West Nicholson
Encyclopedia
West Nicholson or Tshabezi is a village in the province of Matabeleland South
, Zimbabwe
. It is located about halfway between Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo
, and the border town to South Africa
, Beitbridge
, along the main road and rail
link to South Africa
.
According to the 1982 Population Census, the village had a population of 1,633. The town hosted a large beef factory, that turned the local cattle
into corned beef
and biltong
, but this is now closed. Once a major gold mining area, the country around West Nicholson is riddled with small workings, the only major mining activity still occurs about four kilometers along the main road towards Bulawayo, the mine being called Jessie Mine. Also, there is a supermarket, a butcher and a large primary school. Game and Safari activities are available at Tshabezi Safaris, Tamba, Sondelani and Tod's Guest House. Sporting activities are mainly based on soccer, having two teams namely, Jessie Mine F.C. and West Nicholson United playing in the Zimbabwe Football Association's Division Two league.
The Mzingwane River
runs through the town and a railway run past it, carrying passengers and cargo. There is a turn-off that leads to a secondary school 12 km further on, the J.Z. Moyo Secondary School for Education with Production.
(Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo High School), is a government high school
, for both girls and boys, that was established in 1982. It is located in the former Majoda Farm, approximately 12 km north of West Nicholson on the road to Filabusi
and Mavako. JZ Moyo High is part of the ZIMFEP group of schools.
Matabeleland South
Matabeleland South is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 54,172 km² and a population of approximately 650,000 . Gwanda is the capital of the province.-Geography:...
, 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 halfway between Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, and the border town to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Beitbridge
Beitbridge
Beitbridge or Mzingwane is a border town in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The name also refers to the border post and bridge spanning the Limpopo River, which forms the political border between South Africa and Zimbabwe.-Background:...
, along the main road and rail
Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway
The Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway is a privately owned railway company that provides a rail link in Zimbabwe between Beitbridge at the border to South Africa and Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo....
link to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
According to the 1982 Population Census, the village had a population of 1,633. The town hosted a large beef factory, that turned the local cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
into corned beef
Corned beef
Corned beef is a type of salt-cured beef products present in many beef-eating cultures. The English term is used interchangeably in modernity to refer to three distinct types of cured beef:...
and biltong
Biltong
Biltong is a kind of cured meat that originated in South Africa. Many different types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef through game meats to fillets of ostrich from commercial farms. It is typically made from raw fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or...
, but this is now closed. Once a major gold mining area, the country around West Nicholson is riddled with small workings, the only major mining activity still occurs about four kilometers along the main road towards Bulawayo, the mine being called Jessie Mine. Also, there is a supermarket, a butcher and a large primary school. Game and Safari activities are available at Tshabezi Safaris, Tamba, Sondelani and Tod's Guest House. Sporting activities are mainly based on soccer, having two teams namely, Jessie Mine F.C. and West Nicholson United playing in the Zimbabwe Football Association's Division Two league.
The Mzingwane River
Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.It rises near Fort Usher, Matobo District, south of Bulawayo and flows into the Limpopo River near Beitbridge, downstream of the mouth of the Shashe River and upstream of the mouth of the Bubye River.- Hydrology...
runs through the town and a railway run past it, carrying passengers and cargo. There is a turn-off that leads to a secondary school 12 km further on, the J.Z. Moyo Secondary School for Education with Production.
Education
JZ Moyo High SchoolJZ Moyo High School
JZ Moyo High School , formerly Majoda School, is a government high school for girls and boys. It is located in the former Majoda Farm, approximately 12 km north of West Nicholson on the road to Filabusi and Mavako, in Matabeleland South province, Zimbabwe...
(Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo High School), is a government high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, for both girls and boys, that was established in 1982. It is located in the former Majoda Farm, approximately 12 km north of West Nicholson on the road to Filabusi
Filabusi
Filabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
and Mavako. JZ Moyo High is part of the ZIMFEP group of schools.