Rusape

Rusape is a town in eastern Zimbabwe.

Location

It is located in Makoni District in Manicaland Province, in northeastern Zimbabwe. It lies approximately , by road, southeast of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. Rusape is situated on the main road (Highway A-3), between Harare and Mutare, approximately , further southeast of Rusape. Rusape sits at an altitude of , above sea level.

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'' is to the east of town, and Tsanzaguru is further out by the lakeside. 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''. Tsanzaguru is home to much of Rusape's golden history. The name Tsanzaguru is derived from the Rozvi meaning a big, rocky and tall hill from which the Rozvi were known to have wanted to build to the moon from there. They are said to have wanted to bring the moon to the King's Zunde Ramambo as a gift. It is from this background that all Chiefs countrywide have their badges designed in a circular form resembling the circular dream moon that the Rozvi wanted to bring their King. 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. It is such a big river that the dam was planned with the eastern lowveld sugar-growing areas in mind. Ideally, the Rusape dam was to be a reservoir for irrigation in areas deep down around Triangle and Chiredzi since it pours out into the Save River to the semi-arid regions.

History

''Rusape'' was derived from ''rusapwe'' which means "may it never dry", with reference to the ever-flowing waters of the Rusape River, adjacent to the town. Because there are no other perennial streams in its vicinity, it would be a disaster if the river dried. 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 in 1896, the village was attacked by Chief Mangwende. At ''Gwindingwi'', during the early days, Chief Chingaira Makoni was beheaded by the British in front of his subjects after his death by firing squad and his head was taken to England.

During World War II, over 700 Polish refugees, mostly women and children, escaping from Soviet-occupied Poland, were admitted to Rusape. In 1946, the refugee camp was closed, and the Poles were relocated to Gatooma, from where they were eventually repatriated to Europe.

Climate

Population

The town of Rusape 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. The National Population Census of 2012 in Zimbabwe recorded a population of 30,316 for the town on 17 Augustus 2012. Former Zimbabwean Cricketer Kevin Curran hails from Rusape.

Education

The list of schools in Rusape include the following:
; Primary Schools
* Mount Carmel Primary School
John Cowie Primary School
* St Joseph's Primary School
* Tsanzaguru Primary School
* Vengere Primary School
* Rujeko Primary School
Highveld Primary School
* Mabvazuva Primary School
* Manda Primary School
* Madzingidzi Primary School
* Yorkshere Primary School
* St David's Gunda Primary School

; Secondary/High Schools
* Vengere High School
* St Joseph's Secondary School
* Tsanzaguru Secondary School
* Tsindi Secondary School
St Faith's High School
* Kriste Mambo High School
* St. Killians High School
* Nyakuipa Secondary School

; Colleges
* Destiny College
* Watermark College
* Three Hills College
* Vision College
* Ashanti Dzaro

Religion

The number of churches in Rusape indicates the importance of religion in the community. Christianity appears to be the dominant religion, but African religions persist in and through various Christian denominations. Christianity and indigenous religions have influenced each other from the time missionaries first arrived in Rusape in the early 1900s. Anglican Canon, Edgar Lloyd, presided over St Faiths Mission, from Rusape, from 1903 to 1936.

Places of worship

Christian

Apostolic Faith Mission Church
– Nyanga Road
* – Nyanga Road

Dutch Reformed Church
– Nyanga Road

Emmaus Zimbabwe
(Catholic) – Unknown

Grace Fellowship Church
– Nyanga Drive

One Church
- Magamba Extension

Rusape Community Church
(Methodist) – Chingaira Street

See End Time Message
– Mabvazuva Road
* Seventh Day Adventist Church – Rusape (Castle Base Road); Vengere; Dana

St Bartholomew Anglican Church
(Anglican)– Chimoio Avenue
* St Johns Rusape United Methodist Church - Vengere

St Simon Stock
(Catholic)– Nyabadza Avenue

Watchtower Kingdom Hall
– Castle Base Road

Hindu

Rusape Hindu Hall
– Nyanga Road

Jewish

* Jews of Rusape
* Temple of Beth El of the Church of God and the Saints of God - unknown

Muslim

Mosque
– Vengere Road

THE GOSPEL OF GOD CHURCH

Is located in the Gandanzara area near Dziruni shops on a hilltop called Dandadzi, the church was founded by Johane Masowe And was established in 1932.

Rusape Controversies

Improper Sale of Council Properties
Rusape Town Council has been accused of selling municipal properties without following proper tender processes. A Harare-based developer was awarded property rights under unclear circumstances, and tenants occupying the affected properties were given sudden eviction notices without prior consultation or relocation plans.

The council justified these sales by citing financial distress and alleged bankruptcy; however, alternative solutions to protect affected tenants were not considered. On December 9, 2024, tenants were instructed to renew their leases, only for the council to cancel approximately 50 of these leases just ten days later. This abrupt reversal has caused widespread distress among local businesses and residents.

Muungwe Royal Estate Concerns

The Muungwe Royal Estate housing development has raised concerns due to its proximity to the flood-prone Rusape River. Critics argue that the estate’s location poses a risk to residents, yet the development has proceeded with minimal oversight.

Former MP Themba Mliswa has publicly condemned the developers for misleading the public regarding his alleged involvement in the project. Additionally, reports indicate that some of the developers behind Muungwe Royal Estate have a history of fraudulent activities, leading to calls for stricter regulatory scrutiny.

Failure to Fulfill Financial Obligations

Rusape Town Council has defaulted on several financial commitments, leading to the repossession of crucial municipal vehicles, including fire and refuse trucks. These vehicles were initially financed through tenders, but due to non-payment, they have been seized, raising questions about the council’s financial mismanagement.

Rather than resolving these financial issues through responsible budgetary measures, the council has resorted to selling historic town properties, some dating back to the 1930s.

Non-Payment of Employee Salaries

Over 90 Rusape Town Council employees have reportedly gone 14 months without receiving their salaries. This has raised concerns over labor rights violations and the town's financial management practices.

In contrast, a former town secretary dismissed years ago, has allegedly received $200,000 in back pay, highlighting a misallocation of funds that has further fueled public outrage.

Past Corruption Scandals with No Accountability

Rusape Town Council has been implicated in multiple corruption scandals, with little to no accountability. One such case involved a $500,000 land corruption scandal that remains unresolved, with no action taken against those responsible.

The continued pattern of alleged corruption and mismanagement has eroded public trust in the local government.

Severe Service Delivery Failures

Rusape residents frequently experience severe service delivery failures, including prolonged water shortages and inconsistent refuse collection. This is particularly concerning given that the town is located near a man-made dam, and residents continue to pay municipal rates.

The Ministry of Local Government Commission visited Rusape in early 2025 to assess the town's readiness for an upgrade to municipal status. However, critics argue that the town lacks the basic services necessary for such an upgrade, including reliable water supply, employee salaries, and proper municipal governance.
The Rusape Concerned Residents Trust Controversy

The Rusape Concerned Residents Trust, a WhatsApp group allegedly created to represent local interests, has been accused of operating as a propaganda tool for the Rusape Town Council. Critics claim that instead of advocating for residents, the group primarily defends council actions and censors dissenting voices.

Many residents believe that the platform is being used to silence those raising legitimate concerns about corruption, financial mismanagement, and service delivery failures. The extent of the group's ties to local government officials remains a topic of debate within the community.

See also

* Districts of Zimbabwe
* Provinces of Zimbabwe

References

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Makoni District
Populated places in Manicaland Province