Bulawayo

Bulawayo is the capital and biggest city in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe, and it is the country's second largest city overall. The city's population has now been disputed; the 2012 census recorded 653,337 residents, but the Bulawayo City Council said that the population was about 1.2 million. Bulawayo is located in the western region of the nation, along the Matsheumhlope River, and has a land area of around 1,707 square kilometres (659 square miles). Bulawayo, along with the country's capital, Harare, is one of only two cities in Zimbabwe that is also a province.

It is believed that Bulawayo was formed about 1840 as the kraal of King Mzilikazi of the Ndebele people. He was replaced by his son, Lobengula, who reigned from Bulawayo until 1893, when the settlement was seized by British South Africa Company forces during the First Matabele War, which was a turning point in the history of the country. The first white immigrants came in the town in that year, and they helped to rebuild it. While fighting in the Second Matabele War, the town was besieged by Ndebele warriors. Bulawayo became a municipality in 1897 and a city in 1943 after gaining its independence from Britain.

Bulawayo has historically been the country's primary industrial hub, with facilities that manufacture automobiles and automobile parts, construction materials, electrical items, textiles, furniture, and food products, among other things. Bulawayo is also the rail network's centre and the headquarters of Zimbabwe's National Railways, which are both located in the city. The city's economy has suffered in recent years, as a number of firms have either closed or relocated their operations to Harare. Despite this, Bulawayo has the highest Human Development Index in the nation, with a score of 0.649 as of the year 2017.

Bulawayo's central business district (CBD) is located in the centre of the city on 5.4 km2 (2.1 sq mi) of land and is bordered by a large number of suburbs. The Ndebele people constitute the bulk of the city's population, with minority of Shona and other ethnic groups present as well. Bulawayo is home to more than a dozen colleges and universities, including the National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo Polytechic College, Bulawayo Polytechnic, Zimbabwe School of Mines, and the United College of Education. The National University of Science and Technology is the largest of these institutions. The Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, previously known as the National Museum, is situated in Bulawayo, the country's capital. Tourist attractions like as Matobo National Park and the Khami World Heritage Site are within easy reach of the city.