Mashava

Mashava (formerly known as Mashaba) is a mining village in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe and is located 40 km from Masvingo. Asbestos was and still is being mined in this small Zimbabwean town. There are three mines in the town namely Gath's Mine, King Mine and Temeraire Mine.

Gath's Mine: The mining operations have stopped at this mine, though some of the major buildings are located here such as the General Office - Administration, the hospital, the training centre and the high(Chemberi) and low(Gath's) density residential areas for the workers.

Temeraire Mine: This place has also stopped operations and was until recently a services area with some of the departments still operating from there such as transportincluding the garage, laboritories, the mechanical machine shop,the electrical and civil departments. High (Mupatagore) and low(Temeraire, Eastvale and Westonlee)density residential areas still exist for the workers.

King Mine: This is only place left with mining operations, 1 Shaft and 2 Shaft, the Mill, and the Stores Department are located here. There are also high (Mambo) and low (King) density residential areas are also found here.

The mines were up until the '90s part of Shabani and Mashaba Mines owned by Turner and Newell, who then sold both mines to Mutumwa Mawere for £60 000 000 in a deal sponsored by the World Bank. Both are now under government control after Mawere left the country. The two mines mine asbestos, with Gath's Mine producing the longer fibre.

There are other mines in the area which have now all ceased operations such as D.S.O. Mine, Boss Mine, and Reedbuck formerly Lennox(Rex) Mine. Bere Township is also in existence and Balmain which is the main shopping centre for the town with 1 petrol station, the police station, the post office and a supermarket.

Most of the local population belongs to the Karanga Shona ethnic group. According to the 1992 Population Census, the mining had a population of 15,507.

The name Mashava came from the local "Karanga" term - "Makomo Mashava" meaning the "red mountains". However, the most popular and widely used derivation today is "mavhu mashava", which means "red soil" - most people who live in surrounding villages and districts still call it by this long phrase even today.

Latest rumour has it that the grandchildren of Turner and Newell intend to acquire the mines and resume full production. Chimuroyi Chehama sources, Leeds (UK) based have said negotiations are currently underway.

The situation today is that Shabanie and Mashaba Mines have stopped operating, though the government appointed administarator is still at work. Chakachaya, kaput.

Coordinates: 20°03′S 30°28′E / 20.05°S 30.467°E / -20.05; 30.467