Beatrice, Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
Beatrice is a village in the province of Mashonaland East
, Zimbabwe
. It is located about 54 km south-west of Harare
on the main Harare-Masvingo
next to the Umfului River. According to the 1982 Population Census, the village had a population of 1,300. The village was named after the Beatrice gold
mine, around which it grew. The mine was in operation from 1895 to 1945 and was named after the sister of Lieutenant Henry Borrow, a member of the Pioneer Column
. Gold is still mined at the Joyce Mine nearby. Mixed farming and Dairy
takes place in the surrounding area.
In March 2009, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
's vehicle was involved in an accident which led to the death of his wife, Susan
, on the Harare-Masvingo road near Beatrice. She was taken to a hospital in Beatrice where she was pronounced dead.
The area gained further notoriety in August 2011, when a fire broke out at Alamein Farm
, a 5000 Hectare farm which had been requisitioned by the owner in 2003 by retired General Solomon Mujuru
and his Wife, Vice President of Zimbabwe
, Joice Mujurukilling the General and another officially unidentified person in circumstances that many commentators suggest were suspicious
Mashonaland East
Mashonaland East is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 32,230 km² and a population of approximately 1.1 million . Marondera is the capital of the province.-Districts:Mashonaland East is divided into eight districts:* Chikomba* Goromonzi...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is located about 54 km south-west of Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
on the main Harare-Masvingo
Masvingo
Masvingo is a town in south-eastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province. The town is close to Great Zimbabwe, the national monument from which the country takes its name.- History :...
next to the Umfului River. According to the 1982 Population Census, the village had a population of 1,300. The village was named after the Beatrice gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mine, around which it grew. The mine was in operation from 1895 to 1945 and was named after the sister of Lieutenant Henry Borrow, a member of the Pioneer Column
Pioneer Column
The Pioneer Column was a force raised by Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company in 1890 and used in his efforts to annex the territory of Mashonaland, later part of Southern Rhodesia ....
. Gold is still mined at the Joyce Mine nearby. Mixed farming and Dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
takes place in the surrounding area.
In March 2009, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
's vehicle was involved in an accident which led to the death of his wife, Susan
Susan Tsvangirai
Susan Nyaradzo Tsvangirai was a prominent figure in Zimbabwean politics as a notable member of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai political party, and was the wife of Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's Prime Minister...
, on the Harare-Masvingo road near Beatrice. She was taken to a hospital in Beatrice where she was pronounced dead.
The area gained further notoriety in August 2011, when a fire broke out at Alamein Farm
Alamein Farm
Alamein Farm, also known as Ruzambu Farm, is a 5,000 hectare farm at Beatrice, in the Mashonaland East area of Zimbabwe, 72 km south of the capital Harare. It was a highly productive commercial farming operation, employing around one thousand people and producing large quantities of tobacco,...
, a 5000 Hectare farm which had been requisitioned by the owner in 2003 by retired General Solomon Mujuru
Solomon Mujuru
Solomon Mujuru, also known as Rex Nhongo was a Zimbabwean military officer and politician who led Robert Mugabe's guerrilla forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. He was from the Zezuru clan. In post-independence Zimbabwe, he went on to become army chief before leaving government service in 1995...
and his Wife, Vice President of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Joice Mujurukilling the General and another officially unidentified person in circumstances that many commentators suggest were suspicious