Bikita is a district in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. It borders with Gutu District, Zaka District, Chipinge District, Chiredzi District, and Buhera District . It is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Masvingo town. Its administration is at Nyika Growth Point but initially it was at Bikita Office, 10 km south of Nyika Growth Point towards Jerera Growth Point in Zaka District.Bikita District in Zimbabwe is divided into several chiefdoms, including Chief Budzi, Chief Mukanganwi, Chief Mazungunye, Chief Mabika, Chief Marozva, and Chief Ziki. Additionally, the district has 17 headmen and 1,101 village heads.
The District is under the administration of the Bikita Rural District Council with Chairman of the council as the Mayoral Figure(Councillor Matanga) and a CEO as the Executive figure of the Council/District(contested). Mr Archibald Ncube was appointed after three candidates were presented to the Minister for selection . The council dubiously treamed the candidates with a hope of having their corrupt accused Engineer Mutuke to continue as the CEO , however after Minister Garwe chose Mr Archbald Ncube, the council board led by Chairman Mataga took an unprecedented move of defying the Ministerial order and refused to allow the new CEO to start his duties. On a surprise note , the council's favorite candidate ,Eng Mutukwe is complicit in several corrupt, crime, fraud & scandals that made Bikita Rural District Council to be on headlines in the public media
There is a Lithium mine in Bikita District along the Mutare-Masvingo highway at about 23 km from Nyika Growth Point towards Masvingo town. Bikita District is believed to be one of the richest Rural municipalities with diamond belt stretching from Chiadzwa, via Devure down south. The municipality also owns Mkonto Mine , with a rich belt of gold located in Save Conservatives . Save Conservatives is also owned by Bikita District Council with all big five Animals. The district is further blessed with natural guava trees ,providing free guava to the natives
Government and politics
The district sends three members to Zimbabwe's House of Assembly. Each of the wards in the district has an elected official who works at the rural district council.
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) won all three seats, one with a razor thin margin.12
Bikita South
Bikita South, Zaka east and central, is made of wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 26, 28, and 29. During the 2008 House of Assembly elections, Luka Gumbare (ZANU-PF), Wilson Makonya (MDC (mut)) and Jani Varandeni (MDC (tsv)) ran for the seat. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced Jani Marandeni as the winner with a total of 6,916 votes to 5,284 of Luka Gumbare. Matsai community is one of the most impoverished in Bikita but it has its shining beacon Mashoko mission with a renowned hospital and state-of-the-art high school. Ward 28 and 29 is made up of small scale commercial farms. These farms were mostly purchased in the early 1950s. During the 2018 House of Assembly elections JOSIAH SITHOLE [JK] (ZANU PF) was announced the winner by ZEC with a total of 10300 votes followed by Jeppy Jaboon (MDC Alliance) with 3000 votes.
Bikita East
Bikita East comprises wards 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 27. Matthew Makaza (ZANU-PF), Walter Mutsauri (independent) and Edmore Marima (MDC (Tsva)) ran for the seat for the House of Assembly. According to the ZEC, Edmore Marima won the seat with 7,784 votes to 5,373 polled by Walter Mutsauri.
Bikita West
The constituency seat is made up of eleven wards, namely 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 22, 23, and 32. Ellias Musakwa (ZANU-PF) and Heya Shoko (MDC (tsv)) ran for the seat. Shoko narrowly won the seat with 7,048 votes to Musakwa's 7,029.
Notable People
- Retired General Mashingaidze(Politician ,farmer and Liberator)
- Retired General Rugeje(Politician,Military and Liberator )
- Retired General Rungani(Liberator)
- Engineer Ben Magara (Global CEO and Businessman )
- Dr Kereke(Politician, Convict ,Economist and Businessman )
- Elias Musakwa(Politician,Gospel Singer and farmer )
- Themba Gorimbo(MMA fighter)
- Baba Harare (Comedian, singer,actor and dancer)
- Harrington Shereni(former Soccer player)
- Mkanganwi ( University lecturer)
- Paddington Shereni( Former soccer player )
- Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi ( Clergyman)
-Regina Mashingaidze ( Human Rights Lawyer)
References
Independent Election Results site "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008. (accessed 1 April 2008) https://web.archive.org/web/20080405154228/http://www.zimelectionresults.com/Constituency_Pages/Masvingo.html ↩
Sokwanele site Archived 30 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine http://www.sokwanele.com/election2008 ↩