Gutu District

Infobox Settlement

name = Gutu
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settlement_type =District
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image_caption =Typical mode of transport across the district.


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map_caption = Districts of Masvingo Province

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map_caption1 =Masvingo constituency seats for the 2008, showing the division of Chivi (District)
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Zimbabwe
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Masvingo
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Gutu
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established_title = Established
established_date = late 19th Century
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population_as_of =2002
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population_note = estimate (UN)
population_total =198 000
population_density_km2 =22.08
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timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +1
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Gutu is a small district in Masvingo Province, southern Zimbabwe. It is the the northernmost district in the province. Mupandawana is the district service centre, it was designated as a "growth point" during the early years of independent Zimbabwe together with such places as Gokwe in the Midlands Province and Juru in Mashonaland East province.

It is was home to Simon Muzenda, the former vice president of Zimbabwe. Gutu Mission Hospital found in the district, is one of a numbers of center for HIV/AIDS treatment in the province. [AIDS treament centers [http://www.zan.co.zw/newsflash_view.cfm?nfid=12] (accessed 02/18/2008)] The population is mostly the Karanga, a Shona sub-tribe. It is one of a few districts in the province where the standard of living is above average. Gutu Rural District council is in charge of the day to day running of the district.

Geography

Climatically, the area falls under Natural Region III. Natural Regions (NRs) in Zimbabwe's context are areas delineated on the basis of soil type, rainfall and other climatic factors. [CSO, 1997, 144 [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V7K-4GG2J64-1&_user=1458830&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000052790&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1458830&md5=0cfaa99bf92e66711bf74acd3d572f96#bib14] ] It is one of a few districts in the country that suffers from over-population. It's population density of 22.08 per square kilometer is among the highest in the country. [Land Use in Gutu [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V7K-4GG2J64-1&_user=1458830&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000052790&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1458830&md5=0cfaa99bf92e66711bf74acd3d572f96] ] Gutu district center had a population of 10-12000 in 1989. Like other districts in the country, medical facilities in the district suffer from shortage of manpower. [Zimbabwe Brain Drain [http://allafrica.com/stories/200306090504.html] (accessed 02/18/2008)]

Mpandawana Growth Point, a famous business center in Zimbabwe, is found in the district. [Gutu RDC offered 1billion [http://allafrica.com/stories/200708130648.html] (accessed 02/18/2008)]

Government & Politics

General Elections 2008

The district was divided into four parts by the electoral commission for the general elections of 2008. Candidates from both the MDC and ZANU-PF and independents will compete for the four constituency seats available and winner will go one to represent the district in Zimbabwe's new House of Assembly.

Matuke Lovemore (Zanu-PF), and Chirume Oliver (MDC Tsvangirai) will contest the Gutu central seat while in Gutu east, Chikwama Bertha (Zanu-PF), Revai Tichaona (Independent), Makamure Ramson (MDC Tsvangirai) will fight it out. In Gutu north, the candidates are Maramwidze Edmore (MDC Tsvangirai), and Machaya Frank (Zanu-PF) while Mandevu Tarirai (Zanu-PF), and Maguma Stanley (MDC Tsvangirai) are vying for the Gutu west seat.

References