Chinhoyi Sinoia | |
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City | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Chinhoyi | |
| Coordinates:17°20′59″S30°11′40″E / 17.34972°S 30.19444°E /-17.34972; 30.19444 | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Province | Mashonaland West |
| District | Makonde District |
| City | Chinhoyi Municipality |
| Established | 1906 |
| Elevation | 1,187 m (3,894 ft) |
| Population (2022 census)[1] | |
• Total | 90,800 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
| Climate | Cwa |
Chinhoyi, previously known asSinoia during the colonial era, is a city in central northernZimbabwe in the Makonde District.[2] It has a population of 90,800 and is primarily a college town, although it was originally founded as an Italian group settlement scheme. The nearby Chinhoyi Caves and national park are a popular attraction.
Chinhoyi is located on the western banks of theManyame River, inMakonde District, inMashonaland West Province in central northernZimbabwe. Its location lies approximately 116 kilometres (72 mi) northwest ofHarare by road, the capital of Zimbabwe and the largest city in the country.[3] Chinhoyi lies on the main road, Highway A-1, betweenHarare andChirundu, at the International border withZambia, about 240 kilometres (150 mi), further northwest of Chinhoyi.[4]
The geographical coordinates of Chinhoyi are:17°20'59.0"S, 30°11'40.0"E (Latitude:-17.349722; Longitude:30.194444).[5] Chinhoyi sits at an average elevation of 1,187 metres (3,894 ft) abovemean sea level.[6]
There are a number of small towns which are close to Chinhoyi.Banket lies about 25 kilometres (16 mi), southeast of Chinhoyi on the road to Harare, whileAlaska lies approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) directly west of town, andLion's Den lies about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Chinhoyi on the road toChirundu.[7]
Chinhoyi is theprovincial capital of Mashonaland West Province, one of the ten administrative provinces in Zimbabwe. It is also thedistrict headquarters of Makonde District, one of the six districts in the province.[8]
This is a college town, hosting two of the country's major universities;Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) andZimbabwe Open University (ZOU). The principal secondary schools in Chinhoyi include the three government high schools;Chinhoyi High School, Chemagamba High School andNemakonde High School, together with the private high schoolLomagundi College.[9]
Chinhoyi housesChinhoyi Provincial Hospital, the largest and most modern referral hospital inMashonaland West Province. Some of the hotels in town includeChinhoyi Hotel in the center, theOrange Grove Motel about 1 kilometre (1 mi) northwest of town on the road toKaroi and theCaves Motel, located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) northwest of town next to theChinhoyi caves. Tourist attractions in Chinhoyi include the Chinhoyi Caves inChinhoyi Caves National Park.[10]
The town was established asSinoia in 1906, as a group settlement scheme by a wealthy Italian,LieutenantMargherito Guidotti. He encouraged ten Italian families to settle here. TheRhodesian Bush War started in this town in the area occupied by the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital. The nameSinoria derives from Tjinoyi, a Lozwi/Rozwi Chief who is believed to have been a son of Lukuluba (corrupted to Mukuruva by theZezuru), who was the third son of Emperor Netjasike. TheKalanga (Lozwi/Rozwi name) was changed to Sinoia by the white settlers and later Chinhoyi by the Zezuru.[2]
Transport to and from Chinhoyi is mainly by road. Bus services connect Chinhoyi withHarare,Karoi,Kariba,Mhangura,Bulawayo, and smaller villages in the district. Chinhoyi is on a rail branch from Harare, which ends atLions Den. There are scheduled passenger trains. Taxis operate within the town area. There is also a local bus service. There is a small airport for private planes, calledChinhoyi Airstrip, located about 16 kilometres (10 mi), south-east of the central business district. The airport is said to be in need of maintenance. Its geographical coordinates are quoted as:17°25'58.8"S, 30°18'00.0"E (Latitude:-17.433000; Longitude:30.300000).[11][12]
Chinhoyi's economy is a tertiary industry meaning that it is mainly a service industry based economy. It consists of retailing, financial services, wholesaling, and provincial government services since the city is the provincial capital. Education and the construction industry influence the economy of the city. The presence of Chinhoyi University of Technology and the construction of new houses contribute to the town's economy. The city also provides many services to the surrounding small towns like Banket, Kasimure, Mutorashanga, as well as to the whole of the Makonde district.
Financial services
First Capital Bank Zimbabwe Limited, a commercial bank, maintains a branch in the town.ZB Bank Limited, sometimes referred to asZimbank, anothercommercial bank, also has a branch in Chinhoyi.CBZ Bank Limited is also another bank with a branch in Chinhoyi.[13] There are also BancABC, NMB bank NBS bank, CABS,Agribank andSteward bank agents.
The population of Chinhoyi during the 2002 census was 56,794. After the 2012 national census, the city population was estimated at 77,292 people. At that time it was the 11th largest urban centre in Zimbabwe.[14]
These are a group oflimestone anddolomite caves situated about 9 kilometers northwest of Chinhoyi along the A-1 Highway. The main cave contains a pool of cobalt blue water, which is popularly calledSleeping Pool orChirorodziva ("Pool of the Fallen").[15] They have been designated as anational park and they are managed by the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority.[10] These limestone caves were first described to Europeans byFrederick Courtney Selous in 1887, but the caves have an important place inAfrican traditional religion, with the caves themselves as a site forrainmaking, surrounded by a sacred forest, whose trees could not be felled.[16]
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