Epworth, Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
Epworth is a suburb in south-eastern Harare
. It is home to some famous balancing rocks.
City Centre. It is a high density suburb populated by mainly poor residents of Harare. It is bisected by a stream into two parts. The Balancing Rocks
found on the northern approaches of the town are famous, featured on all bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
.
A large influx of people occurred during the late 1970s and early 1980s with the population being 20,000 in 1980 and 35,000 in 1987. The Methodist Church could not control the influx of people, and therefore transferred ownership of the farm to the Ministry of Local Government in 1983. By 2002 the population was 113,884. Epworth had not been planned as an urban residential area
, and therefore this rapid increase in population
was occurring on land without any water supply and sanitation facilities. Epworth became the only informal settlement to have been tolerated by the Zimbabwean Government in the post-independence period because of the long history of settlement by some of the residents.
The government decided to upgrade rather than demolish the informal settlement. Since most residents of Epworth had settled in the area spontaneously, public utilities such as water, sewage and electricity were lacking before government intervention. A Local Board formed in 1986 under the Urban Councils Act, and whose members are elected by the community, is responsible for managing the area including the collection of rates and other levies.
Epworth was initially developed into four sub-areas but as the population increased it expanded to nine sub-areas that had extensive squatter settlements. Health
services are provided by two clinics in the area. Also, in Epworth there is a large rock that the people call "Domboramwarwi", which means rock of God.
Out of the 7 wards, only ward 7 does not have running water.All the wards do not have electricity which is found at service centres, some schools and offices only. The majority of the people get by as street vendors and informal manufacturers.
There are no street names but most of the plots are numbered. The residents come from Domboramwarwi, KwaSolani, KuOverspill, KuStopover [Magada]etc. It is a poor suburb. There are three secondary schools namely Epworth High School, Domboramwari High School and Muguta Secondary School which was commissioned in 2007.
“Then, there is the notorious quarry pool on the western approaches of the town whose limpid and translucent water has been used as a dumping site for vehicles stripped of their parts and, of course, murder victims.” People have committed suicide in the pool.
Since most the houses found in the town are built from unburnt bricks, the houses are prone to fall during heavy rains that are wont to lash the area.
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...
. It is home to some famous balancing rocks.
Background
The bustling suburb is located about twelve kilometers out of the HarareHarare
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...
City Centre. It is a high density suburb populated by mainly poor residents of Harare. It is bisected by a stream into two parts. The Balancing Rocks
Balancing Rocks
The Balancing Rocks are geomorphological features of igneous rocks found in many parts of Zimbabwe, and are particularly noteworthy in Matopos National Park and near the township of Epworth to the southeast of Harare. The formations are of natural occurrence in a perfectly balanced state without...
found on the northern approaches of the town are famous, featured on all bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is the central bank of Zimbabwe.-History:The bank traces its history to the Bank of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, founded in March 1956, which in turn was the successor to the Central Currency Board....
.
History
Epworth Mission was established by the Rev. Shimmin more than a century ago, 1890 as a Methodist Mission Station. Epworth then and as today is divided into 7 wards:A large influx of people occurred during the late 1970s and early 1980s with the population being 20,000 in 1980 and 35,000 in 1987. The Methodist Church could not control the influx of people, and therefore transferred ownership of the farm to the Ministry of Local Government in 1983. By 2002 the population was 113,884. Epworth had not been planned as an urban residential area
Residential area
A residential area is a land use in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single family housing, multi-family residential, or mobile homes. Zoning for residential use may permit...
, and therefore this rapid increase in population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was occurring on land without any water supply and sanitation facilities. Epworth became the only informal settlement to have been tolerated by the Zimbabwean Government in the post-independence period because of the long history of settlement by some of the residents.
The government decided to upgrade rather than demolish the informal settlement. Since most residents of Epworth had settled in the area spontaneously, public utilities such as water, sewage and electricity were lacking before government intervention. A Local Board formed in 1986 under the Urban Councils Act, and whose members are elected by the community, is responsible for managing the area including the collection of rates and other levies.
Epworth was initially developed into four sub-areas but as the population increased it expanded to nine sub-areas that had extensive squatter settlements. Health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
services are provided by two clinics in the area. Also, in Epworth there is a large rock that the people call "Domboramwarwi", which means rock of God.
Development status
There are no street names but most of the plots are numbered. The residents come from Domboramwarwi, KwaSolani, KuOverspill, KuStopover [Magada]etc. It is a poor suburb. There are three secondary schools namely Epworth High School, Domboramwari High School and Muguta Secondary School which was commissioned in 2007.
“Then, there is the notorious quarry pool on the western approaches of the town whose limpid and translucent water has been used as a dumping site for vehicles stripped of their parts and, of course, murder victims.” People have committed suicide in the pool.
Since most the houses found in the town are built from unburnt bricks, the houses are prone to fall during heavy rains that are wont to lash the area.