Chivi, or formerly Chibi, is a district in the

Masvingo Province Masvingo is a Provinces of Zimbabwe, province in southeastern Zimbabwe. It has a population of 1.485 million as of the Zimbabwean census, 2012, 2012 census, ranking fifth out of Zimbabwe's ten provinces. Established as Victoria Province by the B ...

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...

. The area was originally established as a

mission station A Christian mission is an organized effort for the propagation of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries, to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as ...

in 1894 by the

Berlin Missionary Society The Berlin Missionary Society (BMS) or ''Society for the Advancement of evangelistic Missions amongst the Heathen'' (German: '' Berliner Missionsgesellschaft'' or ''Gesellschaft zur Beförderung der evangelischen Missionen unter den Heiden'') was a ...

under the name Chibi Mission.

Geography

Chivi is located in a

semi-arid A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi- ...

area and occupies an area of 3,510 km² north of

Mwenezi (District) Mwenezi is a small district situated in southern Zimbabwe. It is bisected by the Mwenezi River and the A4 highway, the main thoroughfare that connects the town of Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, to Masvingo. Background Mwenezi der ...

and west of

Masvingo (District) Masvingo District encampases metropolitan Masvingo, in Masvingo Province in southern Zimbabwe. The district boasts of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument among its list of tourist attractions. Lake Kyle is also nearby. The people in the distri ...

. The district is situated in the drought-prone region of the country with an average rainfall of 450 mm per year.

Demographics

Chivi is inhabited by the

Karanga people The Kalanga or Bakalanga are a southern Bantu ethnic group mainly inhabiting Matebeleland in Zimbabwe, northeastern Botswana and Limpopo Province in South Africa. They are historically related to the Nambya, Karanga, Bapedi and Venda. Curren ...

, who are a subgroup of the

Shona Shona often refers to: * Shona people, a Southern African people * Shona language, a Bantu language spoken by Shona people today Shona may also refer to: * ''Shona'' (album), 1994 album by New Zealand singer Shona Laing * Shona (given name) * S ...

tribe. Much of the district is occupied by subsistence farmers.

Government and politics

The district sends three members to Zimbabwe's

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible gove ...

. Each of the wards in the district has an elected official who works at the rural district council. The district was divided into three sections for the 2008 elections, namely north, central and south. The district has been a stronghold of ZANU-PF since independence in 1980.Sokwanele site
The current Chairman of the Rural District Council is Killer Zivhu whilst the Senator for the area is Josiah Hungwe both of the ZANU(PF) party.

Muzvidziwa Village (Gongwa)

Despite being one of the oldest villages in the district, Gongwa is facing extinction from the massive spread of the growth point. Established in the early 1960s, the villagers witnessed the first and second Chimurenga (war against the white settlers). Starting from the Western hills the village stretches more than 20 hectares to the East. Half of the village has been cut to provide the land for the growth point. In 2000 most of the villagers were moved to various places after the land reform program provided land for them, however conflict among the remaining villagers and the District Council raised as the council did not have enough funds for the relocation of the villagers. The school was built by some Mujibhas to provide education to their children.

Chivi South

Chivi south is made up of wards 1, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 32. Manyiwa village falls under chief Nemauzhe Mutau Zinhumwe, Donono, Mukanga Tumburai Zivuku Runesu Maringire, and others. The MP for Chivi South is Killer Zivhu of ZANU (PF). To note some schools Chamanhanzva High school, Neruvanga, Chasiyatende, Berejena and Magwari Primary school.

Chivi Central

Chivi East comprises wards 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25. The MP for the area is E. Gwanongodza. The councilor of ward 14 is Mandebvu. Village heads: Madhigi village Freddie Madhigi/Madigi Under Chief Chimhamhiwa.

Chivi North

The constituency seat is made up of eleven wards, namely 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, and 32. The MP is Mathias Tongofa. Village heads; Nhapata, Mahagwe, Chipare, Mafuku, Chidhindi, Mangwana, Matumba, Zvidavo, Mhori. The vhief is Madyangove.

Education

Nyaningwe High School

The school is the second largest and at the growth point. Nyaningwe was established in 2001 by a local catholic priest, Father Guido Zannet as a missionary school to curb walking distance crisis to access secondary education at nearby Chibi Mission, Tambudzai and Chinembiri secondary schools are at least from the growth point. In 2015 the school had over 700 students, in form 1 to 4 classes and A level offering commercials and Arts. Most events are held at the Nyaningwe High school Hall which is the best and largest in the district.

Other Schools

The district also has many Missionary schools: Chibi High, Berejena Mission, Nyaningwe St. Lukes and other smaller day secondary schools. Professors Jephias Matunhu and Ageline Hofisi are from this district. Some of the primary schools found in the district are: Mushayi; Madyangove; Mpagamuri;Mapuvire; Mawadze; Musvovi; Chomuruvati; St Marry, Nemauzhe; Berejena mission; Chikofa, Gwamatoto; Muvhundusi, Vundembe, Vuravhi, Dombo, Mazorodze, Mangwana, Nyevedzanai, Masunda South, Masunda North, Chasiya; Matihwa, Mhosva, Befura, Mukotosi, Madamombe, Mudadisi, Sukwe, Takavarasha.

References

{{authority control Districts of Masvingo Province Districts of Zimbabwe