Highfield, Harare
Encyclopedia
Highfield is a high density suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is one of the oldest townships in Zimbabwe
.
Highfield is bordered by Glen Norah
(formally Baxter Farm) to the southwest, Waterfalls to the southeast, Willowvale
& Southerton spanning northeast to northwest. Highfield coordinates are 17 53 28.85S by 30 59 14.72E Google Earth
.This is roughly the centre of Highfield and it marks the north eastern corner of Chengu primary school.
) in Harare, established circa 1930. It was established for black settlement during the colonial era (1892–1980), the first being Mbare/National (Harari)which gave its name to the Zimbabwe capital Harare
. Harare was a corruption of Haarari, meaning (One who never sleeps), a name given to the Zezuru Chief of this north eastern part of Zimbabwe, a Chief Harawa who had his base at the Harare Kopje, a walking distance from Mbare. Highfield was primarily set up by the white settler colonial government to provide labour to the Southerton and Workington industrial areas that border it; this was in a similar fashion to how Harari (Mbare) had been set up to provide labour to Workington and Graniteside.
Highfield has remained a poor suburb despite the regeneration in other areas after 1980. Most of its successful residents choose to move out of the area (in a similar pattern to other high density areas) rather than invest and set up in the area. It also remains a primary destination (like most high density areas in Zimbabwe) for rural to urban migrants, who find it easier to pay for accommodation here and commute to work. They are also attracted by the easier opportunities to start up home businesses/industries at Machipisa and Gazaland Home Industry areas. It thus remains heavily populated, with high unemployment and is socially deprived. Petty crime is high as well as more serious crimes like burglaries, assaults and GBH.
, named after the Zambian capital, a testimony to a significant part of its population who are of Zambian and Malawian origin; Egypt
, Jerusalem and Canaan
named after biblical places; Engineering; Cherima (Dark Zone)used to be off the electricity grid; Zororo (place of rest); and Western Triangle which literary forms a triangle to the west where Highfield border with Glen Norah and Glen View. The newest area of Highfield is Paradise (1996) which is located at the southern end and borders Lusaka; it connects Highfield to nearby Glen Norah suburb to the South and part of it is in Glen Norah.
Old Highfield was established in the 1930s and it comprises 3 distinct areas namely; The 2 Pounds, 5 Pounds, 12 Pounds and The Stands.The most affluent parts of Highfield are the two areas of Old Highfield; The Stands and the 5 Pounds. The stands are so named because when first sold, the area was a greenfield and residents had to build houses of their choices; this is in comparison to the other areas of Highfield where the Government had built low cost basic housing for the natives and sold it at reflective prices. Historically, the yards here are very large and the houses, flamboyant and indulgent to reflect the affluent status of the black Rhodesians who settled here. Black Rhodesians who even if they afforded could not buy properties outside African designated areas naturally settled here. Some of the famous Zimbabweans to own properties here include Innocent Utsiwegota's family, Mwaera and Tawengwa
's and Robert Mugabe
. The 5 Pounds area is so named because the houses here were priced at 5 Pounds when first sold compared to the average of 2 Pounds in other areas as reflected in the 2 Pounds name. The 2 Pounds area is relatively deprived in comaprison to the other two.
and the Bush war. This is because Highfield is the birth place of the Zimbabwe African National Union party now ZANU PFa party led by the now infamous Robert Gabriel Mugabe the president of Zimbabwe. Indeed the suburb did host some of most influential players who ochestrated the war to end minority white settler rule in Zimbabwe. These include The Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole
the first president of ZANU, Joshua Nkomo
president of ZAPU, Herbert Chitepo
first black lawyer in Zimbabwe, the current Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
the first secretary General, Maurice Nyagumbo
, Leopold Takawira
http://www.zimnetradio.com/?p=1642, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Michael Mawema and others. Takawira a teacher by profession became the first vice president of ZANU, had taught at and later became the headmaster of Chipembere primary school
in Highfield before joining ZANU; Tatenda Taibu
attended this school.
Robert Mugabe's house can still be seen in Old Highfield, where it stands, riddled with bullet holes. Mugabe remains a constituent member of Old Highfield and has always cast his vote at Mhofu primary school, a walking distance from his previous residence.
Highfield suburb was considered a security risk by the Rhodesian colonial government such that it was surrounded by a security fence, (A fact quoted by Robert Mugabe during his speech in March 2007 to warn and remind the Opposition MDC party, that he was a hardened man and no push over because of imprisonment and how he had endured and overcome Restriction within a fence "like a goat.") During this time, all residents moving in and out of the area were branded and needed to produce papers stating their business in and out of the area. The bombing of the fuel storage tanks in Workington by Zimbabwean freedom fighters in 1979 was ochestrated in, and launched from Highfield. This incident together with the flagging support from South Africa is widely considered as one of the immediate factors that forced the Rhodesian Minority government to the negotiating table and led to the Lancaster House Agreement
that brought democracy and majority rule to Zimbabwe.
Robert Mugabe and his ZANU party held his 'star rally' campaign for the first democratic elections in Rhodesia at the Zimbabwe grounds
in Highfield. This is where made his famous speech of how ZANU was organised into districts, cells, ..... and that it was inevitable that he would win by a significant majority in the impending elections. The Zimbabwe Grounds comprise 5 football pitches, a cricket ground, tennis and basketball courts. The grounds are surrounded by Old Highfield section on the greater part and share borders with Takashinga cricket ground
(home ground to Andy Flower
and Tatenda Taibu
), Zimbabwe Hall, Highfield Library, a Nursery School, Anglican Church and Chipembere primary school Annexe. The grounds are within a stone throw from Gwanzura
football stadium.
Security forces clashed with opposition party members and church members at the Zimbabwe grounds during a 'peaceful' meeting on 11 March 2007 that was meant to "bring back democracy to Zimbabwe".http://hrw.org/reports/2007/zimbabwe0507/zimbabwe0507web.pdf "It seems therefore that Highfield, and indeed the Zimbabwe grounds remain the launchpads for political and democratic change in Zimbabwe." This might explain why the Zimbabwean Government was so heavy handed in dealing with those brave enough to have attended the meeting. These clashes resulted in the fatal shooting of Gift Tandare
, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change
(a party led by Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
major faction/ and Arthur Mutambara
minor faction). The family were apparently denied permission to bury him in Harare because the government feared reprisals from the MDC supporters. Gift Tandare was buried in his rural home and "he stands a good chance to down in Zimbabwean history as a national hero."
Again in November 2007 Mugabe held a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds which he termed the "Million Man March".
Highfield boasts some of the best social amenities in country with 11 government owned primary schools and 6 High schools.It has other private schools(colleges) offering mostly secondary school education and post school courses, the most common being computers, secretarial, cut and designing etc.
(UZ) in Harare, and National University of Science and Technology (NUST), in Bulawayo.
The other high schools are Mukai(Lusaka), Kwayedza (Western triangle), Highfield 2 (Egypt), AEC (Gazaland) and Highfield Community/ Mhuriimwe (Old Highfield). Highfield Community/Mhuriimwe was built before Zimabawe's independence to cater for those students who failed to get a place at Highfield 1. This was an effort by nationalist leaders that include Robert Mugabe to bring education to what was one of the most deprived 'black areas' in Harare at the time. Mugabe, a teacher by profession became a teacher at this school. This school remains lowly regarded in Highfield and it performs well below the national average. As such, a good percentage of students at this school are not from Highfield.
bus terminus. All the major business people at this centre financially supported the fight for independence. These include Machipisa, Mwaera, Makomva, George Tawengwa
- owner of Mushandirapamwe Hotel and others. Mushandirapamwe Hotel
was at independence the transitional residence of returning Zanu troops. Machipisa grew to be prominent shopping centre because movement of black people was restricted before 1980, and it was therefore necessary to have a self sufficient shopping local area. Machipisa shopping centre is a well established trading centre that boasts banks (Barclays, CABS, CBZ, POSB, Beverly and many new local banks), Night clubs (Saratoga, Jimalo (owned by Philip Chiyangwa
's brother Jimmy), Mushandirapamwe Hotel (formerly a 3 star hotel that hosted Cameroon
national team during their visit to Zimbabwe in 1990s), City council bar with the Gold and Silver rooms where admission demands formal dressing. Machipisa boasts most major grocery shops in Zimbabwe, these include OK, TM, Spar, Lucky 7 etc.
The most modern shopping centre established in Highfield is HighGlen shopping centre on the north western end of Highfield at border junction with Glen Norah
and Glen View suburbs. However, despite its glamour and glitz, HighGlen has failed to attract many shoppers because of it being far from most residential areas. It however attracts the more affluent shoppers from the Marimba Park area of the nearby Mufakose
suburb who can afford to drive to the centre.
Highfield is host to Gwanzura
stadium which hosts premiership soccer matches. Gwanzura
has been a home ground to CAPS united, Blue Line Aces, Black Aces etc. Andy Flower
and Tatenda Taibu
were members of Highfield Takashinga Cricket Club. Stewart Matsikinyere and Hamilton Masakadza
still play for this team.
Highfield Library is one of the best equipped libraries in the country with well-developed children's sections, primary and secondary sections and college sections. This was built by the Chinese and openned by President Robert Mugabe in 1993 to replace the old library at Zimbabwe hall.
The Zimbabwe Hall remains a centre for public and private functions, with the Miss Highfield, Miss Highfield Schools, and Miss Zim Hall held regularly. It is a major centre for Jamaica
n inspired dancehall
music and culture. Dancehall and ragga
music clashes are held here often, with Silverstone
, Stereone, Small axe, Sweet Ebony and African Exodus Batanai being regulars. Zimbabwe hall also hosts a gym, study centre, and a printing centre. The Highfield Tennis Club, Netball club and volleyball teams are based at this centre.
Leisure facilities also include a swimming bath open to the public, tennis and basketball courts at the Zimbabwe grounds and Zimbabwe hall amongst other things.
(Canaan), Methodist in Zimbabwe (John Wesley in Lusaka and others), United Methodist Church in Old Highfield and others), Pentecostal Church (Egypt and others), Zaoga, FOG, Lutheran (Old Highfield and others), Salvation Army (old Highfield and others), Sengwayo; long dresses (Lusaka and Zororo), Baptist (Canaan and others), Maranatha, Presbyterian (Old Highfield), Johanne Masowe, Mai Chaza, The African Apostolic Church led by E P Mwazha, Seventh Day Adventist (Western triangle and others), Jehovah's Witness, Mapositori/Apostles (numerous sects est over 100), AFM and others. For the full list of churches one can visit the Zimbabwe Council Of Churches
, owner of Mushandirapwe Hotel was the first black person to buy a farm in then Rhodesia. George and his wife Mabel were featured in a 1977 Herald to mark this historic milestone. His sons are all business men and farmers and Charles and Solomon Tawengwa
were mayors of Harare with Charles recently appointed Senator. The current president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe
lived in Highfield before coming to power in 1980, indeed he is a constituent member of Highfield.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe 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...
.
Geography
Highfield is a high density suburb to the south west of Harare the capital of Zimbabwe. Popularly known as Fio in local slang. Highfield was founded on what used to be Highfields Farm; The farm houses and the gates can still be seen at, and have become the Highfield Rutsanana Clinic and Municipal buildings in what is now Glen Norah territory; near St Peters Kubatana High School, Highfield Cemetery and Lusaka residential area. The road that used to run southwest from the Manor House across an old bridge spanning Mukuvisi River to the Seven Miles and Derbyshire areas of Waterfalls has become an integral part of Glen Norah.Highfield is bordered by Glen Norah
Glen Norah
Glen Norah is a high-density suburb in Harare.Nearby Highfield township is regarded to be where the fight for the liberation struggle started. Glen Norah is divided in three sections A, B and C with A bordering with another township Glen View...
(formally Baxter Farm) to the southwest, Waterfalls to the southeast, Willowvale
Willowvale
Willowvale is the name of an industrial suburb in the South West of Harare, Zimbabwe....
& Southerton spanning northeast to northwest. Highfield coordinates are 17 53 28.85S by 30 59 14.72E Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
.This is roughly the centre of Highfield and it marks the north eastern corner of Chengu primary school.
Brief history
Highfield is the second oldest suburb (townshipTownship
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
) in Harare, established circa 1930. It was established for black settlement during the colonial era (1892–1980), the first being Mbare/National (Harari)which gave its name to the Zimbabwe capital Harare
Harare
Harare 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...
. Harare was a corruption of Haarari, meaning (One who never sleeps), a name given to the Zezuru Chief of this north eastern part of Zimbabwe, a Chief Harawa who had his base at the Harare Kopje, a walking distance from Mbare. Highfield was primarily set up by the white settler colonial government to provide labour to the Southerton and Workington industrial areas that border it; this was in a similar fashion to how Harari (Mbare) had been set up to provide labour to Workington and Graniteside.
Highfield has remained a poor suburb despite the regeneration in other areas after 1980. Most of its successful residents choose to move out of the area (in a similar pattern to other high density areas) rather than invest and set up in the area. It also remains a primary destination (like most high density areas in Zimbabwe) for rural to urban migrants, who find it easier to pay for accommodation here and commute to work. They are also attracted by the easier opportunities to start up home businesses/industries at Machipisa and Gazaland Home Industry areas. It thus remains heavily populated, with high unemployment and is socially deprived. Petty crime is high as well as more serious crimes like burglaries, assaults and GBH.
Zones/Areas of Highfield
Highfield is divided into several zones, the primary Zones being Old Highfield and New Highfield. New Highfield was established in 1956 and comprises LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, named after the Zambian capital, a testimony to a significant part of its population who are of Zambian and Malawian origin; Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Jerusalem and Canaan
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
named after biblical places; Engineering; Cherima (Dark Zone)used to be off the electricity grid; Zororo (place of rest); and Western Triangle which literary forms a triangle to the west where Highfield border with Glen Norah and Glen View. The newest area of Highfield is Paradise (1996) which is located at the southern end and borders Lusaka; it connects Highfield to nearby Glen Norah suburb to the South and part of it is in Glen Norah.
Old Highfield was established in the 1930s and it comprises 3 distinct areas namely; The 2 Pounds, 5 Pounds, 12 Pounds and The Stands.The most affluent parts of Highfield are the two areas of Old Highfield; The Stands and the 5 Pounds. The stands are so named because when first sold, the area was a greenfield and residents had to build houses of their choices; this is in comparison to the other areas of Highfield where the Government had built low cost basic housing for the natives and sold it at reflective prices. Historically, the yards here are very large and the houses, flamboyant and indulgent to reflect the affluent status of the black Rhodesians who settled here. Black Rhodesians who even if they afforded could not buy properties outside African designated areas naturally settled here. Some of the famous Zimbabweans to own properties here include Innocent Utsiwegota's family, Mwaera and Tawengwa
Tawengwa
The Tawengwas are a notable family of Zimbabwe engaged in business, farming and politics. The original family business was Mushandira Pamwe Buses, established in 1942. In 1960, George Tawengwa became the first black person in Southern Rhodesia to purchase a commercial farm, the Rhodesdale Farm...
's and Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert 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 5 Pounds area is so named because the houses here were priced at 5 Pounds when first sold compared to the average of 2 Pounds in other areas as reflected in the 2 Pounds name. The 2 Pounds area is relatively deprived in comaprison to the other two.
Political history
It is impossible to separate Highfield and its history from the Zimbabwean second war of liberation also known as the Second Chimurenga, also see ChimurengaChimurenga
Chimurenga is a Shona word for 'revolutionary struggle'. The word's modern interpretation has been extended to describe a struggle for human rights, political dignity and social justice, specifically used for the African insurrections against British colonial rule 1896–1897 and the guerrilla war...
and the Bush war. This is because Highfield is the birth place of the Zimbabwe African National Union party now ZANU PFa party led by the now infamous Robert Gabriel Mugabe the president of Zimbabwe. Indeed the suburb did host some of most influential players who ochestrated the war to end minority white settler rule in Zimbabwe. These include The Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole
Ndabaningi Sithole founded the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant organization that opposed the government of Rhodesia, in July 1963. A member of the Ndau ethnic group, he also worked as a Methodist minister. He spent 10 years in prison after the government banned ZANU...
the first president of ZANU, Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Nkomo
Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union and a member of the Kalanga tribe...
president of ZAPU, Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Chitepo
Herbert Wiltshire Chitepo led the Zimbabwe African National Union until he was assassinated on March 1975. Although his murderer remains unidentified, the Rhodesian author Peter Stiff says that a former British SAS soldier, Hugh Hind was responsible.Chitepo became the first black citizen of...
first black lawyer in Zimbabwe, the current Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert 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 first secretary General, Maurice Nyagumbo
Maurice Nyagumbo
Tapfumaneyi Maurice Nyagumbo was a Zimbabwean politician.Working in South Africa in the 1940s, he joined the South African Communist Party. He spent most of the years 1957 to 1979 in detention in Southern Rhodesia. During this time he wrote an autobiography, With the People...
, Leopold Takawira
Leopold Takawira
Leopold Takawira served as the Vice President of the Zimbabwe African National Union after supporting the National Democratic Party and later the Zimbabwe African People's Union.Leopold Takawira was also known by his Mhazi to totem as 'Shumba yeChirumanzi'Takawira was born at Chirumanzi, Victoria...
http://www.zimnetradio.com/?p=1642, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Michael Mawema and others. Takawira a teacher by profession became the first vice president of ZANU, had taught at and later became the headmaster of Chipembere primary school
Chipembere Primary School
Chipembere Primary School is a government primary school at a police camp in the Old Highfield area of Highfield in Zimbabwe. It is split over two sites, with pupils in grade 1 up to 5 housed at the original site at the camp, and those in grade 6-7 housed at the annexe at the Zimbabwe grounds. The...
in Highfield before joining ZANU; Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a wicketkeeper and batsman, and can also bowl right arm off spin. On 6 May 2004, he became the youngest Test captain in history, when he captained his team against Sri Lanka....
attended this school.
Robert Mugabe's house can still be seen in Old Highfield, where it stands, riddled with bullet holes. Mugabe remains a constituent member of Old Highfield and has always cast his vote at Mhofu primary school, a walking distance from his previous residence.
Highfield suburb was considered a security risk by the Rhodesian colonial government such that it was surrounded by a security fence, (A fact quoted by Robert Mugabe during his speech in March 2007 to warn and remind the Opposition MDC party, that he was a hardened man and no push over because of imprisonment and how he had endured and overcome Restriction within a fence "like a goat.") During this time, all residents moving in and out of the area were branded and needed to produce papers stating their business in and out of the area. The bombing of the fuel storage tanks in Workington by Zimbabwean freedom fighters in 1979 was ochestrated in, and launched from Highfield. This incident together with the flagging support from South Africa is widely considered as one of the immediate factors that forced the Rhodesian Minority government to the negotiating table and led to the Lancaster House Agreement
Lancaster House Agreement
The negotiations which led to the Lancaster House Agreement brought independence to Rhodesia following Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965. The Agreement covered the Independence Constitution, pre-independence arrangements, and a ceasefire...
that brought democracy and majority rule to Zimbabwe.
Robert Mugabe and his ZANU party held his 'star rally' campaign for the first democratic elections in Rhodesia at the Zimbabwe grounds
Zimbabwe grounds
The Zimbabwe grounds are an area within Highfield Suburb on the south of Zimbabwe's Capital, Harare. It is surrounded by Old Highfield section on the greater part and share borders with Takashinga cricket ground , Zimbabwe Hall, Highfield Library, a Nursery School, Anglican Church and Chipemebere...
in Highfield. This is where made his famous speech of how ZANU was organised into districts, cells, ..... and that it was inevitable that he would win by a significant majority in the impending elections. The Zimbabwe Grounds comprise 5 football pitches, a cricket ground, tennis and basketball courts. The grounds are surrounded by Old Highfield section on the greater part and share borders with Takashinga cricket ground
Takashinga cricket ground
Takashinga cricket club is a cricket club in Highfield, Harare. Some of its famous members include Andy Flower and Tatenda Taibu. The club's ground is located at the Zimbabwe grounds in the Highfield. As of 2007-08, it is one of the strongest cricket clubs in Zimbabwe.The club was created in 1990...
(home ground to Andy Flower
Andy Flower
Andrew "Andy" Flower OBE is a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe and is currently the England coach.-Playing career:...
and Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a wicketkeeper and batsman, and can also bowl right arm off spin. On 6 May 2004, he became the youngest Test captain in history, when he captained his team against Sri Lanka....
), Zimbabwe Hall, Highfield Library, a Nursery School, Anglican Church and Chipembere primary school Annexe. The grounds are within a stone throw from Gwanzura
Gwanzura
Gwanzura is a football stadium in Highfield, Harare. It is bordered by Mushandirapamwe Hotel, Machipisa council bar, bus station, Jerusalem suburb and by a BP station owned by the Tawengwas. In history, it has been the home ground of CAPS united, Blue line aces and Lions...
football stadium.
Security forces clashed with opposition party members and church members at the Zimbabwe grounds during a 'peaceful' meeting on 11 March 2007 that was meant to "bring back democracy to Zimbabwe".http://hrw.org/reports/2007/zimbabwe0507/zimbabwe0507web.pdf "It seems therefore that Highfield, and indeed the Zimbabwe grounds remain the launchpads for political and democratic change in Zimbabwe." This might explain why the Zimbabwean Government was so heavy handed in dealing with those brave enough to have attended the meeting. These clashes resulted in the fatal shooting of Gift Tandare
Gift Tandare
Gift Tandare was a member of the Zimbabwe political party Movement for Democratic Change. He was shot dead by police at a prayer meeting. The government of Zimbabwe denied the family permission to bury him at Granville cemetery in Harare, fearing reprisals from mourners. He was laid to rest at his...
, a member of the Movement for Democratic Change
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
(a party led by Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
major faction/ and Arthur Mutambara
Arthur Mutambara
Arthur Guseni Oliver Mutambara is a Zimbabwean politician. He became the President of the Movement for Democratic Change-Mutambara faction in February 2006. He has worked as the Managing Director and CEO of Africa Technology and Business Institute since September 2003...
minor faction). The family were apparently denied permission to bury him in Harare because the government feared reprisals from the MDC supporters. Gift Tandare was buried in his rural home and "he stands a good chance to down in Zimbabwean history as a national hero."
Again in November 2007 Mugabe held a rally at the Zimbabwe Grounds which he termed the "Million Man March".
Highfield boasts some of the best social amenities in country with 11 government owned primary schools and 6 High schools.It has other private schools(colleges) offering mostly secondary school education and post school courses, the most common being computers, secretarial, cut and designing etc.
Education
The most prominent high school in Highfield is Highfield High school 1. This was established in 1963 and then, was a preserve of the academic black elite.The majority of its students are from the 11 local primary schools, but it also serves surrounding suburbs of Glen Norah and Glen View. It offers secondary education from form 1 to form 6 (A Level). Academically, it remains an average school with pass rates at O level being in line with the national average. It performs better at A Levels were pass rate is well over 90%. However, few of its graduates achieve enough points to be admitted to the top universities in the country, University of ZimbabweUniversity of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
(UZ) in Harare, and National University of Science and Technology (NUST), in Bulawayo.
The other high schools are Mukai(Lusaka), Kwayedza (Western triangle), Highfield 2 (Egypt), AEC (Gazaland) and Highfield Community/ Mhuriimwe (Old Highfield). Highfield Community/Mhuriimwe was built before Zimabawe's independence to cater for those students who failed to get a place at Highfield 1. This was an effort by nationalist leaders that include Robert Mugabe to bring education to what was one of the most deprived 'black areas' in Harare at the time. Mugabe, a teacher by profession became a teacher at this school. This school remains lowly regarded in Highfield and it performs well below the national average. As such, a good percentage of students at this school are not from Highfield.
Amenitiess
The major shopping centre is Machipisa shopping centre, this was named after a prominent black business man; a store bearing his name can still be found at Mbare MusikaMbare Musika
Mbare Musika is the major trading market for vegetables and fruits in Mbare suburb of Harare Zimbabwe. It acts as the distribution centre for agricultural produce in Zimbabwe with Millions of dollars worth of trade happening daily. It is also the major bus station for rural bound and incoming...
bus terminus. All the major business people at this centre financially supported the fight for independence. These include Machipisa, Mwaera, Makomva, George Tawengwa
George Tawengwa
George Tawengwa was a prominent Zimbabwean businessman. He was the owner of Mushandirapamwe Hotel at Machipisa shopping centre in Highfield, Harare and others. He was the first black person to buy a farm in 1960, in then Rhodesia...
- owner of Mushandirapamwe Hotel and others. Mushandirapamwe Hotel
Mushandirapamwe Hotel
Mushandirapamwe Hotel is a hotel at Machipisa Shopping Centre in Highfield, Harare Zimbabwe. It is owned by the Tawengwa family, sons of George Tawengwa. The first manager was Solomon and Charles being the current....
was at independence the transitional residence of returning Zanu troops. Machipisa grew to be prominent shopping centre because movement of black people was restricted before 1980, and it was therefore necessary to have a self sufficient shopping local area. Machipisa shopping centre is a well established trading centre that boasts banks (Barclays, CABS, CBZ, POSB, Beverly and many new local banks), Night clubs (Saratoga, Jimalo (owned by Philip Chiyangwa
Philip Chiyangwa
Philip Chiyangwa the founder of the Affirmative Action Group, a chair of Native Africa Investments Ltd., and has served as an MP for the ZANU-PF party in Zimbabwe. He is a cousin of President Robert Mugabe....
's brother Jimmy), Mushandirapamwe Hotel (formerly a 3 star hotel that hosted Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
national team during their visit to Zimbabwe in 1990s), City council bar with the Gold and Silver rooms where admission demands formal dressing. Machipisa boasts most major grocery shops in Zimbabwe, these include OK, TM, Spar, Lucky 7 etc.
The most modern shopping centre established in Highfield is HighGlen shopping centre on the north western end of Highfield at border junction with Glen Norah
Glen Norah
Glen Norah is a high-density suburb in Harare.Nearby Highfield township is regarded to be where the fight for the liberation struggle started. Glen Norah is divided in three sections A, B and C with A bordering with another township Glen View...
and Glen View suburbs. However, despite its glamour and glitz, HighGlen has failed to attract many shoppers because of it being far from most residential areas. It however attracts the more affluent shoppers from the Marimba Park area of the nearby Mufakose
Mufakose
Mufakose is the totem of the Hwata Shona people of central Zimbabwe who settled in the Mazoe valley in the early nineteenth century.Three brothers, Shayachimwe Mukombami, Nyakudya Chiweshe and Gutsa left their ancestral lands under Nyashanu in Buhera.After settling down in the Harare-Mazoe area,...
suburb who can afford to drive to the centre.
Highfield is host to Gwanzura
Gwanzura
Gwanzura is a football stadium in Highfield, Harare. It is bordered by Mushandirapamwe Hotel, Machipisa council bar, bus station, Jerusalem suburb and by a BP station owned by the Tawengwas. In history, it has been the home ground of CAPS united, Blue line aces and Lions...
stadium which hosts premiership soccer matches. Gwanzura
Gwanzura
Gwanzura is a football stadium in Highfield, Harare. It is bordered by Mushandirapamwe Hotel, Machipisa council bar, bus station, Jerusalem suburb and by a BP station owned by the Tawengwas. In history, it has been the home ground of CAPS united, Blue line aces and Lions...
has been a home ground to CAPS united, Blue Line Aces, Black Aces etc. Andy Flower
Andy Flower
Andrew "Andy" Flower OBE is a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe and is currently the England coach.-Playing career:...
and Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a wicketkeeper and batsman, and can also bowl right arm off spin. On 6 May 2004, he became the youngest Test captain in history, when he captained his team against Sri Lanka....
were members of Highfield Takashinga Cricket Club. Stewart Matsikinyere and Hamilton Masakadza
Hamilton Masakadza
Hamilton Masakadza is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm leg-break bowler.In February 2000 he became the first black Zimbabwean to score a first-class century. Soon after, in July 2001 he became the youngest player to make a century on his Test debut...
still play for this team.
Highfield Library is one of the best equipped libraries in the country with well-developed children's sections, primary and secondary sections and college sections. This was built by the Chinese and openned by President Robert Mugabe in 1993 to replace the old library at Zimbabwe hall.
The Zimbabwe Hall remains a centre for public and private functions, with the Miss Highfield, Miss Highfield Schools, and Miss Zim Hall held regularly. It is a major centre for Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n inspired dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
music and culture. Dancehall and ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
music clashes are held here often, with Silverstone
Silverstone
Silverstone is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is about from Towcester on the former A43 main road, from the M1 motorway junction 15A and about from the M40 motorway junction 10, Northampton, Milton Keynes and Banbury...
, Stereone, Small axe, Sweet Ebony and African Exodus Batanai being regulars. Zimbabwe hall also hosts a gym, study centre, and a printing centre. The Highfield Tennis Club, Netball club and volleyball teams are based at this centre.
Leisure facilities also include a swimming bath open to the public, tennis and basketball courts at the Zimbabwe grounds and Zimbabwe hall amongst other things.
Churches
Highfield is also famous for its numerous churches of all denominations these include; Roman Catholic churches (St Marks, St Pauls, St Marys branches in Engineering, Old Highfield and others), Anglican (Old Highfield and others), Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (Canaan), Dutch Reformed ChurchDutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
(Canaan), Methodist in Zimbabwe (John Wesley in Lusaka and others), United Methodist Church in Old Highfield and others), Pentecostal Church (Egypt and others), Zaoga, FOG, Lutheran (Old Highfield and others), Salvation Army (old Highfield and others), Sengwayo; long dresses (Lusaka and Zororo), Baptist (Canaan and others), Maranatha, Presbyterian (Old Highfield), Johanne Masowe, Mai Chaza, The African Apostolic Church led by E P Mwazha, Seventh Day Adventist (Western triangle and others), Jehovah's Witness, Mapositori/Apostles (numerous sects est over 100), AFM and others. For the full list of churches one can visit the Zimbabwe Council Of Churches
Notable people from Highfield
George TawengwaGeorge Tawengwa
George Tawengwa was a prominent Zimbabwean businessman. He was the owner of Mushandirapamwe Hotel at Machipisa shopping centre in Highfield, Harare and others. He was the first black person to buy a farm in 1960, in then Rhodesia...
, owner of Mushandirapwe Hotel was the first black person to buy a farm in then Rhodesia. George and his wife Mabel were featured in a 1977 Herald to mark this historic milestone. His sons are all business men and farmers and Charles and Solomon Tawengwa
Tawengwa
The Tawengwas are a notable family of Zimbabwe engaged in business, farming and politics. The original family business was Mushandira Pamwe Buses, established in 1942. In 1960, George Tawengwa became the first black person in Southern Rhodesia to purchase a commercial farm, the Rhodesdale Farm...
were mayors of Harare with Charles recently appointed Senator. The current president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert 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...
lived in Highfield before coming to power in 1980, indeed he is a constituent member of Highfield.
Entertainment
- Oliver Mtukudzi, an international superstar and acclaimed musician, born and raised in Highfield
- Thomas MapfumoThomas MapfumoThomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo is a Zimbabwean musician known as "The Lion of Zimbabwe" and "Mukanya" for his immense popularity and for the political influence he wields through his music, including his sharp criticism of the government of President Robert Mugabe...
, an international musician, owns a Division one soccer team Lions based at Gwanzura stadium, regular performer at Machipisa - Marshall Munhumumwe and 4 brothers, musicians, formed in Highfield and were regulars at Machipisa night club and Saratoga.
- James Chimombe, a musician, grew up in Highfield and was mentored by Daniel Mugona (Sekuru Daniel) of Lusaka Highfield,sponsored and promoted by Prominent Harare Black Businessman Paul Mkondo at Hide Out Club 99.
- Mukadota (Safirio Madzikatire), a massively popular multi-talented performing artist used the Cyril Jennings Hall better known as(CJ)in Old Highfield as a base for rehearsals.
- TinashéTinasheTinashé is a Zimbabwe-born British singer-songwriter, born in Zimbabwe 4 April 1984, known for his synth-pop sound and his African influences.-Biography:Tinashé was born in the township of Highfield, birthplace to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe...
, a British singer-songwriter.