Mabvuku
Encyclopedia
Mabvuku is a high density suburb some 17 km east of Harare
, the capital city of Zimbabwe
.
Its classified as a suburb or township of Harare
, with Harare City Council constituting local government.
It encompasses in particular the townships that include Old Mabvuku and New Mabvuku, and more generally Old Tafara, and New Tafara (the latter two constituting Tafara properly speaking). Chizhanje is a former dormitory surbub of hostels very close to Old Mabvuku that is nominally part of Mabvuku.
Old Mabvuku dates back to the 1950s, with the oldest school in the suburb, Donnybrook Primary School dating back to 1954.
New Mabvuku was built starting 1972 by the then Salisbury city council. Lately there have been expansions north and east via efforts by would be house owners through membership of housing cooperatives and voluntary contributions.
people of the Soko Mbire clan settled in this area c300years ago. Mabvuku as opposed to the present day site of Chishawasha
is the native home of these people. The present site of Chishawasha village was given its prominence by the establishment of the oldest Catholic Mission Church there.
The ancestors of the Shawasha people are commemorated in the street and road names of Old Mabvuku, namely, Tingini, Godzonga, Marembo, Chauruka, Nyamare, Nyahuni, Chatezwi, Nzvere and Shambare. A. C. Hodza's compilation of the praise poetry of the Shona corroborates these facts.
and Workington (Harare)
industrial areas to the west of Harare. In the seventies and eighties it was not unusual to see Nyau (Chigure) dancers, or Muganda extravaganza's owing to the high population of foreign origin. The concept of burial societies, originating in ethnic communities has had general adoption by the indigenous population owing to its benefits.
, Seventh-day Adventists, AFM, Methodists, the various Apostolic groups (Va-Apostora) among others. Attendance is typically very high at the Catholic Church in Old Mabvuku, with two packed services on Sunday morning.
which teaches subjects up the A level, Tafara High School 1 and Tafara High School 2 both of which teach subjects up to 'O' Level
. The following primary schools serve Mabvuku: Donnybrook Primary, Mabvuku Primary, Batanai Primary, Simudzai Primary and Tsinhirano Primary School. All the schools in Mabvuku are government schools, drawing students from Mabvuku, Tafara and Chizhanje areas.
,Gathersare some of the bars that have iconic status in the community, frequented as they are by a large number of patrons. They do not generally feature diners, but there are a variety of private sector players who sell food outside the bars that may include chicken, roast groundnut
s, maize
(corn) and so on. Hired live bands periodically entertain patrons.
Besides the traditional bars (above), there are also a few drinking spots that have emerged in recent years. Unlike the above bars which are popular with the old (machembere) generation and opaque beer (masese), these new places mostly seem to attract young people. Young people regard it as trendy when they are seen at the bottle store rather than the "old" bars. Chamhembe,Jeremiah and Cheers are some of the popular bottle stores that you'll find or hear about in Mabvuku.
. Many people spend time watching or engaging in sporting activities for their livelihood or pleasure. There are a number of sporting activities and groupings in Mabvuku and its surrounding areas. These range from a semi-professional soccer club sponsored by Circle Cement to social clubs commonly referred to as “maBoozers” because they drink and play soccer at the same time. A few sporting facilities are maintained by the Harare City Council at the “Number One” grounds. These include soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts. Schools also run intra and inter-school sports competitions throughout the year.
In recent years the gentlemens game has been budding after the donation of cricket nets and training kits by Circle cement(now Larfage) in collaboration with the zim cricket. This had resulted in the appearance of some of its young players in the domestic supreme league and Zimbabwe U19 such as Garry Chirimuta, Ronnie mutopopo
Memorable sports personalities hailing from Mabvuku include Brenna Msiska, Wilfred Mugeyi
(Silver Fox), William Mugeyi (Golden Fox) , Joe Mugabe(Kode) , Billiard Cheche, Usman Misi [Albert Mabika](Dhalala)[Clever Muzuwa](cyprian Farai Tsaha)... etc
), a company a few miles out of the town. Many people in the town are employed in the government service, either working as teachers, or for the city council. however the informal sector has come to dominate over the past decade and the country's economy has continued to deteriorate and government jobs become scarce and not so lucrative.
. Cases of cholera
, blamed on the relentless water cuts, he been recorded across the Mabvuku-Tafara area.
In recent years the way of life and communalism has rapidly deteriorated in all over Mabvuku and Tafara areas. This is mainly due to poor maintenance of infrastructure by the city councils, as well as misuse of funds by government representatives. Basic services such as water supply, roads, community centres, sanitation and transport are rapidly going down if not non-existent any more. The main purpose for these townships was to provide low-cost housing for general manpower employed in the Greendale
, Masasa, Highlands and Portland suburbs and industries but, the rapid collapse in industries from the early nineties has seen a lot of people losing their jobs and getting redundant resulting in poor or no household incomes. The result has been a lot of home-grown small businesses ranging from vegetable stalls, small barber shops, hair salons and even home-made furniture from those who used to work in furniture factories. One common aspect about this economic survival is that none of it is surveyed and planned by the local councils. As a result, in recent years, these stalls and shops have been demolished by government agencies. Crime rate has been soaring every year and disease and pandemics often break out. HIV
awareness and preventive measures are getting scarce due to the exit of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who promoted and financed these programmes in various communities, hospitals and clinics. Overall, like in most parts of Zimbabwe
, life in Mabvuku has declined rapidly in the previous two decades.
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, the capital city of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
Its classified as a suburb or township of Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, with Harare City Council constituting local government.
It encompasses in particular the townships that include Old Mabvuku and New Mabvuku, and more generally Old Tafara, and New Tafara (the latter two constituting Tafara properly speaking). Chizhanje is a former dormitory surbub of hostels very close to Old Mabvuku that is nominally part of Mabvuku.
Old Mabvuku dates back to the 1950s, with the oldest school in the suburb, Donnybrook Primary School dating back to 1954.
New Mabvuku was built starting 1972 by the then Salisbury city council. Lately there have been expansions north and east via efforts by would be house owners through membership of housing cooperatives and voluntary contributions.
Etymology
The origins of the Word "Mabvuku" are not very certain. Possibly from the Shona "-bvuku"–, ideophone for emerging, to denote the water sprouting out of the numerous swamps around the area. Ma- (place of)+ -bvuku (emerging waters) is a plausible etymology.History
Mabvuku was the home of the VaShawasha people before colonisation. The ShawashaShawasha
Shawasha was a chiefdom in Zimbabwe. It was founded by the Chinamora Dynasty, who settled there around 1744. It became a part of the British Mashonaland protectorate in 1889. Its royal line continued to 1916....
people of the Soko Mbire clan settled in this area c300years ago. Mabvuku as opposed to the present day site of Chishawasha
Chishawasha
Chishawasha is the name of a Roman Catholic Jesuit mission located about 25 km east of Harare, Zimbabwe. The mission was founded by the Jesuit priest Father Francis Richartz in 1892 on a large farm...
is the native home of these people. The present site of Chishawasha village was given its prominence by the establishment of the oldest Catholic Mission Church there.
The ancestors of the Shawasha people are commemorated in the street and road names of Old Mabvuku, namely, Tingini, Godzonga, Marembo, Chauruka, Nyamare, Nyahuni, Chatezwi, Nzvere and Shambare. A. C. Hodza's compilation of the praise poetry of the Shona corroborates these facts.
Ethnicities
Mabvuku and Tafara have an unusually high concentration of people of Malawian, Mozambique and Zambian origin who migrated to seek work mostly before independence. They formed a vast pool of labour as domestics for the nearby suburbs of Highlands, Greendale, Msasa etc, with some working in the industrial area of Msasa and the nearby (1 km north) Portland cement factory. With expansion in numbers in recent years the people of Mabvuku have found some of them working as far afield as WillowvaleWillowvale
Willowvale is the name of an industrial suburb in the South West of Harare, Zimbabwe....
and Workington (Harare)
Workington (Harare)
Workington is the name of an industrial suburb in the South West of Harare, Zimbabwe....
industrial areas to the west of Harare. In the seventies and eighties it was not unusual to see Nyau (Chigure) dancers, or Muganda extravaganza's owing to the high population of foreign origin. The concept of burial societies, originating in ethnic communities has had general adoption by the indigenous population owing to its benefits.
Religion
There is a lively religious scene in Mabvuku. A number of denominations have representaions including the Catholics, Anglicans, Z.A.O.G.A., Presybeterian, Wesleyans, Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Seventh-day Adventists, AFM, Methodists, the various Apostolic groups (Va-Apostora) among others. Attendance is typically very high at the Catholic Church in Old Mabvuku, with two packed services on Sunday morning.
Education
There are three high schools in Mabvuku, viz. Mabvuku High SchoolMabvuku High School
Mabvuku High School, is a high school in the Mabvuku suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe.The school is coeducational for all forms up to A Level students. It opened in 1975 and is the only school in Mabvuku offering A level...
which teaches subjects up the A level, Tafara High School 1 and Tafara High School 2 both of which teach subjects up to 'O' Level
'O' Level
O' Level were a British, late 1970s, post punk, indie band, founded in 1976 by Ed Ball with friends John and Gerard Bennett. The group's name refers to the 'O'-Level of the British General Certificate of Education.-History:...
. The following primary schools serve Mabvuku: Donnybrook Primary, Mabvuku Primary, Batanai Primary, Simudzai Primary and Tsinhirano Primary School. All the schools in Mabvuku are government schools, drawing students from Mabvuku, Tafara and Chizhanje areas.
Night scene
The Hunter, (Machembere) bar, Manresa Bar, the Red BullRed Bull (disambiguation)
Red Bull can refer to:*Red Bull, an energy drink*Red Bull GmbH, the company that manufactures the energy drink*Red Bull Records, independent record label owned by the energy drink company-Sports teams owned by Red Bull GmbH:In association football:...
,Gathersare some of the bars that have iconic status in the community, frequented as they are by a large number of patrons. They do not generally feature diners, but there are a variety of private sector players who sell food outside the bars that may include chicken, roast groundnut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
(corn) and so on. Hired live bands periodically entertain patrons.
Besides the traditional bars (above), there are also a few drinking spots that have emerged in recent years. Unlike the above bars which are popular with the old (machembere) generation and opaque beer (masese), these new places mostly seem to attract young people. Young people regard it as trendy when they are seen at the bottle store rather than the "old" bars. Chamhembe,Jeremiah and Cheers are some of the popular bottle stores that you'll find or hear about in Mabvuku.
Sports and recreation
Mabvuku is home to many budding and former sportspersons in ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. Many people spend time watching or engaging in sporting activities for their livelihood or pleasure. There are a number of sporting activities and groupings in Mabvuku and its surrounding areas. These range from a semi-professional soccer club sponsored by Circle Cement to social clubs commonly referred to as “maBoozers” because they drink and play soccer at the same time. A few sporting facilities are maintained by the Harare City Council at the “Number One” grounds. These include soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts. Schools also run intra and inter-school sports competitions throughout the year.
In recent years the gentlemens game has been budding after the donation of cricket nets and training kits by Circle cement(now Larfage) in collaboration with the zim cricket. This had resulted in the appearance of some of its young players in the domestic supreme league and Zimbabwe U19 such as Garry Chirimuta, Ronnie mutopopo
Memorable sports personalities hailing from Mabvuku include Brenna Msiska, Wilfred Mugeyi
Wilfred Mugeyi
Wilfred Mugeyi is a retired Zimbabwean football player who is an assistant coach at South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town....
(Silver Fox), William Mugeyi (Golden Fox) , Joe Mugabe(Kode) , Billiard Cheche, Usman Misi [Albert Mabika](Dhalala)[Clever Muzuwa](cyprian Farai Tsaha)... etc
Industry
The main heavy industry in the township is/was cement production, represented by Cirle Cement (formerly Portland CementPortland cement
Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world because it is a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco and most non-specialty grout...
), a company a few miles out of the town. Many people in the town are employed in the government service, either working as teachers, or for the city council. however the informal sector has come to dominate over the past decade and the country's economy has continued to deteriorate and government jobs become scarce and not so lucrative.
Effects of Economic decline
The Mabvuku-Tafara towns have been seriously affected by the decline of the economy which have compromised the Harare City Council's ability to provide services to this outlying towns. The residents have suffered through water and power cuts, acknowledged to be the worst scenario in the all of HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. Cases of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, blamed on the relentless water cuts, he been recorded across the Mabvuku-Tafara area.
In recent years the way of life and communalism has rapidly deteriorated in all over Mabvuku and Tafara areas. This is mainly due to poor maintenance of infrastructure by the city councils, as well as misuse of funds by government representatives. Basic services such as water supply, roads, community centres, sanitation and transport are rapidly going down if not non-existent any more. The main purpose for these townships was to provide low-cost housing for general manpower employed in the Greendale
Greendale, Harare
Greendale is the name of a residential suburb in the East of Harare, Zimbabwe....
, Masasa, Highlands and Portland suburbs and industries but, the rapid collapse in industries from the early nineties has seen a lot of people losing their jobs and getting redundant resulting in poor or no household incomes. The result has been a lot of home-grown small businesses ranging from vegetable stalls, small barber shops, hair salons and even home-made furniture from those who used to work in furniture factories. One common aspect about this economic survival is that none of it is surveyed and planned by the local councils. As a result, in recent years, these stalls and shops have been demolished by government agencies. Crime rate has been soaring every year and disease and pandemics often break out. HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
awareness and preventive measures are getting scarce due to the exit of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who promoted and financed these programmes in various communities, hospitals and clinics. Overall, like in most parts of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, life in Mabvuku has declined rapidly in the previous two decades.