Lower Gwelo (Zimbabwe)

Lower Gwelo
Settlement type: Linear along roads, dispersed elsewhere
Country	Zimbabwe
Province	Midlands
Government
• Parliamentarian	Josphat Madubeko
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)

Lower Gwelo (officially known as Lower Gweru) is a developed communal settlement in the Midlands province, Zimbabwe and is located about 40km north-west of Gweru,and stretches a further 50 km to the west. Chiefdoms in Lower Gwelo include Sogwala, Sikombingo and Bunina.Currently there is a wrangle between two men over the chieftaincy of Bunina with Local government Minister Ignatious Chombo being accused of contravening the Traditional leaders Act. The settlement type is well planned and is mostly linear along roads although it is dispersed in some remote areas.There are several business centres which include Maboleni and Insukamini a former district administration centre which is also one of the few state townships in the country. Since 2003 Vine Ncube has been the councilor of Madikane Ward 1.

Geography

Lower Gwelo's geographical coordinates are 19° 14' 0" South, 29° 15' 0" East.Most of the areas are well watered and marshy. The major river is Vungu which is a tributary of the greater Shangani river.

Demography

The principal language is Ndebele and is understood by virtual the whole populace.

Economy

Market gardening is the main economic activity in Lower Gwelo since the soils are fertile and well watered all year round.

Government & politics

Currently neither MDC nor ZANU PF can claim the area as their stronghold as results from the previous elections show a fifty-fifty orientation. However at the present moment the member of parliament is from ZANU PF.Like every other Ndebele speaking place in Zimbabwe, Lower Gwelo was not spared from Robert Mugabe's mass killings of the 1980s Gukurahundi.

Notable places

• Maboleni
• Insukamini
• Sogwala
• Lower Gwelo Mission
• Sikombingo
• NtabaMhlophe
• Dufuya
• Mhlahlandlela
• Makhulambila
• Madikane
• Mankunzane
• Shagari
• St Faith
• Matshabeleni
• Makepesi
• Matshabeleni
• Dimbamiwa
• Sibomvu
• Vungu

References

1. http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/z/ZI6700000QJ63560.php 2. http://www.maplandia.com/zimbabwe/midlands/gweru-rural/nsukumini/ 3. http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/sep27a_2009.html#Z11