Marondera
Encyclopedia
Marondera is a town in Mashonaland East
, Zimbabwe
, located about 72 km east of Harare
; population 39,384 (Central Statistical Office, Zimbabwe. Census of Population, 1992. The population was estimated at 46,000 in 2002. Harare: Government Printer). One of the earliest centres of white settlement in the former colony of Southern Rhodesia
, Marondera was one of the centres of Zimbabwe's large forestry and farming district and markets timber, tobacco, corn (maize), beef, and dairy products until the seizure of white-owned farms and redistribution
of land began in 2000.
) to Umtali (now Mutare
). It was first known as Marandella's Kraal, corrupted from Marondera, chief of the ruling Barozwi people. This was later contracted to Marandellas. Later destroyed in the Shona resistance of 1896, the town was moved 4 miles (6 km) north to the Salisbury-Beira
railway line. Constituted a village in 1913, it became a town in 1943. During the South African (Boer) War
it was used by the British as a staging point for military operations into the Transvaal
, and in World War II
it was a refuge for displaced Poles. It is an educational centre with numerous elite private and government schools in the area. Marondera houses some of the most popular high schools and junior schools in Zimbabwean history such as Bernard Mizeki College, Peterhouse, Watershed College, Rakodzi High School, Marondera High School. Junior schools in Marondera include Ruzawi Prep, Godfrey Huggins, Diggleford School,lendy park and Springvale House. It also houses an agricultural and commercial college aptly named Kushinga Phikelela and a government research station called Grasslands Research Station.
is practised by a small number of people in Marondera Asians and those people of Malawian descent. The indigenous people of Marondera descend mainly from the Shona
royal families of Svosve, and the nearby royal households of Chikwaka and Nyashanu. They are traditionally peasant farmers.
Marondera has several very good schools, which have been in operation for many years, however, in recent times many of these schools are struggling, due to the economic and social problems facing Zimbabwe. The junior schools include Godfrey Huggins, Tapfuma School, Dombotombo School, Springvale House, Digglefold and Ruzawi School
and the senior schools are Marondera High School
, Peterhouse Group of Boarding Schools
, Rakodzi High, Watershed, Bernard Mizeki College
, Waddilove High School
& Nagle House. The first black mayor of Marondera was T. K. Muronda in 1980.
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...
, located about 72 km east 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...
; population 39,384 (Central Statistical Office, Zimbabwe. Census of Population, 1992. The population was estimated at 46,000 in 2002. Harare: Government Printer). One of the earliest centres of white settlement in the former colony of Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, Marondera was one of the centres of Zimbabwe's large forestry and farming district and markets timber, tobacco, corn (maize), beef, and dairy products until the seizure of white-owned farms and redistribution
Land reform in Zimbabwe
Land reform in Zimbabwe officially began in 1979 with the signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, an effort to more equitably distribute land between the historically disenfranchised blacks and the minority-whites who ruled Zimbabwe from 1890 to 1979...
of land began in 2000.
History
It originated in 1890 as a rest house on the road from Salisbury (now 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...
) to Umtali (now Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
). It was first known as Marandella's Kraal, corrupted from Marondera, chief of the ruling Barozwi people. This was later contracted to Marandellas. Later destroyed in the Shona resistance of 1896, the town was moved 4 miles (6 km) north to the Salisbury-Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
railway line. Constituted a village in 1913, it became a town in 1943. During the South African (Boer) War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
it was used by the British as a staging point for military operations into the Transvaal
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
, and in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was a refuge for displaced Poles. It is an educational centre with numerous elite private and government schools in the area. Marondera houses some of the most popular high schools and junior schools in Zimbabwean history such as Bernard Mizeki College, Peterhouse, Watershed College, Rakodzi High School, Marondera High School. Junior schools in Marondera include Ruzawi Prep, Godfrey Huggins, Diggleford School,lendy park and Springvale House. It also houses an agricultural and commercial college aptly named Kushinga Phikelela and a government research station called Grasslands Research Station.
Demographics
The town is multi-cultural, with a variety of ethnic groups. Within the African population is a proportion of people of Malawian origin whose parents migrated and took employment on the white owned tobacco farms which the local people would have shunned because of poor living conditions. The main faiths in Marondera are secular traditional Christians, evangelicals and mapostori (a sect of old testament bible followers who live like ancient prophets and may dress in white robes). IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is practised by a small number of people in Marondera Asians and those people of Malawian descent. The indigenous people of Marondera descend mainly from the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
royal families of Svosve, and the nearby royal households of Chikwaka and Nyashanu. They are traditionally peasant farmers.
Marondera has several very good schools, which have been in operation for many years, however, in recent times many of these schools are struggling, due to the economic and social problems facing Zimbabwe. The junior schools include Godfrey Huggins, Tapfuma School, Dombotombo School, Springvale House, Digglefold and Ruzawi School
Ruzawi School
Ruzawi School was established in 1928 by joint founders, Canon Robert Grinham and Mr Maurice Carver, as a boarding primary school for boys. It became co-educational from January 2003...
and the senior schools are Marondera High School
Marondera High
Marondera High School is a co-educational high school located one and half miles from the Marondera town centre, in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. The school was established in 1965....
, Peterhouse Group of Boarding Schools
Peterhouse Group of Boarding Schools
The Peterhouse group of schools is based in Marondera, Zimbabwe.The Peterhouse group of Anglican boarding schools has 1,045 students on 1200 Ha in Marondera, Zimbabwe, and comprises Peterhouse, Peterhouse Girls', the Preparatory School, Springvale House, Peterhaven at Nyanga and the Gosho Park...
, Rakodzi High, Watershed, Bernard Mizeki College
Bernard Mizeki College
Bernard Mizeki College is an O Level and A level Independent School for boys only boarding school situated in Marondera, Zimbabwe approximately 70 km east of the capital Harare...
, Waddilove High School
Waddilove High School
Waddilove High School is a Methodist Secondary School in Harare, Zimbabwe. It wasestablished in 1891 by Methodist Missionary John White.The name Waddilove was in honour of Sir Joshua K Waddilove, an Englishman, philanthropist and founder of Provident Financial who bequeathed 1,000 Sterling which...
& Nagle House. The first black mayor of Marondera was T. K. Muronda in 1980.