Wedza District

Wedza is a district in the province of Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. It is located about 50 km south of Marondera, and 127 km south of Harare. The Mbire people of the Soko Clan were the early inhabitants mined iron in the Hwedza hills which means "a place of wealth". A village was established in 1910. Gold, beryl, nickel and tungsten was mined in the hills around the village but deposits small to make any mining viable.

Etymology

The word Wedza literally translates to "The lighting of the sun", and myth has it that the word is derived from the location of the ancient town, which was found on the other side of a deep forest.

Geography

Gandamasungo, the famous Wedza mountain range. Also from this range emanates the Save River. Other rivers include Nyamidzi, Ruzawi, Nyamhembe and Chineyi amongst others.

Several people of prominence in civil society and government have emerged from Wedza. These include former Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa, Zifa Chairman Wellington Nyatanga, army general Constantine Chiwenga, educationist Edward Garwe, radio personalities Eunice Goto and Dr Zobha and journalists Tarzzen Mandizvidza and Asel Gwekwerere.

The service centre (growth point) consists of a Spar supermarket, a post office, a filling station, several drinking places and is served by reliable bus services by Chawasarira, Manica, Matemba as well as several minibus operators. An airstrip capable of landing small aircraft is also present.

Notable schools from the Wedza area are: St Annes Goto (Anglican), Mt St Marys (Catholic), Chemhanza (Methodist) and Wedza High School (Government). Other institutions include Gumbonzvanda, St Margaret's Chigondo, Nhumwa, St Leoba's Matsine, Barnabas and Rambanapasi.

References

Macdonald, S. (compiler), 2003. "Winter Cricket : The Spirit of Wedza; a collection of biographies, articles, memories and recollections"; Harare, Zimbabwe : Conlon Printers. ISBN 0-7974-2720-1

Wedzas main school, St Liobus was founded by Augustus Nyamuranga.