Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe with a population of 1.5million fully integrated people of different races, tribal groupings and cultural backgrounds. The city of Bulawayo was originally the home of Lobengula, the last of the Matebele Kings. It is the centre of the three Matabele land provinces: North, South, and Bulawayo.
Bulawayo’s location is fascinating from the geological as well as the geographical point of view. The city stands on some of the most ancient rock ever laid down on earth and is strategically placed on the apex of the great Zimbabwean plateau and commands access to it from the south.
Bulawayo forms the axis of a well-planned road and rail network to the north, south, east and west of Zimbabwe. It has the dual role of being the regional capital for Southern Zimbabwe and also a link to the interior of Southern Africa. With its proximity to South Africa, it is natural for Bulawayo to develop as the industrial hub of Zimbabwe. It is located as a link between Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the rest of the country.
The first train arrived in Bulawayo in 1897. Bulawayo was turned into a boom town with early colonial settlers using the city’s immense natural wealth. The city grew to become an important industrial hub of Zimbabwe. The arrival of railways in 1897 made it the country’s major centre for ranching, mining and industrial activity. Many heavy industries were located in the town, which was the gateway to Southern Africa – linking the north and south through a rail and road network.
Today, Bulawayo is one of the country’s most attractive cities, with a pleasing mixture of Victorian and modern architecture which gives it a unique character. From a tourist point of view, Bulawayo has a lot to offer, either from within itself or the surrounds.
In the city there is the National Art Gallery; an attraction of great interest, housed in a Victorian era building. The complex also houses a crafts shop, restaurant and several artists’ studios. Also, there is the Zimbabwe’s International Trade Fair (ZITF), Old Bulawayo, and many other attractions.
For a long time, Bulawayo has remained the country’s commercial capital while Harare, the seat of Government.