Zvishavane

Zvishavane, formerly known as Shabani, is a mining town in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. Surrounded by low hills, it lies west of Masvingo, on the main Bulawayo-Masvingo road. Other roads lead from Zvishavane to Gweru, north, and Mberengwa, south-west. It is also on direct rail links to Gweru and Beit Bridge which then link up with Harare and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and to Maputo in Mozambique, and Pretoria in South Africa. It has a private airport serving the city.

Name

Zvishavane was formerly called ''Shabanie'' (used by the mine) or ''Shabani'' (used for the town). The name is derived from the Shona adjective for reddish, referring to the hills around the town.

Zvishavane’s origins trace back to the early 20th century, when it developed as a residential center for workers of the Shabani Mine, an asbestos mine established in 1916 to meet demand during World War I. Initially named Shabani (sometimes spelled Shabanie for the mine), the town grew slowly due to limited infrastructure until a railway connection to Gweru was completed in 1928. This spurred development, and administrative structures evolved from a Village Management Board in 1921 to a Town Management Board in 1930, culminating in municipal status in 1968.

In 1982, the town was renamed Zvishavane as part of a broader effort to replace colonial-era names with indigenous ones. Surrounded by low, reddish hills, the town’s name derives from the Karanga word zvishava, meaning "red hills," reflecting the area's distinctive landscape. As of the 2022 census, Zvishavane town had a population of 59,714, with the broader district, including rural areas, totalling 144,749 residents.

Mining has been the backbone of Zvishavane’s economy. While asbestos from the Shabanie Mashaba Mine remains significant, the region also produces platinum, gold, beryl, chromite, iron ore (notably at Buchwa), and diamonds (from the Murowa mine, 40 km away). The population has grown steadily due to this mining boom, rising from 26,758 in 1982 to 45,325 in 2012, according to national census data.

History

The town developed as a residential centre for Shabani Mine, which started operations in 1916 to supply asbestos during the First World War. Growth was slow due to poor communications until the railway reached the town in 1928. Although the asbestos mine is the biggest producer of the mineral in Zvishavane, platinum, gold, beryl, chromite, iron ore at Buchwa and huge deposits of diamond at Murowa are also mined in the area.

The surrounding area is dominated by cattle ranching, while peasant agriculture is practiced in the nearby communal lands of Mberengwa and Buchwa.

The administration of Zvishavane has developed over the years to keep pace with its growth. A Village Management Board was set up in 1921 and replaced with a Town Management Board in 1930. It was granted municipal status in 1968.

Population

The population of Zvishavane has grown substantially in recent decades due to a boom in mining activity. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 26,758. By 1992, this had risen to 32,984. The population grew further to 35,128 in 2002 and was 45,325 in 2012.

Major Companies

Mimosa Mining Company
* Shabanie Mine
* Sabi Gold Mine
* Murowa Diamonds
* Pote Holdings
* Midlands State University
* TK engineering

Transports

The village has a railway station on the Limpopo railway that connects it to Rutenga and Somabhula.

Culture and Sports

Zvishavane is home to two prominent football clubs: Shabanie Mine FC and FC Platinum, the latter having achieved national success in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. The town’s cultural life reflects its Karanga heritage, with historical ties to the Barwe, Zezuru, and Rozvi tribes before colonial influence.

Zvishavane is the home to 2 major football clubs which are:
* FC Platinum
* Shabanie Mine Football Club

Notable figures

Notable figures from Zvishavane include:
* President Emmerson Mnangagwa - Born on September 15, 1942, in Zvishavane, a prominent Zimbabwean politician and the current President of Zimbabwe (since November 2017). Known as "The Crocodile," he played a key role in the country’s independence struggle and held various cabinet positions under former President Robert Mugabe before ascending to the presidency.
* Alumni of Shabani Primary School include Philip Matyszak, Judith Todd, and George Zambellas.

Gift Amuli
musician
* Mbizvo Chirasha, poet
* Judy Croome, novelist
* Elliot Mujaji, Paralympics gold medalist
* Clement Chimuti, Agrobusiness Entrepreneur of the year and renowned golfer, 2015, 2016, 2017
* Garfield Todd- founder of Dadaya mission and school, missionary and Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia
* Judith Todd- author and journalist
* Lewis Matutu - A politician and member of the ZANU-PF central committee, where he serves as Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs. He is also recognized as a philanthropist and entrepreneur from Zvishavane.
* Farai Mutero - Recognised as a leading machine learning/artificial intelligence scientist in the cyber and military domains.
* Tafadzwa Mawarire - An athlete and former African and National motocross champion. He is also an entrepreneur and mechanical engineering technician hailing from Zvishavane.
* Cephas Msipa - Born in Zvishavane, he was a significant political figure in Zimbabwe, serving as a governor and a key member of ZANU-PF. He was involved in the nationalist movement and later became a respected elder statesman.

References

{{authority control

Populated places in Midlands Province
Zvishavane District
Mining communities in Africa
Mining in Zimbabwe