Youth Life

Top 20 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Zimbabwe

Some call it The Land of the Riches, no matter what you call it though, you should take a short break from lighting fireworks and grilling hamburgers to enjoy these twenty fascinating facts about  Zimbabwe.

Top 20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Zimbabwe

Check out some of the facts you probably didn’t know about Zimbabwe below..
1. Rhodesia, which later became Zimbabwe, was financed into existence by the Rothschild family through their company Rio Tinto.

2. The original name for Gweru is Kwelo (pleasant). The settlers couldn’t say it so they said Gwelo and the Karanga called it Gweru

3. The set up of paths at the Africa Unity Square resembles the British flag: The Union Jack.

4. Beitbridge (town and bridge) were named after Alfred Beit.

5. The native name for Beitbridge town is Mzingwane.6. Bulawayo road A5 between Chegutu and Kadoma (Chigwel) was made as straight as possible so it could be used as a landing strip during the war.

7. Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) hosted Africa’s first sponsored horse race, The Castle Tankard, in 1960.

8. Robert Ullyett, father to Zimbabwe tennis double champion Kevin, represented Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in cricket and field hockey. He was part of the national team that competed at the 1964 Olympics (they beat New Zealand 2–1 and came 11th out of 15)

9. Webster Shamu was once a radio DJ during the liberation struggle, going by the name Charles Ndhlovu

10. The criteria for voting in the election of March 1979 was: educational standard, income, worth of property owned. There was ”no race discrimination”.

11. The Zimbabwean dollar was introduced in 1980. The exchange rate at the time was $Z1 = US$1.47.

12. Peter Ndlovu was the first African player to play in the English Premier League.

13. Before the national anthem ‘Simudzai Mureza’ was adopted it was used as a primary school’s choir competition song in 1994

14. Xtra Large was a 3 member group: Snugga Jim, Likkle N and Judah E who passed on in prison.

15. Banker Nigel Chanakira co-founded Kingdom Bank when he was 28 years old.

16. Rufaro Stadium also played host to greyhound racing in the early 1990’s.

17. The last major sporting event to be hosted by Zimbabwe was the All Africa Games in 1996. In 2003 Zimbabwe co-hosted the Cricket World Cup together with South Africa and Kenya.

18. At one point Zimbabwe had 4 television stations: Munhumutapa TV, Joy TV, ZTV 1 and ZTV 2

19. Philip Chiyangwa and friend Peter Pamire financed the bringing of Michael Jackson to Zimbabwe in the 1990’s. This was done through their company called CIA.

20. Joice Mujuru was awarded 100% disability compensation after stating that she lost her taste in the mouth due to the war.

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