Chitungwiza

Chitungwiza is the third populous urban centre in Zimbabwe and town of Harare Province in Zimbabwe. It is located on the outskirts of Harare.

Chitungwiza
Coat of arms
Nickname:  Chi Town
Motto:  Pamberi nekushandira pamwe
Chitungwiza
Coordinates: 17°59′38″S 31°02′53″E
Country	Zimbabwe
Province	Harare Province
Area
• Total	49.02 km2 (18.93 sq mi)
Elevation	1,448 m (4,751 ft)
Population  (2022 census)[1]
• Total	371,244
• Density	7,600/km2 (20,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Website	www.chitungwiza.co.zw

History

As of the 2022 census, Chitungwiza had a population of 371,244.^[1]

There are two main highways which connect the city to Harare^[2] namely Seke road and Chitungwiza road.

The Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, built in 1995 for the All Africa Games, is no longer functional, and serves as a music and church venue.^[3]

Tonderai Kasu

Informal settlements

Following the civil war, the area experienced rapid Rural-urban migration. Chitungwiza grew rapidly and the squatted area of Chirambahuyo alone had a population of 30,000 in 1979.^[4] Chirambahuyo was demolished by the authorities in 1982 and the inhabitants squatted elsewhere in the city in areas such as Mayambara.^[5]

Slum areas in Chitungwiza were destroyed by Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.^[6] By the mid-2010s, the number of people squatting in informal settlements was growing.^[7] In 2020, the local authorities abandoned their plans to demolish squatter homes in Nyatsime, Seke, St Mary’s and Zengeza, after a court order was requested.^[8]

Demolitions during Operation Murambatsvina in 2005

Notable people

Prominent lawyer, Liveours Mundieta comes from Chitungwiza. ^[9]

The musician Maskiri comes from Chitungwiza.^[10]

The town clerk in 2016 was Dr George Makunde.^[11] In 2019 and 2020, Dr. Tonderai Kasu served as the acting town clerk.^[12] Emmanuel Makandiwa and Alick Macheso are from Chitungwiza.

Current mayor: Lovemore Maiko^[13]