| Dete Dett |
|
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Elevation | 1,091 m (3,579 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | approx 1,000 |
Dete (previously known as Dett) is a small railway re-crewing depot and village on the Bulawayo-Hwange-Victoria Falls railway line in Zimbabwe, approximately 415 km (258 mi) north-west of Bulawayo and 93 km (58 mi) south-east of Hwange, lying within the Hwange National Park.
While unpopular with train crews stationed there because of its relative isolation and limited shopping and education facilities, these drawbacks are offset with a daily financial allowance and an extra day's paid leave for every month served by workers.
There are three main surbubs. The largest of these are the densely populated Mtuya and Soweto. Mtuya is made up of predominantly mud houses with thatch roofs, while Soweto is composed of brick houses with asbestos roofing. The smaller and less densely populated surbub is the 'Railways' surbub, built by the railways for its workers, but inhabited by a mixture of the wealthier Dete inhabitants.
Residents of Dete are used to seing wild game visit their houses and backyards. For visitors, Dete offers easy access to Hwange Main Camp, a popular entry point to the Hwange National Park. There is also access to the local Detema Safari Lodge, as well as the Hwange Safari Lodge.
There are two primary schools, Sir Row Welensky School, Dete (located within the Railways surbub, and St Francis Xavier School, Dete (a catholic school). There is a local day secondary school called Detema Secondary School, as well as the more established Marist Brothers Secondary School Dete, Zimbabwe, located 5km from Dete town.
Dete is near the Kamativi tin mine.
Bulawayo-based train crews booked off on arrival at Dete, while Dete or Hwange train crews worked the train further north to Hwange.
This system of trains working was phased out when diesel locomotives were introduced on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls railway line.