Mukumbura

As a remote and marginal area of Zimbabwe, Mukumbura is categorised as "poverty-stricken and limited in socio-economic growth". Acting as the border crossing between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, women usually take advantage of their proximity to Mozambique to acquire secondhand goods from Mozambique at a lower price and resell them in Zimbabwe at a higher price that then allows them to maximise profits. The area of Mukumbura lies within a region that is determined as a 'semi-extensive farming' region, presented through the Zimbabwean agro-ecological classification. In general, the soils are sandy and contain an acidic pH as a result of poor management by the farmers who take part in constant cultivation without replenishment of nutrients. The border operates from 6am-6pm (GMT+2). When visiting and entering Zimbabwe, all visitors are required to present a valid passport, and original vehicle registration papers and licence when travelling with a vehicle. If the visitor is driving a vehicle not their own, they must provide an affidavit signed by the owner that authorises its use by another person as well as third-party insurance. Payments in USD or ZAR are made for road access fees that are based on vehicle size, and a carbon pollution fee. == Geography ==

Low rainfall combined with the high temperatures (over 25 degrees Celsius) means that there is a limited amount of surface water resources even throughout normal seasons. The land itself is primarily flat, locally dissected and stony. The soil is mainly residual, well-drained, shallow to moderately deep fine-grained sandloams over brown to yellowish-red sand. == Effects of the Rhodesian Bush War ==

Because of the Rhodesian Bush War almost a quarter of a million African people in Rhodesia were strategically resettled into protected/consolidated villages which dictated many aspects of people's lives. This resettlement was called Operation Overload. By the end of 1974, multiple protected and consolidated villages were set up, and this included the Mukumbura Protected Village, which had three closely knit fenced-on camps, holding around 4,300 people. Mukumbura was chosen as a prime exemplar and regarded as a showpiece by the government to show to journalists and other important visitors how the government has implemented and maintained protection for its people. Some of the local women were also trained by the administration as community workers in order to teach simple domestic skills to the women in these protected villages. == Demographic ==

As a consequence of the landmines and the danger they present, many people live in constant fear that is breeding uncertainties in the future of those settled in the area. This safety issue that is impacting individuals, as well as prospects for development, is pushing residents to move and settle in safer places, such as Rushinga and Mutare communal areas, which are becoming increasingly densely populated due to this. Naturally, Mukumbura has faced a growing underpopulation as a landmine-infested area. ==In popular culture==

Mukumbura was immortalized in the song "It's a Long Way to Mukumbura" by Mike Westcott and Leprechaun. The 1977 song is set to the music of the British song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". It rose to #2 on the Rhodesian hit music charts. The song expressed, in humorous form, the physical distance to Mukumbura from other parts of the country while also celebrating the contributions made by different branches of the Rhodesian armed forces to the Rhodesian Bush War. ==References==