Chimoio

Province

Chimoio, Vila Pery former is, with 238 976 (2007) inhabitants and is the fifth largest city in Mozambique and is situated in the west of the country.

Geography

Chimoio is located in the Beira corridor, 95 kilometers east of the border with Zimbabwe, on the railway line from Beira to Harare. Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province and as the administrative capital of the municipality of Chimoio. The city is a separate district.

The main attraction is the Monte Bento / Cabeça do Velho, a rock with the shape of a man's face. In the surrounding forest sometimes monkeys and small antelope can be seen. Not far away, on the border with Zimbabwe, is the highest mountain with 2436 m of Mozambique, the Monte Binga.

Population

2007, Chimoio 238 976 inhabitants. In 1997, there were 177 608 and 1980 even only 74 372. Due to the political situation in the neighboring country, the city is full of refugees. Due to the rapid population growth is a major problem with AIDS. The percentage of infected people is estimated to average about 25%.

History

Chimoio historically belonged to Munhumutapa Empire and was called Mandingo. Established the place was at a place called Chimiala. 1916 Mandingo was renamed by the Portuguese in Vila Pery. The city was at this time in addition to Portuguese, a larger population of Britons as a resident. In 1969, the site of the city ( Cidade ) was charged. With the independence of Mozambique in 1975 was renamed in Chimoio. The city was affected by both Mozambican independence as the civil war.

Economy

The railway line serves as export route for Zimbabwean goods towards the Indian Ocean. Even agricultural products from the region of Chimoio follow this path. Former farmer from Zimbabwe have created here new farms after they were driven from their homes. They produce, for example, peppers and tobacco for export, while the ancestral population grows on a small scale for their own use. The airport of the city is in a bad condition.

Sports

The football club Textáfrica do Chimoio plays in the first Mozambican League Moçambola. The home games found in 5,000 -seat stadium Estádio da Soalpo instead.