Gwanda

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Gwanda (Zimbabwe)
Gwanda
Location of Gwanda
Mtshabezi River at Gwanda.
Mtshabezi River at Gwanda.

Gwanda is the capital of the province of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. It is located on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road and railway. Gwanda was founded in 1900. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 4,874, the town chiefs refused to acknowledge the results of the 1992 census as they felt they had been undercounted, officially that disputed figure was 10, 565. The name Gwanda derives from that of a nearby hill known as Jahunda (Jahunda is also the name of a high density suburb in Gwanda). Its main stadium is called Phelandaba Stadium and it has 4 primary schools: Jahunda, St Christopher's, Mount Cazalet and Senondo and has 2 secondary schools: Gwanda High and Gwanda Government Secondary. Phelandaba Stadium is home to Njube Sundowns, a Zimbabwe premiere league football team.

The town is the chief centre for southwestern Zimbabwe's cattle district and also trades in agricultural produce. There are gold, asbestos, and chrome mines around Gwanda.

The name also refers to the rural district around the town. Towns and districts surrounding Gwanda include Mbalabala, West Nicholson, Filabusi, Esigodini and Matobo.

Coordinates: 20°56′S, 29°00′E