Rusape

Rusape Rusapi
Town
Rusape Central, Chipwanya Images
Rusape
Coordinates: 18°32′12″S 32°07′29″E / 18.53667°S 32.12472°E / -18.53667; 32.12472Coordinates: 18°32′12″S 32°07′29″E / 18.53667°S 32.12472°E / -18.53667; 32.12472
Country	Zimbabwe
Province	Manicaland Province
District	Makoni District
City	Rusape Municipality
Elevation	1,410 m (4,610 ft)
Population (2004 Estimate)
• Total	29,292
Time zone	CAT (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CAT (UTC+1)

Rusape Dam

Rusape is a town in Zimbabwe.

Location

It is located in Makoni District in Manicaland Province, in northeastern Zimbabwe. It lies approximately 170 kilometres (110 mi), by road, southeast of Harare, the capital and the largest city in Zimbabwe.^[1] Rusape is situated on the main road (Highway A-3), between Harare and Mutare, approximately 94 kilometres (58 mi), further southeast of Rusape.^[2] Rusape sits at an altitude of 4,610 feet (1,410 m), above sea level.^[3]

Overview

Rusape is a large, sprawling town that has not quite reached city status. As is typical of Zimbabwean towns, Rusape has areas of low and high density population. The main high density area close to the town is Vengere township. Other suburbs have also been built since Independence in 1980. Mabvazuva to the east of town, and Tsanzaguru further out. Mabvazuva literally translates to "where the sun rises" (the East). There is also a new fast growing medium density suburb far east sprawling into the farmlands which is called Magamba Township. Its name stemmed from the nearby Makoni District Heroes Acre. Tsanzaguru derived from the Rozvi meaning big sadza,as the Rozvi were known to freely give this to visitors.^[4] Typically noticeable in the surrounding region are the kopjes, msasa trees, occasional tobacco farms and the sometimes densely crowded rural resettlement villages.

Rusape's main piped water supply is from the purpose-built Rusape Dam, which was built on the Rusape River. The river runs in a northwest to southeast direction on the town outskirts. There is also a ceremonial painting of the rock paintings at Diana's Vow. Royal Bank Zimbabwe, a commercial bank, maintains a branch in Rusape.^[5]

History

The name "Rusape" was derived from the word rusapwe which means never dries out, with reference to the ever-flowing waters of the Rusape River, adjacent to the town. The settlement began in 1894 with the establishment of a British South Africa Company post on the Rusape River. A village grew around the post and during the First Chimurenga the village was attacked by Chief Mangwende. At Gwindingwi, during the early days of the first Chimurenga, Chief Makoni was beheaded by the British in front of his subjects, and his head taken to England.

Population

The current population of Rusape is not publicly known. The town has expanded southward, to include the high density area of Vengere and northward to include the low density development known as Silverbow. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 8,216. This rose to 13,920 in 1992. In 2004, the population of Rusape was estimated at 29,292.^[6] The next national population census in Zimbabwe is scheduled from 18 August 2012 through 28 August 2012.^[7] Former Zimbabwean Cricketer Kevin Curran hails from Rusape.

Education

The list of schools in Rusape include the following:

Primary schools

• John Cowie Junior School
• St Joseph's Primary School
• Vengere Primary School
• Rujeko Primary School
• Highveld Primary School
• Mabvazuva Primary School
• Manda Primary School
• Madzingidzi Primary School

Secondary schools

• Vengere High School
• St Joseph's Secondary School
• Tsanzaguru Secondary School
• Tsindi Secondary School
• St Faith's School
• Kriste Mambo High School
• St. Killians High School

Colleges

• Clemag College
• Quick Academy

See also

• Districts of Zimbabwe
• Provinces of Zimbabwe

References