Epworth, Zimbabwe
17°53′22″S 31°09′41″E / 17.88944°S 31.16139°E
Epworth
KwaChiremba | |
|---|---|
suburb, township, town | |
| Nickname(s): Epaz, Epaton | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Province | Harare |
| District | Epworth-Ruwa District |
| Established | 1929 |
| Elevation | 1,473 m (4,833 ft) |
| Population (2002) | |
| • Total | 123,250 |
Epworth is a suburb in south-eastern Harare. It is home to some famous balancing rocks.
Background
The bustling suburb is located about twelve kilometers out of the Harare City Centre. It is a high density suburb populated by mainly poor residents of Harare. It is bisected by a stream into two parts. The Balancing Rocks found on the northern approaches of the town are famous, featured on all bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
History
Epworth Mission was established by the Rev. Shimmin more than a century ago, 1890 as a Methodist Mission Station. Epworth then and as today is divided into 7 wards: A large influx of people occurred during the late 1970s and early 1980s with the population being 20,000 in 1980 and 35,000 in 1987. The Methodist Church could not control the influx of people, and therefore transferred ownership of the farm to the Ministry of Local Government in 1983. By 2002 the population was 113,884.[1] Epworth had not been planned as an urban residential area, and therefore this rapid increase in population was occurring on land without any water supply and sanitation facilities. Epworth became the only informal settlement to have been tolerated by the Zimbabwean Government in the post-independence period because of the long history of settlement by some of the residents.[2] The government decided to upgrade rather than demolish the informal settlement. Since most residents of Epworth had settled in the area spontaneously, public utilities such as water, sewage and electricity were lacking before government intervention. A Local Board formed in 1986 under the Urban Councils Act, and whose members are elected by the community, is responsible for managing the area including the collection of rates and other levies.[3] Epworth was initially developed into four sub-areas but as the population increased it expanded to nine sub-areas that had extensive squatter settlements. Health services are provided by two clinics in the area. Also, in Epworth there is a large rock that the people call "Domboramwarwi", which means rock of God.
Development status
Out of the 7 wards, only ward 7 does not have running water.All the wards do not have electricity which is found at service centres, some schools and offices only. The majority of the people get by as street vendors and informal manufacturers. There are no street names but most of the plots are numbered. The residents come from Domboramwarwi, KwaSolani, KuOverspill, KuStopover [Magada]etc. It is a poor suburb.[4] There are three secondary schools namely Epworth High School, Domboramwari High School and Muguta Secondary School which was commissioned in 2007.
“Then, there is the notorious quarry pool on the western approaches of the town whose limpid and translucent water has been used as a dumping site for vehicles stripped of their parts and, of course, murder victims.” People have committed suicide in the pool.
Since most the houses found in the town are built from unburnt bricks, the houses are prone to fall during heavy rains that are wont to lash the area.[5]
Social decay
Due to the harsh economic times that the country has been passing through for the past decade, crime has been on the increase in the over-crowded suburb.[6] This is not to say crime wasn't there in the days of old, only that now it happens on a larger scale.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Central Statistics Office of Zimbabwe, 2003. Demographic and Healthy Survey, Government Printer, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- ^ Butcher, 1993 C. Butcher, Low income housing. In: L. Zinyama, Editor, Harare—The Growth and Problems of the City, University of Zimbabwe Publications, Harare, Zimbabwe (1993)
- ^ Gandidzanwa, P., 2003. Attitudes and practices towards water supply and sanitation facilities: the case study of the Epworth upgrading programme. M.Sc. thesis (unpublished), University of Zimbabwe
- ^ Heavy rain sometimes destroy homes [1](accessed 02/11/2008)
- ^ Relief Work continues [2](accessed 02/11/2008)
- ^ No respite for workers.[3](accessed 02/11/2008)
- ^ Epworth turns it's back on christianity [4](accessed 02/11/2008)