Chipinge RDC at Glance

Chipinge district is pre-dominantly occupied by the Ndau people and with a small portion of its southern tip occupied by the Shangani people. According to 2012 census, the district’s population was 326 476. Commercial farmers occupy most of the area in region one and two.

Before independence in 1980, like in all other districts of Zimbabwe, the black population lived in communal lands and fell under the Chief’s Councils. The small-scale farmers formed their Area Associations which governed their operation. The large-scale farmers fell under the authority of the Rural Councils. Through the Rural Councils and the District Councils Acts, the district was governed by two local authorities, the Rural Council and the District Council. The Rural Council governed the commercial farming area and the urban population in those areas. The District council governed the communal lands as well as the small scale farming area to a certain extent.

In the mid-nineties through the Rural District Councils Act, the District Council and the Rural Council were merged into one local authority- the Rural District Council which became the local authority for the whole district. Chipinge town was administered by a Town Board under Chipinge Rural District Council.