Bikita
Bikita |
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Bikita is one of the districts in Masvingo Province. It is located about 80 kilometres east of Masvingo. Its is said to be derived from a mountain in the Bikita Mamutse Area called Bikita Mountain . Speculative information claims it came from the Shona word Dikita which means antbear, which describes the shape of a nearby hill. The district used to be known as Denga which means up in the clouds and has moved several times to different locations. The surrounding area is mined for lithium. The district is thought to have the largest reserve of petalite in the world.
Geography
Climate
Bikita District is the third-driest district in Masvingo after Chivi and Chiredzi and is perennially-plagued by food shortages induced by low rains.[3]
Livestock disease
The district with annually terrorized by livestock diseases like anthrax and foot and mouth. On occasion these maladies even affect the populace, with a number of people dying. Sometimes there are even outbreaks of cholera. Bikita district is defined by the presence of stinkbugs, called in vernicular harurwa. These insects are a delicacy to the locals and exotic. The Harurwa insects are sacred and have their origin to the death of Meso Mana according to Claude Maredza's` book Harurwa a guy who had four eyes.
See Chirumba Secondary School.
See Gwindingwi Secondary School.
See Mashoko Secondary School.
Government
Its administration is at Nyika Growth Point. At the national level, the district sends three members to Zimbabwe's House of Assembly. At the local level, Bikita RDC.
Nationally the district was divided into three sections for the 2008 elections, namely east, west and south. The district was a stronghold of ZANU-PF from 1980 until the time of the 2008 parliamentary election, when the opposition Movement for Democratic Change MDC-T won all three seats.
In the Zimbabwe 1985 Parliamentary Election, Bikita returned to Parliament:
- Gabriel Mharadze Machinga of Zanu PF - 38 806 votes.
- David Kufakunesu Chikukutu of ZANU - 203 votes.
- John Mushava of PF-ZAPU - 144 votes.
In the 1990 Parliamentary Election (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bikita East returned to Parliament:
- Gabriel Machinga of Zanu PF, unopposed.
Bikita West returned:
- Jewel Kufandada of Zanu PF with 10 715 votes,
- Kenneth Matimba of Zanu PF with 3 719 votes.
Turnout - 15 656 voters or 41.93 %
In the 2000 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bikita East returned to Parliament:
- Walter Mutsauri of Zanu PF with 7 047 votes,
- Edmore Marima of MDC with 5 015 votes,
- Mathew Makaza of Independent MDC with 212 votes,
- Julias Chapungu, Independent, with 0 votes.
Bikita West returned:
- Amos Munyaradzi Mutongi of MDC with 7 726 votes,
- Rtd. Col. Claudius William Makova of Zanu PF with 7 441 votes.
Following the death of Amos Mutongi (MDC), a by election was held 13–14 January 2001. The result, Bikita West returned to Parliament:
- Claudius William Makova of Zanu PF with 12 993 votes,
- Boniface Pakai of MDC with 7 001 votes.
In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bikita East returned to Parliament:
- Kennedy Matimba of Zanu PF with 8 669 votes or 57.87 percent,
- Edmore Marima of MDC–T with 5 365 votes or 35.81 percent,
- Kenias Donga of MDC–N with 806 votes or 5.38 percent,
- Alvin Ziki of ZANU–Ndonga with 140 votes or 0.93 percent,.
Total 14 980 votes
In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bikita South returned to Parliament:
- Jeppy Jaboon of Zanu PF with 9 397 votes or 67.91 percent,
- Jani Varandani of MDC–T with 3 659 votes or 26.44 percent,
- Phibeon Munhuwamambo of MDC–N with 781 votes or 5.64 percent.
Total 13 837 votes
In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Bikita West returned to Parliament:
- Munyaradzi Kereke of Zanu PF with 7 270 votes or 41.31 percent,
- Elia Musakwa of Zanu PF with 6 052 votes or 34.39 percent,
- Heya Shoko of MDC–T with 3 863 votes or 21.95 percent,
- Benjamin Katema of MDC–N with 415 votes or 2.36 percent.
Total 17 600 votes
Bikita South
Bikita South, Zaka east and central, is made of wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, 28, and 29.
Bikita East
Bikita East comprises wards 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 27.
Bikita West
The cosntituency seat is made up of eleven wards, namely 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, and 32.
