Gweru - The City of Progress

Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Built along the Gweru river, the original Ndebele name was iKwelo (''The Steep Place''), after the river's high banks, where umkwelo (a ladder) was used by those who fetched water from it. Initially established as a military outpost, the modern town was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange in 1898. The railway arrived in 1902. It became a municipality in 1914 and achieved city status in 1971. The name changed from Gwelo to Gweru in 1982.

Situated along the road and railway between Harare and Bulawayo and near the rail spur to Maputo, Mozambique, Gweru has become a busy trade centre with some industrial development. Its products include ferrochromium, textiles, dairy foods, footware, and building materials. The surrounding area has rich deposits of gold, chrome, iron, asbestos and platinum. The surrounding areas are well-known for vibrant farming activities in beef cattle, crop farming, and commercial gardening of crops for the export market.

The Boggie Clock Tower

Situated at the intersection of Main Street and Robert Mugabe Way, the clock tower was erected in 1928 by Jeannie, the widow of Major William James Boggie in memory of her late husband. This is one of the city's most prominent and famous landmarks, and is testament to the city's endurance and the love that the residents have for the place they call home.

Scenery And Outdoor Activities

Blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna, summer sees spectacular thunderstorms, winter days are blissfully sunny and warm and almost every month of the year is accompanied by flowers whether the purple canopy of jacarandas, spiky red of poinsettias, cascades of bougainvillea, flamboyants or roses. In spring the Msasa trees flood the countryside with a scarlet and orange display of vivid glory before turning summer green. There are many scenic places for walks, nature trails and mountain hikes in and around Gweru and neighbouring scenic Shurugwi, formerly known as Selukwe.

Steeped in History

One of Zimbabwe's best kept secrets is the Naletale Ruins situated 30kms outside of the city centre. The remains at these sites can be traced back from the Torwa state during the 17th century. The monument itself is set atop a small kopje, and commands good views over the surrounding countryside of the Somabula flats. The most substantial remain is a splendid four-hundred year old stone wall, which is elaborately decorated with every kind of motif known to the Zimbabwe stone-building tradition. Topped with plinths, this is a very attractive and photogenic structure. This jewel has all the makings of our very first Unesco World Heritage site

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