Chiredzi District
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Chiredzi District Chiredzi |
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A baobab tree in Gonarezhou national park, which is found in the district
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 Masvingo constituency seats for the 2008, showing the division of Chiredzi (District) |
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| Coordinates: 18°55′S 29°49′E / 18.917°S 29.817°ECoordinates: 18°55′S 29°49′E / 18.917°S 29.817°E | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Province | Masvingo |
| District | Chiredzi |
| Established | late 19th century |
| Population (2002) | |
| • Total | 233 000 |
| estimated (UN) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+1) |
Chiredzi District is in south-east Zimbabwe in Masvingo Province. The district is the major center of sugar production in the country. Hippo Valley Hospital, found in the district, is one of a number of centers for HIV/AIDS treatment in the province.
The district is famous for hosting Hippo Valley Estate and the nearby Mkwasine Estate, both of which specialize in sugar cane and citrus fruit production.
A large chunk of the district is found in region V, although there are some parts that lie in region IV. Areas in region five are characterized by aridity and uncertain rainfall patterns. Many parts of the district are unfit for agriculture, hence in 1972 they set aside to form Gonarezhou National Park. In terms of surface area, Chiredzi is one of the largest districts in the country with over 95% of its area taken up by Gonarenzou and other conservancies like Malilangwe. With the arid climate, most people grow sorghum, a crop which is drought-tolerant and requires minimal rain to grow to maturity. The red soil found in the district is also suitable for sugarcane, and prior to the land invasions of 2000, the district was a center for sugar production for the whole country.
The district is sparsely populated. The Shangaan people are in the majority, and the predominant language is Shangaan, a dialect that is related to both Zulu and Ndebele.
Chiredzi district has been divided into four sectors for the general elections of 2008. Candidates from the MDC-T, MDC-M, ZANU-PF and independents will compete for the four constituency seats available and the winners will represent the district in Zimbabwe's new House of Assembly.
For the Chiredzi East sector, Mafamu Dennis (PAFA), Sithole Abraham (Zanu-PF), Chingombe Samson (MDC Mtambara), Chiromo Walter (MDC Tsvangirai) are registered to contest the seat, while Tafamba Olivia (PAFA), Ndava Ronald (Zanu-PF), and Mutambu John (MDC Tsvangirai) will contest Chiredzi north. Baloyi Alois (Zanu-PF), Zanamwe Nehemiah (MDC), Chirove Joseph (MDC Tsvangirai) are vying for Chiredzi south while Musareva Ernest (PAFA), Samson Aliginia (Zanu-PF), Mungwadzi Godfrey (Independent), Mashiri Robson (MDC Mutambara), and nickrd) will fight it out for Chiredzi west.
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Wikipedia