20-687: Beitbridge is a border town in the province of Matabeleland South , Zimbabwe. The name also refers to the border post and bridge spanning the Limpopo River , which forms the political border between South Africa and Zimbabwe . The border on the South African side of the river is also named Beitbridge . The town lies just north of the Limpopo River about 1 km from the Alfred Beit Road Bridge which spans
40-519: Is a busy border post with traders from all over Zimbabwe. The Beitbridge border post is the busiest road border post in Southern Africa, and is best avoided during busy border-crossing seasons. Beitbridge has an estimated 2,570 houses in formal settlements (primarily for government officials and mid-level private sector staff) and 3,000 in informal settlements. Formal-settlement dwellings are mainly two- to three-room brick houses, while those in
60-566: Is bordered by Bulawayo and Matabeleland North to the north, Midlands to the northeast, Masvingo to the southeast, South Africa to the south, and Botswana to the west. It has an area of 54,172 square kilometres (20,916 sq mi), equal to 13.86% of the total area of Zimbabwe. It is the fourth-largest of the country's ten provinces in area. Matabeleland South sits on the edge of the Kalahari Desert , giving it an arid climate not hospitable to agriculture . The province sits on
80-635: Is overseen by the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province , a de facto governor who oversees provincial affairs and sits in the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Zimbabwe . The governor is appointed by the President of Zimbabwe and is not appointed to a set term. Historically, the governor held the title Governor of Matabeleland South, but the office has since been renamed to align with
100-425: Is represented by 13 Members of Parliament in the House of Assembly , Zimbabwe's lower house of Parliament . The province's current MPs since the 2018 elections are Patrick Dube , CCC Mp , Levi Mayihlome , CCC MP , Edgar Moyo , Abednico Ncube , Soul Ncube , Nqobizitha Ndlovu , Albert Nguluvhe , Dingumuzi CCC MP , Spare Sithole , and Farai Taruvinga . All are members of ZANU–PF except for Dube, who represents
120-534: Is represented in the Senate by six senators, three of whom must be women. Senators are not directly elected by voters, but are instead selected by party lists via a proportional representation system. The province's current senators since the 2018 elections are Themba Mathuthu ( ZANU–PF ), Alma Mkwebu (ZANU–PF), Tambudzani Mohadi (ZANU–PF), Simon Khaya-Moyo (ZANU–PF), Bekithemba Mpofu ( MDC Alliance ), and Meliwe Phuthi (MDC Alliance). Matabeleland South
140-421: Is the country's least populated province after Matabeleland North .Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North were established in 1974, when the original Matabeleland Province was bifurcated. The province is divided into six districts. Gwanda is the capital, and Beitbridge is the province's largest town. The name "Matabeleland" is derived from Ndebele , the province's largest ethnic group. Matabeleland South
160-529: The 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe , which does not allow for provincial governors. The current Minister of State for Matabeleland South Province is Abednico Ncube , a ZANU–PF member who was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2017. Matabeleland South Province is divided into seven districts: Beitbridge , Bulilima , Gwanda , Insiza , Mangwe , Matobo , and Umzingwane . Like each of Zimbabwe's ten provinces, Matabeleland South Province
180-521: The MDC Alliance . Fast forward in 2023 now CCC and still under Nelson Chamisa the opposition made serious in roads and managed to wrestle 4 seats that is Mangwe- Matobo, Gwanda North ,Mangwe and Beitbridge west. What surprised the whole province is that opposition won Beitbridge West for the first time dating back from 2000. Also for the first time opposition shared with ZANU PF the senate seats and women quota, but still ZANUPF managed to win
200-781: The Beit Railways Trust and the South African Railways . The new bridge was completed in 1995, and was officially opened on 24 November. It was built by the Zimbabwean Government, which now benefits from the tolls levied on crossings. The new bridge can accommodate much heavier traffic than the old one could, which is now for rail traffic only . On the South African side of the border the N1 Highway connects this border post to
220-714: The Limpopo between South Africa and Zimbabwe . The main roads are the A6 highway to Bulawayo and the Victoria Falls , being 321 kilometres (199 mi) and 758 kilometres (471 mi) away respectively and the A4 to Masvingo and Harare . According to the 2012 population census, the town had a population of 41,767 dominated by the Venda and Ndebele people. There is a sizable percentage of Shona people from other provinces. This
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#1732790260073240-687: The South African Spoornet line to Polokwane , the National Railways of Zimbabwe line to Gweru via Rutenga and the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway . There are four primary schools in the town namely Beitbridge Mission, Beitbridge Government, Dulivhadzimo Primary and St Mary's Primary School. There is a private school in the town named under Oakleigh House Trust School. Two secondary schools, Vhembe High School and St Joseph's Secondary School, cater for
260-537: The border area of South Africa. The Alfred Beit Road Bridge is named after Alfred Beit , founder of the De Beers diamond mining company and business associate of Cecil Rhodes . He was also a director of a number of companies, among them the British South Africa Company and Rhodesia Railways . The original bridge was constructed in 1929 at a cost of $ 600,000 and financed jointly between
280-851: The edge of the Kalahari desert, hence it is arid and very dry. The province shares borders with South Africa and Botswana. As a result, there are Tswana, Sotho/Pedi, Venda, Shangani (Tsonga) and the Khoisan speaking people in the province. The other languages that are native in the province are Ndebele and Kalanga. Towns and villages in Matabeleland South include Antelope Mine , Beitbridge , Brunapeg , Colleen Bawn , Esigodini , Filabusi , Fort Rixon , Gwai , Gwanda , Kafusi , Kezi , Madlambudzi , Makhado , Maphisa , Masendu , Ndolwane , Plumtree , Shangani , Stanmore , Tshitshi , Bulu , West Nicholson , and Zezani . Matabeleland South
300-536: The informal settlements are among the worst mud houses in Zimbabwe . The mud houses have since been demolished. Average house occupancy in the low-income and informal settlements varies considerably, as many people do not bring their families to Beitbridge, but includes at least four people. Recreational facilities are limited in low-income areas, consisting largely of bars and soccer pitches. The major sources of local employment—freight, retail, construction, customs and
320-559: The main economic centres of Pretoria (463 km) and Johannesburg (521 km). The closest town is Musina (16 km). On the Zimbabwean side of the border post the road splits in two, with the A6 running to Bulawayo and the R1 to Masvingo . A railway also passes through this border post, side by side with the road, and splits into a line to Bulawayo and a line to Gweru via Rutenga . Three railway lines meet at Beitbridge:
340-412: The police—employ about 1,200 people. Informal sector activities—primarily vending and sex work—are as large as those in the formal sector, employing about 1,400. Outside of Beitbridge, farming is a major employer. A diamond mine recently closed, increasing unemployment and poverty. Most women rely on vending, sex work and cross-border trading for income. Truckers are present in the area with work coming from
360-520: The post primary education in the town. There is no tertiary education facility in the town and high school graduates travel to district outside Beitbridge for tertiary education. Dulivhadzimu Stadium, a small multi-purpose arena in the town was chosen by the ZANU-PF led 21st February Movement to host the annual national celebration of Robert Mugabe 's date of birth on Saturday, 23 February 2008. On 21 February, two days before, Mugabe had turned 84. It
380-410: The youth quota rep . Its economy is largely centered around subsistence farming and livestock farming . Droughts and a lack of economic opportunities have resulted in widespread poverty and migration out of the province. Transport The province has an important geographical location which can link Botswana to Malawi or South Africa to south Zambia through Bulawayo, but due to lack of investment,
400-399: Was reported that workers repaired the potholes on the main roads in the city to make sure Mugabe 's motorcade moved swiftly with a measure of comfort. The Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway serves the town with train services to Bulawayo. Matabeleland South Matabeleland South is a province in southwestern Zimbabwe . With a population of 683,893 as of the 2012 Zimbabwean census. It
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