Esigodini

---

title: "Esigodini" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["umzingwane-district", "populated-places-in-matabeleland-south-province"] description: "Zimbabwean town" topic_path: "general/umzingwane-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esigodini" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Zimbabwean town ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
official_name	Esigodini
other_name	Essexvale
settlement_type	Town
image_shield	Esigodini.jpg
dot_x
pushpin_map	Zimbabwe
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Zimbabwe
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	Matabeleland South
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Umzingwane
unit_pref
area_total_km2
area_land_km2
population_as_of	2012 Census
population_total	2228
timezone	CAT
utc_offset	+2
{{coord	20
elevation_m	1182
::

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Esigodini, originally known as Essexvale, is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. It is the administrative centre for Umzingwane District, one of the seven administrative districts in Matabeleland South. It was originally an estate of Frederick Selous, a British explorer, officer, professional hunter, and conservationist.

Location

Esigodini is situated approximately 44.5 km, by Gwanda road, southeast of Bulawayo, the nearest large city and largest urban centre in the province. The town sits along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road, approximately 82.5 km northwest of the town of Gwanda. The geographical coordinates of the town are:20°17'33.0"S, 28°56'17.0"E (Latitude:-20.292500; Longitude:28.938056). Esigodini is located at an average elevation of 1182 m, above mean sea level.

Overview

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 30 in.

Population

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.

History

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.

Schools

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,. 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.

References

References

1. Rhodesiana. (1982). "Rhodesian Place Names: Esigodini, formerly Essexvale".
2. "Road Distance Between Bulawayo and Esigodini".
3. {{google maps. link. titleRoad Distance Between Esigodini and Gwanda
4. "Location of Esigodini, Zimbabwe".
5. Floodmap. (24 July 2020). "Elevation of Esigodini, Zimbabwe". Floodmap.net.
6. Citipedia. (17 January 2012). "The Population of Esigodini, Zimbabwe". Citipedia.info.
7. "Primary Schools".
8. Prince Sunduzani. (30 September 2017). "Sacred Heart Girls School A Rising Giant". [[The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)]].

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