Redcliff, Zimbabwe

Redcliff is a town situated in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, with a population of approximately 35,000 (as of 2002). The town is about 219 km (136 mi) north east of the Bulawayo.

Redcliff
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
reds
Redcliff
Coordinates: 19°02′S 29°47′E
CountryZimbabwe
ProvinceMidlands
DistrictKwekwe
Population
 (2002)
 • Total35,000
 est.
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
ClimateCwa

The town sits in an extremely iron-rich area and has relied on steel production as a source of revenue since it was founded in the early part of the 20th century. The Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO, formerly RISCO founded in 1942), which is based in Redcliff, is the town's largest employer.

History

Education

The only school in Redcliff in the 1980s was Redcliff Primary School which offered rich education to children aged around 5 to 13. The school had three classes per grade classified by colours: Red, Blue and Green. Around 1987, as the population of Redcliff increased, an additional class was added in most streams. School sports played at the school included hockey, swimming, Rugby, Cricket, Rounders, Netball and soccer.

Due to the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe, the town's infrastructure has suffered deterioration from low investment. The municipality of Redcliff governs Rutendo, Torwood and Simbi Park.

A former pupil of Redcliff Primary School, Ed Chihambakwe, "completed a memorable whitewash in the November 1996 A-Level examinations by scoring a record 20 points in the four subjects he sat for". He went on to qualify as an actuary and is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. Some of the notable former residents include preacher and author Leslie Borerwe, who travels the globe preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As of 4 April 2014 this is current status in Redcliff much has changed since then. A secondary school was built, even though times were tough in zim, just after Independence there were many changes. Now the town has three high schools, Zisco high school formerly known as drake secondary school, Batanai high school and Rutendo high school, since the shutdown of a major firm (ziscosteel) the standard of living of the majority became so tough, now people are relying on buying and selling, gold panning, selling scrap metal and coal.

Sports

The town has had sport success stories mainly in soccer, rugby, basketball and athletics, due to the good infrastructure built by Zisco mainly Zisco Club and Torwood "Mugomba" Stadium. Cricket was later introduced to the town as well.

From the 1970s through to the mid-1990s, Ziscosteel F.C. was one of the country's best soccer teams. It had George Chieza of the Chieza family, Ephraim Moloi-Pikanegore, Abdul Njonga and the late Dr. Muganhiri. Ephraim Moloi-Pikanegore played for the national team and went on to be named in Zimbabwe’s best XI as he was known as “a player with the Midas touch”. This because each and every club he played for won the league and other trophies/cups. He played for Zimbabwean giants Highlanders FC and Zimbabwe Saints FC before he moved to play for Ziscosteel FC. Moloi-Pikanegore then went on to coach Ziscosteel FC and under his tutelage the team produced talented players such as Issa Phiri, Santo Phiri, Herbert Chilembo, Ephraim Dzimbiri, Paul Gundani, Kennedy Nagoli, Abraham Senda, Ronny Jowa and Thamsanqa Thambo to name but a few of the players who represented the Zim national team. Another notable Football mentor from Redcliff is Benedict Moyo who coached the ladies national team and also ran a Football academy in the town. Other notable players to be produced in Redcliff include Clarkson Dzimbiri, Addluck Dzimbiri, Akim Dzimbiri, Kevin Nhodza, Nakai “Cheche” & Tryan “Ponki” Vakavisser.

Zisco Rugby club also enjoyed success in the national league. It enjoyed success from players like Chunky Lewis, Christopher Bishi, Simon Mushaninga, Charlton Sibanda and Sabelo Mangena. Later on a new generation of younger players enjoyed short lived success due to financial difficulties. This young generation of players included Arnold Mutemeri, Zivai and Tafadzwa Mukuruva, David and Amon Bishi, Takesure Masanga, Prince Humbira, Phillip Tafirenyika, Robert Silubonde and many more.

Basketball has also been a success on the domestic level. 'Iron Shooters' which was formed by Ricardo Chieza and Benjamin Karigambe, included Terence Machando, Jones Masikito, Nsoro Mzemba, Henry Kupakuwana, Tawanda Tangwanda, Tinashe Masawi and Andrew Sibili. What made it remarkable was that even though they were in their early teens, in high school education and didn't have any sponsorship, they still managed to play club 'giants' of the time like the Thornhill Air Force team etc. The team later changed its name to Redcliff 'Steelers' from Ziscosteel. Steelers would get spornsorship from Afdis and were named 'Nicoli Kinicks' for two seasons. With the departure of Ricardo Chieza, Benjamin Karigambe, Terence Machando and Jones Masikito in 1997,the team remodelled and took its old name of Redcliff Steelers . They then dominated Midlands Basketball with players like Tinashe Masawi, Greaterman Mudzengi, Lazarus “KC” Kaizare and Trynos Moyo. Steelers went on to qualify for the Sprite National Basketball League in 2000 as Midlands Basketball Champions. Steelers ladies were also formed and won a number of accolades with ladies Mavis Saladi, Tafadzwa Makunike and Lynda Muzemba representing the Midlands Province.

Zisco Athletics teams produced many talented athletes, Christopher Madzokere, Stanley Mandebele,Melusi Ndlela,Tinos Maridza,Patson Muderedzi, Sam Madzinga and Mark Fanucci all of whom were members of Zisco's 4×100 and 4×400-metre relay team. These five athletes not only represented Zisco and the Midlands, but also represented Zimbabwe at many international competitions including the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.[1][2]

The Redcliff Cricket County was then founded by Portipher Banda (Vice Captain), Osborn Nayoto (Coach), Brian Gwinji ( as Sponsors) and Dobson Mutemeri (Team Scorer) in the early 2000s. The club went on to produce players who represented the Midlands provincial team known as The Haggie Rhinos. These players, among others, included Portipher Banda, Sean Silubonde and Justin Lewis, the latter having knocked on the Zimbabwe National team’s door before relocating to South Africa. Cricket also was introduced to Redcliff Primary School via an initiative by the founding members of the Redcliff Cricket County and sponsorship from the Midlands Cricket Union.Redclif produced 3 brilliant cricket players who made it into Midlands Team Under 15 in 1992 that was Charles Zimbowa,Thabane Mazabane and Bond Nayoto The school went on to produce seriously talented cricketers such as Keith Kavinga (Zim age group player), Tinashe Moloi-Pikanegore, Nyasha Majoto & Tanaka Moloi-Pikanegore (Zim age group player).

Water Reticulation

Redcliff has no direct water source for its on. Its water comes via the Kwekwe network and many times there has been problems with payments of water bills.[3] ZiscoSteel, when it was still Risco helped in the funding of Sebakwe Dam which supplies Kwekwe with water but since the closure of ZiscoSteel, Kwekwe has switched off Redcliff numerous times.

Leadership


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See also

References
  1. Ishemunyoro Chingwere|15 March 2015 REDCLIFF. . . as sport gives in... For a town that gave birth to Zimbabwe national and international sports stars, one would expect budding talent to be on display in any of the sports clubs littered across the Midlands mining town of Redcliff. The Sunday Mail|Business|Retrieved 11 February 2016
  2. Sports Editor|Paragraph 10 |Chasara: The unsung marathon hero | Despite being a substitute, Chasara did not look back as he joined Ziscosteel Athletics Club in 1993 as a junior athlete. The Standard|Sport|Retrieved 11 February 2016
  3. UK Bureau|12 December 2015 Redcliff: 35,000 without water for a week_"THE Midlands town of Redcliff has gone without tape water for more than a week, leaving its 35,000 residents exposed to the risk of diseases such as cholera. The small town, whose economy is based on the collapsed steelmaker Zisco, get s its water from the nearby Kwekwe. NewZimbabwe|News|Retrieved 11 February 2016
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