Esigodini

Esigodini is situated approximately {{convert|44.5|km|0}}, by Gwanda road, southeast of Bulawayo, the nearest large city and largest urban centre in the province.{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bulawayo,+Zimbabwe/Esigodini,+Zimbabwe/@-20.2206551,28.6221396,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eb553f3a8738f73:0x1d2d555c3f07ed7e!2m2!1d28.5873388!2d-20.1457125!1m5!1m1!1s0x1ecabbf525c2393f:0xa134a4a5deffc7a4!2m2!1d28.9371164!2d-20.2957003!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Bulawayo and Esigodini |access-date=24 July 2020}} The town sits along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road, approximately {{convert|82.5|km|0}} northwest of the town of Gwanda.{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Esigodini,+Zimbabwe/Gwanda,+Zimbabwe/@-20.6190878,28.7093531,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1ecabbf525c2393f:0xa134a4a5deffc7a4!2m2!1d28.9371164!2d-20.2957003!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca69b1b06eda79:0x9f71d63e18ce906f!2m2!1d29.0070667!2d-20.9428731!3e0 |titleRoad Distance Between Esigodini and Gwanda |access-date=23 July 2020}} The geographical coordinates of the town are:20°17'33.0"S, 28°56'17.0"E (Latitude:-20.292500; Longitude:28.938056).{{google maps|title=Location of Esigodini, Zimbabwe | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/20%C2%B017'33.0%22S+28%C2%B056'17.0%22E/@-20.663975,29.1887106,108620m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-20.2925!4d28.9380556 |access-date=24 July 2020}} Esigodini is located at an average elevation of {{convert|1182|m|0}}, above mean sea level.{{cite web|url=https://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=891699 |title=Elevation of Esigodini, Zimbabwe |date=24 July 2020 |publisher=Floodmap.net |access-date=24 July 2020 | author=Floodmap}}

Esigodini is the district capital of Umzingwane Rural District Council, which is responsible for running the affairs of the district as a whole.{{cite web|

url=http://umzingwanerdc.co.zw/about/ |title=About Umzingwane Rural District |date=2017 |publisher=Umzingwane District |access-date=24 July 2020 | location=Esigodini|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015224504/http://umzingwanerdc.co.zw/about/ |archive-date=15 October 2017 }} The trading centre is surrounded by ranches and mixed farms. The surrounding communities also host gold, dams and tungsten mines. The area has many rivers, although it suffers from long dry season and drought is common in this area. Average annual rainfall is approximately {{convert|30|in|0}}.

According to the 1982 population census, Esigodini had a population of 1,492. The 2012 national population census and household survey enumerated 2,228 inhabitants in the town.{{cite web|title=The Population of Esigodini, Zimbabwe |url=https://www.citipedia.info/city/general/Zimbabwe__Matabeleland+South_Esigodini_id_891699 |publisher=Citipedia.info |date=17 January 2012 |author=Citipedia |access-date=24 July 2020}}

The town was officially known as Essexvale until 1982, when the name changed to Esigodini. It was founded in 1894. Prior to the coming of European settlers, the surrounding area was settled by Rozi Moyo people, who had moved here from the area near Gwanda.

Nearby schools include Falcon College, a renowned secondary school for boys and Mzingwane High School, Mvuthu High School, Esikhoveni Secondary, Mawabeni Secondary, Longfied Secondary, and Mlomotsha while primary schools are Bayethe, Bezha, Bonjeni, Carlisle, Dobi, Doyana, Dula, Esigodini, Glen Grey, Godlwayo Annex, How Mine, Impu, Inyankuni, Irisvale, Isotsha, Kumbudzi, Longfield, Malungwane, Nsezi, Shale, Bezha, Zhilo, Swazi, Matshetshe, Mawabeni, Mbalabala, Mbizingwe, Mzinyathini, Mlomoliwoto, Mpisini, Mpofini, Mtshede, Munkula, Mvuthu,.{{cite web |last1=Matebeleland South .pd |title=Primary Schools |url=http://mopse.co.zw/sites/default/files/public/Matebeleland%20South%20Primary%20Schools.pdf |access-date=13 October 2021}} Also nearby, is the Roman Catholic mission school known as Sacred Heart Girls School, a boarding secondary school. This school was founded in 2014 and is run by the Sisters Of The Precious Blood who fall under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo, and came mainly from Germany shortly after the Second World War.{{cite web| url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/sacred-heart-girls-school-a-rising-giant/ |title=Sacred Heart Girls School A Rising Giant | newspaper=The Chronicle (Zimbabwe) |date=30 September 2017 | author=Prince Sunduzani |access-date=24 July 2020 | location=Bulawayo}}

• Northern Ndebele people

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.herald.co.zw/zanu-pf-heads-meet-in-esigodini/ Zanu-PF Heads Meet In Esigodini] As of 15 October 2018.

{{Authority control}}

{{Matabeleland South Province}}

Category:Umzingwane District

Category:Populated places in Matabeleland South Province