Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, after the capital Harare, with a population of 676,000 (UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator, Zimbabwe, 2005), now estimated on 707,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439km south-west of Harare (20°10′S 28°34′E), and is the capital of Matabeleland North.
General information
The name "Bulawayo" comes from the Ndebele word Kwabulawayo meaning 'place of the persecuted one' or 'place of slaughter'. It is also known as the 'City of Kings', 'Skies' or 'Bluez' or 'Bullers'. The city is on the site of the kraal of Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, who founded the settlement in 1871, about 15km south-east of the present city centre. In 1881 the king moved the settlement further north, to an area roughly corresponding with Bulawayo's modern northern suburbs. During the 1893 Matabele War the advance of British troops led the king to burn his capital and flee north, and troops occupied the town, which was declared to be under the rule of the British South Africa Company on 4 November 1894.
During the 1896 Matabele Revolt Bulawayo was besieged by Ndebele forces for several months, and a laager was established there for defensive purposes.
Bulawayo has been regarded as the business capital of Zimbabwe and is home to the National Railways of Zimbabwe because of its strategic position near Botswana and South Africa. It is the nearest large city to Hwange National Park, Matopo National Park and Victoria Falls.
The liberation struggle for the independence of Zimbabwe was started in Bulawayo and today it is home to the strongest opposition to the government of Robert Mugabe. It is a welcoming multicultural city with residents able to speak at least three languages (English, Ndebele and Shona).
Bulawayo became a city in 1943. Before the collapse of Zimbabwe's rail infrastructure, Bulawayo was an important transport hub, providing rail links between Botswana, South Africa and Zambia and promoting the city's development as a major industrial centre. The city still contains much of what remains of Zimbabwe's heavy industry and food processing capability.
Bulawayo is home to the Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club, two of the three grounds in Zimbabwe where test match cricket has been played. It is home to two large football teams which are of two ethnic groups, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints.
General information
The name "Bulawayo" comes from the Ndebele word Kwabulawayo meaning 'place of the persecuted one' or 'place of slaughter'. It is also known as the 'City of Kings', 'Skies' or 'Bluez' or 'Bullers'. The city is on the site of the kraal of Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, who founded the settlement in 1871, about 15km south-east of the present city centre. In 1881 the king moved the settlement further north, to an area roughly corresponding with Bulawayo's modern northern suburbs. During the 1893 Matabele War the advance of British troops led the king to burn his capital and flee north, and troops occupied the town, which was declared to be under the rule of the British South Africa Company on 4 November 1894.
During the 1896 Matabele Revolt Bulawayo was besieged by Ndebele forces for several months, and a laager was established there for defensive purposes.
Bulawayo has been regarded as the business capital of Zimbabwe and is home to the National Railways of Zimbabwe because of its strategic position near Botswana and South Africa. It is the nearest large city to Hwange National Park, Matopo National Park and Victoria Falls.
The liberation struggle for the independence of Zimbabwe was started in Bulawayo and today it is home to the strongest opposition to the government of Robert Mugabe. It is a welcoming multicultural city with residents able to speak at least three languages (English, Ndebele and Shona).
Bulawayo became a city in 1943. Before the collapse of Zimbabwe's rail infrastructure, Bulawayo was an important transport hub, providing rail links between Botswana, South Africa and Zambia and promoting the city's development as a major industrial centre. The city still contains much of what remains of Zimbabwe's heavy industry and food processing capability.
Bulawayo is home to the Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club, two of the three grounds in Zimbabwe where test match cricket has been played. It is home to two large football teams which are of two ethnic groups, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints.
