Sebakwe River

Sebakwe River or Zibagwe River is a river in Zimbabwe. 18.6080°S 29.6238°E / -18.6080; 29.6238

Sebakwe River in the Sanyati River catchment (bottom)

Sebakwe River is located in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. It has a length 150 kilometres (93 mi) straight line from source to mouth,[1] and is a tributary of Munyati River which it joins in Zhombe East at 18°36′10″S 29°37′08″E.

Sebakwe River descends from the south-western heel of Mtoro Hill (elevation 1580m) north-east of Chivhu. It then flows south-westerly, east of Chivhu and west of The Range.[2]

Background

The name Sebakwe is a distortion of the name Zibagwe meaning a very large maize plant or cob. The other version of the originality of the name say it derives from the name "Chiwake meaning 'that which is built up', referring to a barrier built during the Rebellion".[3]

Presently the name "Zibagwe" prevails. There is a legend orally transmitted that tells how the name Zibagwe came about. It says Zibagwe which is a ChiShona name for " a very large maize plant or cob" was given when local people visited to scavenge the camp that the European explorers had set for months. The said explorers had just left the camp to a destination further north into Mashonaland. Locals found a very large maize plant with very large cobs at the abandoned camp. Even though they had come treasure hunting for whatever the White men could have left behind, no one touched the tempting maize plant because it was by the camp urinal, well fertilized by urine. The said maize plant was there for a long time, and because it was on the river bank, they called the river as "kuZibagwe" meaning "at the extra-large-maize plant".

Though not officially stated it is thought that the Zibagwe "Urinal" Maize Plant encouraged the ecological experimental toilets project carried out in Zimbabwe a few years ago. A 3-year research project using diluted urine as fertilizer was conducted in Epworth, Harare (2008-2010) and the results were very positive.[4] (The whole book shows how the application of diluted urine on plants can be very effective on plant growth.)

Little Sebakwe River
Effect of Urine treatment on maize growth. The bigger cob here is referred to as Zibagwe.

The main Sebakwe River flows into the Munyati River. There is another Sebakwe River known as Little Sebakwe River which has a length of 7.6 kilometres, and is entirely in Mashonaland East Province. Unlike the main Sebakwe River it flows easterly into Nyazvidzi River, the Save River drainage basin. Little Sebakwe passes north of Dombo hill (elevation 1455m) and south of Dowa hill (elevation 1386m) on its course towards Nyazvidzi River. It meets Nyazvidzi River south-east of St Kizito School in what was known as Eastdale Tribal Trust Land.[5]

Historical operations

Sebakwe River has a rich history.

It seems Kwekwe, then spelt Que Que was called Sebakwe before the assumption of the name Que Que.[6]

In the sixteenth century a Portuguese explorer, Fernandes, camped on the banks of the Sebakwe River not{convert|5|mi|km} from Kwekwe.[7]

King Lobengula had some reefs along Sebakwe River marked as his claims in September 1890[8]

The land in which Sebakwe River passed through was known as Sebakwe District. A company that developed Gaika Mine in Que Que had 437 gold claims in the then Sebakwe district and all the water used was from the Sebakwe River.[9]

In 1914 (some records say 1880) Fred Selous shot and killed a white rhino in this river and its skull was preserved. It is in the British Museum. The image name is "Sebakwe 1914"[10]

Sebakwe 1914_Skull of white rhinoceros shot by Fred Selous on the Sebakwe River in Zimbabwe

Fredrick Selous was nearly killed by a leopard in the Sebakwe River.[11]

Sebakwe River was boundary between Mashonaland and Matabeleland when Southern Rhodesia was still a two province nation. It was also a route for travelling from the east to the Salisbury-Bulawayo Road which was west of the Enkeldoorn and Fort Charter areas. Sebakwe River had also crossing places without bridges but a ferryboat, drawn across by a wheel which travelled along the cable like an aerial car.[12]

Many early settlers found land along Sebakwe River irresistible.[13]

Sebakwe River has always been a source of drinking and irrigation water. It even has weirs from the 19th century some created by wagon bridges.[14]

Sebakwe River has always been Kwekwe's life line from the onset. Que Que developed from mining compound townships for Gaika and Globe and Phoenix mines. Drinking Water for Gaika and G and P mines was ferried from Sebakwe River by ox wagon until G and P mine was granted water rights to pipeline water from the river 5.25 miles (8.45 km) away in 1898.[15]

Sebakwe River also acted as the northern boundary of Kutanga Bombing Range in the then Rosedale Farming Area. The range was used by combat planes from Thornhill Air Base which is still in operation.[16] Kutanga Bombing Range is situated to the South of the Midlands town called Que Que in the district area commonly known as the Bemberzaan/ Sebakwe (named after the two rivers in that area) farming community called Rosedale. This geographically placed the range north of Thornhill some 50 miles (80 km).

Current operations

Sebakwe River supplies Munyati Power Station with water for boilers via a 23-kilometre long canal[17]

The 266 mega litre Sebakwe Dam is across Sebakwe River, and it supplies Kwekwe, Sebakwe Recreational Park and Redcliff with water.[18][19]

Sebakwe Recreational Park and the Sebakwe Black Rhino Trust Conservancy which does great work conserving wildlife.[20] It is also dammed at Dutchman's Pool Dam is also on the Sebakwe River and a supplementary water source for Kwekwe.[21]

References
  1. Sebakwe River Retrieved 5 March 2016
  2. Hartley Final Map GRID Ref: TQ9707 Hartley Final Rhodesian Map Archive SHEETFALL - 1:250 000 SERIES Retrieved 13 March 2016
  3. Retrieved 5 March 2016
  4. Peter Morgan 2011 page 6 Trees as recyclers of nutrients present in human excreta susana.org Retrieved 14 March 2016
  5. Map Grid Ref: TP9463 Selukwe_final.jpg Rhodesian Maps Archive SHEETFALL - 1:250 000 SERIES Retrieved 13 March 2016
  6. Eric Rosenthal Chapter XIX. pp49 Part Two -Zimbabwe Jewish Community But poor Michael’s troubles were by no means over, for he fell into arrears with an advance made to him through the Benevolent Society. A letter was sent off on 25 August 1903, to the Globe and Phoenix Gold Mining Company at Sebakwe (now known as Que Que), reminding him: "There are three payments of C5 overdue, as per your arrangement to pay off your indebtedness. trust, therefore, that you will not fail to send me your cheque for C15…"] Eric Rosenthal Part II]Zimbabwe Jewish Community Retrieved 13 March 2016
  7. Fisherman’s Paradise At the beginning of the sixteenth century, when Monomotapa ruled, the first European explorer, a Portuguese, Fernandes, camped on the banks of the Sebakwe not five miles from Que Que. Once Called Home Retrieved 13 March 2016
  8. Pioneers of Rhodesia - Individuals DAWSON, James. At Bulawayo on 3 May 1886, he witnessed the document confirming Loben's grant in the Tati area to the Northern Light Gold Mining Company. DAWSON was in Matabeleland during May 1885 and March 1886, and in late July 1888. On 18 September 1890 Lobengula gave DAWSON a letter authorizing him to peg claims (for Iohe,) in Mashonaland on the Umfuli and Zimbo rivers. DAWSON went to Salisbury to protest to the authorities that settlers had claimed his reefs. H. J.BORROW accompanied him to the area of the Sebakwe and Bembesi rivers to mark alternate claims for the King. geni.com Retrieved 10 March 2016
  9. Down in the Dumps The Chicago Gaika Development Co. was launched in 1897 and issued 200,000 shares of one pound each. The shares were fully subscribed. It acquired 437 gold claims in the Sebakwe district. Once Called Home Retrieved 10 March 2016
  10. Skull of white rhinoceros shot by Fred Selous on the Sebakwe River in Zimbabwe. From Selous et al., The big game of Africa and Europe, 1914, pl.2. Rhino Resource Center Imagrs Retrieved 5 March 2016
  11. John Guille Millais 2013 page 208 At the Sebakwe river he fired at what he thought was a jackal, but on arriving near the animal, which he expected to find dead, as he had heard the bullet strike, he was suddenly charged by a leopard. The angry beast passed right under his stirrup-iron, and after going thirty yards stopped and sat on its haunches. Another shot at once killed it. Life of Fredrick Courtney Selous, DSO Capt 25th Royal Fusiliers. Originally Published 1919 Retrieved 13 March 2016
  12. p.114-5. Rhodesia - and After: Being the Story of the 17th and 18th Battalions of Imperial Yeomanry Two days later, crossing the Sebakwe River, we passed from the land of the Mashonas into Matabeleland. Though near the end of the dry season the whole of our route was well watered, and even in the smallest river beds lay pools at varying distances apart at which a plenteous supply of water could be obtained. In the rains the larger ones are rushing floods, and are crossed by a box or cradle drawn from bank to bank along a taut wire cable hanging in mid-air. Sometimes " as on the Sebakwe " a ferryboat, drawn across by a wheel which travelled along the cable, was substituted for the aerial car. We were now upon the Salisbury-Buluwayo road, and were passed every other day by the Zeederberg coaches, which at present is the only method of passenger transport between the two capitals. forgottenbooks.com Retrieved 10 March 2016
  13. Pombiyadonha http://pombiyadonha.byo24.com/index-id-iblog-iblog-509.html A large group of the white settlers established farms along the Umnyati River and the Sebakwe River in Chief Mashava’s territory. Others had farms around Fort Charter in Chief Maromo’s territory. By 1895, chiefs Maromo, Mashava and Nyika’s territories were completely occupied by the Afrikaner farmers in a land area of about four hundred and fifty thousand acres. Chief Mutekedza’s territory, byo24.com|Retrieved 13 March 2016
  14. Info http://zimfieldguide.com/midlands/orton’s-drift-over-sebakwe-river The waggon outspan is 120 metres south of the house with Orton’s Drift which crosses the Sebakwe River on an artificially constructed stone ford which dams the Sebakwe River to its east. -19°09′10.80″S 30°39′01.64″E Zimfieldguide.com Retrieved 13 March 2016
  15. http://www.oncecalledhome.com/2012/08/down-in-the-dumps-2/ Drinking water was hauled from the Sebakwe River by ox wagon but after a legal wrangle in 1898 the G and P obtained permission to pump water via a five and a quarter mile pipeline from the Sebakwe River. However during the drought of 1904 Gaika employees walked to the G and P with four gallon paraffin tins to get their water. Once Called Home Retrieved 10 March 2016
  16. "Kutanga Bombing Range - It's [sic] History · 1960 - 1983". 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  17. ZPC Munyati Power Station - Zimbabwe Power Company |The boilers are designed to burn "washed peas" coal. Water is drawn from two sources: the Sebakwe River through a 23-kilometre long canal and the Munyati Weir through a 3-kilometre pipeline. Zimbabwe Power Corporation Power Stations Retrieved 10 2016
  18. BLESSED MHLANGA 23 January 2014 Kwekwe runs dry over debt KWEKWE and Redcliff went for a second day without water yesterday after the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) closed water valves from Sebakwe Dam following a standoff over an $800 000 debt. Southern Eye News Retrieved 12 March 2016
  19. Tinomuda Chakanyuka 17 January 2016 Cities dam levels critical…7-month water supply left Sebakwe and Lower Zibagwe which supply Kwekwe and Redcliff are still 65,3 percent full. Sunday News|Top Stories Retrieved 12 March 2016
  20. Guide Recreational Park Zimbabwe Field Guide|Retrieved 13 March 2016
  21. Webworld Sebakwe at Dutchman'S Pool Dam unesco.org Water Retrieved 13 March 2016
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