Matabeleland North Province

Matabeleland North is a province in western Zimbabwe. With a population

of 749,017 as of the 2012 census, it is the country's second-least populous
Matabeleland North Province
province, after Matabeleland South, and is the country's least densely Province
populated province. Matabeleland North was established in 1974, when the
original Matabeleland Province was divided into two provinces, the other
being Matabeleland South.[1] In 1997, the province lost territory when the city
of Bulawayo became its own province. Matabeleland North is divided into
seven districts. Its capital is Lupane, and Victoria Falls and Hwange are its
largest towns. The name "Matabeleland" is derived from the Matabele or
Ndebele people, the province's largest ethnic group.

Matabeleland North is bordered by Matabeleland South and Bulawayo to the

south, Midlands to the east, Mashonaland West to the northeast, Botswana to
the west, and Zambia to the north, which is separated from Zimbabwe by the
Zambezi river. It has an area of 75,025 square kilometres 28,967
( sq mi), equal
Matabeleland North, Province of Zimbabwe
to 19.2% of the total area of Zimbabwe. It is the largest in area of the country's
ten provinces. Matabeleland North is located on the edge of the Kalahari Country Zimbabwe
Basin, giving it an arid climate. Its economy is dominated by agriculture, with Capital Lupane
83% of employed people in the province working as farmers.[2] Cattle Established 1974
ranching and tourism also contribute to the economy. The Zimbabwean side of Area
Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and major tourist attraction, is located in • Total 75,025 km2
Matabeleland North. (28,967 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total 749,017
• Density 10.0/km2 (26/sq mi)
Contents
Time zone UTC+2 (CET)
Geography • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Government
Districts
Elections
See also
References

Geography
The region of Matabeleland, of which Matabeleland North is a part of, is characterized by generally inhospitable land when
compared to other parts of Zimbabwe.[3] It has lower rainfall than provinces such as Mashonaland, and is plagued by water scarcity
in general. The land is also less fertile than other provinces, as commercial crops cannot be grown and rural farmers usually cannot
produce enough maize to feed their families. However, during the colonial era, large numbers of cattle ranches were formed and
cattle ranching has proved to be more successful than growing crops in the province. The upper reaches of the Nata River flow
through Matabeleland North before enteringBotswana to discharge to the Makgadikgadi Pans.[4]

The region does have a significant amount of other resources like gold, limestone, methane gas, coal, and timber. As seen in Hwange
National Park, Zimbabwe's largest game reserve, the area is also known for its substantial wildlife population. However, the most
famous geographic feature of Matebeleland North isVictoria Falls, the world's largest waterfalls that are located on the Zambezi river
on the northern border of the province.

Government

Districts
Matabeleland North is divided into 7 districts:

Binga
Bubi
Hwange
Lupane
Nkayi
Tsholotsho
Umguza

Elections
The region is regarded as a very independent region when it comes to politics.[3] In the most recent parliamentary election held in
March 2008, both factions of the MDC won a total of eight seats from the Matabeleland North delegation to the House of Assembly,
while ZANU-PF won four seats and one other seat was won by an independent. In the Senate, the MDC won a combined five seats
and ZANU-PF won one seat.[5]

See also
Provinces of Zimbabwe
Districts of Zimbabwe

References
1. Zimbabwe Provinces (http://www.statoids.com/uzw.html)
2. Zwinoira, Tatira (2018-01-16). "Harare, Byo has lowest economic activity rate"(https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/01/
harare-byo-lowest-economic-activity-rate/). NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
3. Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Afrika(http://www.boell.de/worldwide/africa/afrika-2482.html)
4. C. Michael Hogan (2008)Makgadikgadi, The Megalithic Portal, ed. A. Burnham(http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.p
hp?sid=22373&mode=&order=0)
5. Kubatana - Archive - Results - 'Harmonised' elections 29 March 2008: House of Assembly and Senate(http://www.k
ubatana.net/html/archive/elec/080329kubres.asp?sector=ELEC&year=0&range_start=1) Archived (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20080407032339/http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/elec/080329kubres.asp?sector=ELEC&year=0&ra
nge_start=1) 7 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine.

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