayo Technical School led by Mr P.H. Gifford and four teachers, with an enrollment of about 39 pupils....
- Hamilton High School
Hamilton High School is a high school located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. In 2003, it was rated by Africa Almanac as number 38 in the top 100 schools in Africa Also rated number four in the top 20 of Zimbabwean schools. It had a very strong old boys network...
- Milton High School
Milton High School is a government all-boys high school located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It was the first government all-boys school established in Bulawayo. It was founded in 1910 and is named after Sir William Milton, administrator of the British South Africa Company. The school's motto is Greek...
- ex-Zimababwean National cricketer and cricket commentator Mpumelelo MbangwaMpumelelo Mbangwa is a former Zimbabwean cricketer and currently, a cricket commentator. He played fifteen Tests and twenty nine One Day Internationals for Zimbabwe. After being dropped from the international side after the 2002 Champions Trophy, he took up work as a cricket commentator for...
was a student in the early 90s
- Mzilikazi Primary School
Mzilikazi Primary School is in the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is located in the western suburb of Mzilikazi behind Barbourfields Stadium.-Notable alumni:*Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo - former Zimbabwe National team mildfielder and defender, now a coach...
- Named after the founder of the Ndebele Nation Mzilikazi
- Mzilikazi High School
Mzilikazi High School is on Old Falls Road in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is named after King Mzilikazi the founder of the Ndebele Nation. The school is well known for its excellent academic achievements and sporting excellence...
- situated in the popular suburb of Mzilikazi.
- National University Of Science And Technology
- Solusi University
Solusi University is a coeducational private university in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Initially established in 1894, one hundred years later, the institution received the authorization of the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe through an act of Parliament to operate as a university.As a university it...