Marondera | ||
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City/Town | ||
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Motto: Floreat Marondera (May Marondera Flourish) | ||
Coordinates: 18°11′23″S 31°32′48″E / 18.18972°S 31.54667°ECoordinates: 18°11′23″S 31°32′48″E / 18.18972°S 31.54667°E | ||
Country | Zimbabwe | |
Province | Mashonaland East | |
District | Marondera | |
Village | 1913 | |
Town | 1943 | |
City | 1982 | |
Government | ||
Elevation | 1,688 m (5,538 ft) | |
Population (2013) | ||
• Total | 68,017 | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+1) | |
Climate | Cwb |
Marondera (known as Marandellas until 1982) 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 is one of the centres of Zimbabwe's large forestry and farming district and markets timber, tobacco, corn (maize), beef, and dairy products. Marondera also has industrial estates for manufacturing and factories etc, supermarkets, large commercial businesses, small businesses, a football stadium called Rudhaka stadium, recreational facilities and provincial government offices as well as a provincial hospital and clinics and is also home to the police provincial headquarters. Marondera town is represented by a member of parliament and is also home to the governor of mashonaland east province. High density surbubs of marondera are Nyameni township, Dombotombo township, Cherima township, Yellow city township, Rusike, Cherutombo township. Medium density surburbs are Ruzawi park, Cherutombo medium density surburb, Garikai medium density surburb, Ruware park, Ruvimbo park, Morning side. Low density surbubs are Paradise park, Winston park, Lendy park. Marondera is a nice town to live in and is liked by many due to its close proximity to the city of Harare. It has a very low crime rate and the people are hardworking. The transport system within the town is mainly licenced private sector operations. Privately owned public transport comprise of licenced buses, minibuses and taxis. Residents are exposed to variety of newspapers namely the herald, financial gazzette, zimbabwe independent, standard, newsday, dailynews, the local newspaper chaminuka, kwayedza and online newspapers such as new zimbabwe.com, the zimbabwean, newsdze zimbabwe, zimbabwe situation etc.
It originated in 1890 as a rest house on the road from Salisbury (now Harare) to Umtali (now Mutare). It was first known as Marandella's Kraal, corrupted from Marondera, chief of the ruling VaRozvi 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.