Lower Gwelo is a developed communal settlement in the
Midlands province
Midlands is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of and a population of 1,614,941 (2012). It is home to various peoples. Located at a central point in the country, it contains speakers of Shona, Ndebele, Tswana, Sotho and Chewa, as well as of ...
,
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
and is located about 40
km north-west of
Gweru
Gweru is a city in central Zimbabwe. Near the geographical centre of the country. It is on the centre of Midlands Province. Originally an area known to the Northern Ndebele people, Ndebele as "The Steep Place" because of the Gweru River's high ...
, and stretches a further 50 km to the west. Lower gwelo was initially called Somabhula and later became Somabhula ekhanyayo after establishment of Seventh day adventist missions stations that covered the entire area. Chiefdoms in Lower Gwelo include
Sogwala,
Sikombingo, Mdubiwa and
Bunina. The settlement type is mostly linear along roads, although it is dispersed in some remote areas. There are several business centres which include Mission, Mankunzane, Makepesi, Sikombingo, Dufuya, Mangwande, Sogwala, Maboleni and Insukamini, a former district administration centre which is also one of the few state townships in the country. Maboleni and Insukamini are the two growth points within lower Gwelo.
Geography
Most of the areas are well watered and marshy. The major river is
Vungu River locally referred to as u"Vunku" which is a tributary of the greater Shangani River.
Gweru River
Gweru River (known as Gwelo River until 1982) is a river in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe.
Background
The name Gweru is a further distortion of the name Gwelo which was a distortion of the name Ikwelo meaning a very steep place where one would u ...
locally referred to as u"Gelu" also passes through here to
Shangani River
The Shangani is a river in Zimbabwe that starts near Gweru, Gweru River being one of its main tributaries' and goes through Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces. It empties into the Gwayi River.
The Shangani River was the site of the 4 D ...
.
Demography
The principal language is
isiNdebele and is understood by virtually the whole populace. Lower Gwelo residents are nearly all followers of SDA church and most schools are still run buy the church to date.
Economy
Market gardening is the main economic activity in Lower Gwelo since the soils are fertile and well watered all year round. People of Lower Gwelo they are on second position in gardens in the midlands province following Gokwe in planting Vegetables, Fruits and maize.
Irrigation schemes
It is positioned agro ecological region IV of Zimbabwe. Natural regions IV and V are too dry for successful crop production without irrigation. Lower Gweru has been blessed with the following irrigation schemes:
* Insukamini Dam
* Mkoba Irrigation Scheme
* Mambanjeni Irrigation Scheme
* Shagari Irrigation Scheme (not functional)
[Midlands Bureau, 5 June 2014 Maboleni
* Insukamini
* Lower_Gwelo_Mission
* Insukamini_ruins
*_Sikombingo_where_the_second_SDA_mission_was_established_after_Solusi_Mission.
]
__Sogwala_
_Sogwala,_known_as_ koMumbu_omanzi,_is_a_village_located_in_the_northwest_of_Gweru,_Zimbabwe._It_is_known_by_its_nickname_koMumbu_omanzi_which_means_fresh_corn.
__Demography_
The_official_language_is_isiNdebele_and_is_understood_by_the_whole_populace.
__Geography_
As_the_nickname_suggests_this_is_how_the_soil_is,_in_the_area,_it_is_wet_right_around_the_year._The_major_river_is_Vungu_River_which_is_a_tributary_of_the_greater_Shangani_River._Gweru_River_also_passes_through_here_to_Shangani_River.
* Lower_Gwelo_Mission
*_Sikombingo
* Mangwande
*Mzila
King Mzila Nxumalo, Mzila kaSoshangane Nxumalo, Umzila, Muzila, or Nyamende was the son of Soshangane kaZikode, the founder of the Gaza empire, which at the height of its power stretched from southern Mozambique to the Limpopo River. He defeated hi ...
*NtabaMhlophe
Ntabamhlophe is a town in Uthukela District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
References
Populated places in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality
{{KwaZuluNatal-geo-stub ...
* Dwaleni
* Dufuya
* Mhlahlandlela
* Turnoff_Mabilisa
* Phakama
* Lahleka
* Makhulambila
* Madikane
* Mankunzane
* Shagari
*St_Faith
Saint Faith or Saint Faith of Conques (Latin: Sancta Fides; French language, French: Sainte-Foy; Spanish language, Spanish: Santa Fe) is a saint who is said to have been a girl or young woman of Agen in Aquitaine. Her legend recounts how she was ...
* Makepesi
* Matshabeleni
* Dimbamiwa
* Sibomvu
*Vungu The kingdom or polity of Vungu was a historic mini-state located on the north bank of the Congo River near the modern day town of Matadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the sixteenth century its name was written as "Bungu" reflecting the am ...
_References
_See_also
Nsukumini_Map
{{Gweru_District
_
Populated_places_in_Matabeleland_North_Provincehtml" ;"title="Vungu irrigation collapses, Shagari Irrigation scheme is
completely dead. The dam wall collapsed some years ago following floods that hit the area and reconstructing the dam will need $500,000.]The Chronicle]Local News, Retrieved 18 February 2016
Notable places
*
Maboleni
*
Insukamini
*
Lower Gwelo Mission
*
Insukamini ruins
* Sikombingo where the second SDA mission was established after Solusi Mission.
Sogwala
Sogwala, known as
koMumbu omanzi, is a village located in the northwest of Gweru, Zimbabwe. It is known by its nickname koMumbu omanzi which means fresh corn.
Demography
The official language is isiNdebele and is understood by the whole populace.
Geography
As the nickname suggests this is how the soil is, in the area, it is wet right around the year. The major river is Vungu River which is a tributary of the greater Shangani River. Gweru River also passes through here to Shangani River.
*
Lower Gwelo Mission
*
Sikombingo
*
Mangwande
*
Mzila
King Mzila Nxumalo, Mzila kaSoshangane Nxumalo, Umzila, Muzila, or Nyamende was the son of Soshangane kaZikode, the founder of the Gaza empire, which at the height of its power stretched from southern Mozambique to the Limpopo River. He defeated hi ...
*
NtabaMhlophe
Ntabamhlophe is a town in Uthukela District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
References
Populated places in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality
{{KwaZuluNatal-geo-stub ...
*
Dwaleni
*
Dufuya
*
Mhlahlandlela
*
Turnoff Mabilisa
*
Phakama
*
Lahleka
*
Makhulambila
*
Madikane
*
Mankunzane
*
Shagari
*
St Faith
Saint Faith or Saint Faith of Conques (Latin: Sancta Fides; French language, French: Sainte-Foy; Spanish language, Spanish: Santa Fe) is a saint who is said to have been a girl or young woman of Agen in Aquitaine. Her legend recounts how she was ...
*
Makepesi
*
Matshabeleni
*
Dimbamiwa
*
Sibomvu
*
Vungu The kingdom or polity of Vungu was a historic mini-state located on the north bank of the Congo River near the modern day town of Matadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the sixteenth century its name was written as "Bungu" reflecting the am ...
References
See also
Nsukumini Map
{{Gweru District
Populated places in Matabeleland North Province>Vungu irrigation collapses, Shagari Irrigation scheme is
completely dead. The dam wall collapsed some years ago following floods that hit the area and reconstructing the dam will need $500,000.he Chronicle]Local News, Retrieved 18 February 2016
Notable places
*
Maboleni
*
Insukamini
*
Lower Gwelo Mission
*
Insukamini ruins
* Sikombingo where the second SDA mission was established after Solusi Mission.
Sogwala
Sogwala, known as
koMumbu omanzi, is a village located in the northwest of Gweru, Zimbabwe. It is known by its nickname koMumbu omanzi which means fresh corn.
Demography
The official language is isiNdebele and is understood by the whole populace.
Geography
As the nickname suggests this is how the soil is, in the area, it is wet right around the year. The major river is Vungu River which is a tributary of the greater Shangani River. Gweru River also passes through here to Shangani River.
*
Lower Gwelo Mission
*
Sikombingo
*
Mangwande
*
Mzila
King Mzila Nxumalo, Mzila kaSoshangane Nxumalo, Umzila, Muzila, or Nyamende was the son of Soshangane kaZikode, the founder of the Gaza empire, which at the height of its power stretched from southern Mozambique to the Limpopo River. He defeated hi ...
*
NtabaMhlophe
Ntabamhlophe is a town in Uthukela District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
References
Populated places in the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality
{{KwaZuluNatal-geo-stub ...
*
Dwaleni
*
Dufuya
*
Mhlahlandlela
*
Turnoff Mabilisa
*
Phakama
*
Lahleka
*
Makhulambila
*
Madikane
*
Mankunzane
*
Shagari
*
St Faith
Saint Faith or Saint Faith of Conques (Latin: Sancta Fides; French language, French: Sainte-Foy; Spanish language, Spanish: Santa Fe) is a saint who is said to have been a girl or young woman of Agen in Aquitaine. Her legend recounts how she was ...
*
Makepesi
*
Matshabeleni
*
Dimbamiwa
*
Sibomvu
*
Vungu The kingdom or polity of Vungu was a historic mini-state located on the north bank of the Congo River near the modern day town of Matadi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the sixteenth century its name was written as "Bungu" reflecting the am ...
References
See also
Nsukumini Map
{{Gweru District
Populated places in Matabeleland North Province