Gweru

Gweru used to be named Gwelo. Matabele settlement was named iKwelo ("The Steep Place"), after the river's high banks. The modern town, founded in 1894 as a military outpost, developed as an agricultural centre and became a municipality in 1914. == Geography ==

The geographical coordinates for Gweru Urban are 19° 27' 0'' South and 29° 49' 0'' East. This places Gweru at the centre of Zimbabwe. The area coverage is almost 46 166 km2. The city is built alongside Bulawayo-Harare railway, and the road near the railway spur to Mabuto. Climate == Demographics ==

In and around Gweru, there are attractive places, some man-made and some natural. There is: • Antelope Park • White Waters • Insukamini Ruins == Economy ==

Situated along the road and railway between Harare and Bulawayo and near the rail spur to Maputo, Mozambique, Gweru has become a busy trade centre with modest industrial development. Its products include ferrochromium, textiles, dairy foods, leather, and building materials. The surrounding area, with its rich deposits of gold, chrome, iron, asbestos, and limestone, supports a number of mines. The training section of Zimbabwe's air force is in Gweru at the Gweru-Thornhill Air Base. The city is also known for vibrant farming activities in cattle ranching and farming, including commercial gardening of crops for the export market. The country's oldest shoe manufacturer, the Bata Shoe Company and the Military and Aviation Museums are also some key features for which Gweru is well known. == Culture ==

The Boggie clock tower, located at the intersection of Main Street and Robert Mugabe Way, was built in 1928 in memory of Major William James Boggie. The clock tower is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Chapungu F.C previously played in the ZPSL. Its home was the Ascot Stadium. == Government and politics ==

Primary schools include the private Midlands Christian School. Secondary schools include Lingfield Christian Academy and Midlands Christian College (both private), and Chaplin High School and Fletcher High School. Institutes of higher education include • Gweru Polytechnic Institute • Herentals College • International Correspondence Schools • Mkoba Teachers College • Midlands State University • Zimbabwe Open University == Media ==

Gweru's local newspaper, The Gweru Times, once ceased publishing in 2015 but is now operational. ==Transportation==

Railway Railways arrived in Gwelo (Gweru) in 1902. National Railways of Zimbabwe have the country's largest marshalling yard, Dabuka, on the south side of Gweru. Dabuka plays a pivotal role in rail movement in the country as it is the central hub of the rail links to Mozambique in the east, South Africa in the south and Botswana and Namibia in the south west, lying on the Beira–Bulawayo railway. Gwelo was once home to the Gwelo & District Light Railway, a 2 ft gauge steam for pleasure railway. Roads As a central city (hub), it has direct links to all the other cities and towns of Zimbabwe. It is 164 km from Bulawayo, 183 km from Masvingo, 471 km from Beitbridge, and 275 km from Harare. Road names used are by destination only, for example, the Harare-Bulawayo Road. There are only main roads, no highways or freeways. == Notable people ==

• Brendan Ashby, Olympic swimmer • Patient Charumbira, cricketer • Shimmer Chinodya, writer • Edmore Chirambadare, footballer • Gerald B. Clarke, Rhodesian politician • Malcolm Grainger, cricketer • Gregg Haakonsen, cricketer • Mandy Loots, Olympic swimmer • Orlando Lourenco, tennis player • Paddington Mhondoro, cricketer • Energy Murambadoro, footballer • Kudakwashe Musharu, footballer • Luther Mutyambizi, cricketer • Christopher Muzvuru, Irish Guards piper • Welshman Ncube, politician • Rudolf Nyandoro, Roman Catholic bishop • David Pocock, Australia international rugby union player and politician • Ray Reed, racing driver • Nkululeko Mkastos Sibanda, politician • Alec Smith, Rhodesian Army chaplain, son of Ian Smith • Thomas Sweswe, footballer • Gary Teichmann, South Africa international rugby union player ==Sister cities==

• Basildon, England, United Kingdom • Manchester, United States • Tsumeb, Namibia == See also ==