Silobela Constituency Profile - Parliament of Zimbabwe

2011 

Parliament 

Research Department 

[Silobela Constituency Profile]

Table of Contents 

1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

2.0 Population ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 

3.0 Education........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 

3.1 Primary Education ................................................................................................................................................. 4 

3.2 Secondary Education ............................................................................................................................................ 6 

4.0 Health ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7 

5.0 Animal Health ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 

6.0 NGOs ................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 

7.0 Business Centres ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 

8.0 Water Points .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 

9.0 Local Government .................................................................................................................................................... 11 

10.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 

11.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................... 12 

Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 

List of Figures 

Figure 1: Population Composition by Gender .................................................................................................................... 3 

Figure 2: Population Distribution by Ward ......................................................................................................................... 4 

Figure 3: Primary School Enrolment by Ward ................................................................................................................... 5 

Figure 4: Secondary School Enrolment by Ward .............................................................................................................. 6 

Figure 5: Dip tank Based Cattle Distribution by Ward ................................................................................................... 8 

Figure 6: Number of Dip Tanks by Ward .............................................................................................................................. 9 

List of Tables 

Table 1: Primary School Statistics ........................................................................................................................................... 5 

Table 2: Health Facilities in the Constituency .................................................................................................................... 7 

Table 3: NGOs Operating in the Constituency .................................................................................................................... 9 

Table 4: Major Business Centres ........................................................................................................................................... 10 

Table 5: Water Points ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 

Table 6: Councilors in the Constituencies ......................................................................................................................... 11 

Silobela Constituency Profile Page 2

1.0 Introduction 

Silobela is a rural constituency found in the Midlands Province and consists of major areas such as 

Ntombe, Cross words, Silobela, Jena and Donsa. Ndebele speaking people dominate the region and 

are dominantly poor, (Zimbabwe Election Support Network, 2008) 

2.0 Population 

The proportion of male and female population was 48 and 52 percent respectively in Midlands 

Province. The average rate of natural population increase stands at 1.26 percent, crude birth rate 

was at 31.29 births per 1000 while crude death rate stands at 18.64 deaths per 1000 in 2002. Gokwe 

South contributed about 20 percent of the total population in the province whilst the other districts 

provide between 1 and 15 percent. 

Silobela constituency has a population of 66 792 people comprising of 32 416 males and 34 376 

females. The population is housed in about 12 815 house holds with an average house hold size of 4 

people. Amongst the population, 31 510 are registered voters giving an average of 2 101 registered 

voters per ward. 

Figure 1: Population Composition by Gender 


The graph above shows that the distribution of population at constituency level reflects the 

provincial demographic distribution of more females to males. As shown by the graph below, most 

wards have more females to males. All of the constituency wards has a population above 1 800 

people. 

Figure 2: Population Distribution by Ward 

Ward 25 has the highest number of registered voters while ward 26 has the least. There is a slight 

relationship between population distribution and distribution of registered voters in the 

constituency. A significant drop had been registered in election participation from 21 061 voters in 

2005 to 11 544 in 2008. 

3.0 Education 

3.1 Primary Education 

In Zimbabwe there are high levels of primary school enrolments, net enrolment ratio (NER) 

increased from 81.9% in 1994, peaking at 98.5% in 2002. Council schools enrol about 61% of the 

population whilst government schools are the second largest enroller of about 24%. Gender equality 


at primary schools is also good. However, quality of education deteriorated between 1990 and 2009 

due to the harsh economic environment that was prevailing in the country. About 17% of the pupils 

walk more than 5km to attain primary education in Midlands Province. 

Silobela Constituency has 30 primary schools, enrolling a total of 17 597 pupils. About 8 

711(49.50%) of the pupils are girls whilst boys constitute a total of 8 886(50.50%) of the total 

enrolment. There are 487 teachers (both trained and untrained) in the constituency and the 

constituency pupil to teacher ratio stood at 37:1 which is above the national average. The primary 

teaching staff complement consists of 202 male teachers and 285 female teachers. 

Figure 3: Primary School Enrolment by Ward 

Generally, the graph above shows that more girls are enrolled at primary schools than boys, though 

the differences might be slight in other wards. All the constituency wards enroll at least 1 000 pupils 

serve for ward 26. Statistics also show that, of the total teaching staff, 430 are certified teachers. 

Table 1: Primary School Statistics 

Ward Schools Boys Girls Total Trained 

Teachers 

Ward 4 7 1351 1380 2731 74 

Ward 5 5 1051 970 2021 40 

Ward 15 6 710 728 1438 35 

Ward 17 5 1115 1051 2166 52 


Ward Schools Boys Girls Total Trained 

Teachers 

Ward 18 3 618 625 1243 36 

Ward 19 2 359 343 702 21 

Ward 20 5 830 863 1693 41 

Ward 21 3 712 654 1366 30 

Ward 25 2 502 504 1006 23 

Ward 26 1 224 225 449 11 

Ward 27 3 710 738 1448 31 

Ward 28 4 704 630 1334 36 

Totals 46 8886 8711 17597 430 

3.2 Secondary Education 

There are about 3 secondary schools in the constituency enrolling a total of 1 184 pupils. About 44, 

both trained and untrained teachers provide secondary education in the constituency, giving an 

average pupil to teacher ratio of 26:1 for the constituency. Generally, more girls are enrolled for 

secondary education than boys in the constituency. All the schools provide day sessions and are 

owned by rural district council with the first established in 1981. 

Figure 4: Secondary School Enrolment by Ward 


Tiger Reef 

Clinic 

Maryoca 

Nyoni Rhc 

Sigezibubi 

Donsa Rhc 

Exchange 

Simana 

Msilahobe 

Malisa 

Josefa 

Mazembe 

4.0 Health 

There are 5 clinics and 5 rural health service centres in Silobela constituency. Most of the health 

centres have internal roads though access roads are not provided. Tiger Reef clinic and Nyoni 

Health Service Centre are connected to ZESA grid although none of the centres has a vehicular 

services as depicted in the table below. Most of the facilities have access to communication 

networks. Communication together with fire protection is also a major challenge to all these health 

facilities and hospital equipment is not existent. 

Table 2: Health Facilities in the Constituency 

Centre Name 

Wards 4 5 15 17 18 19 20 25 27 28 

Status Clinic RHC RHC Clinic RHC Clinic Clinic RHC Clinic RHC 

Nurses 3 2 2 1 0 2 2 3 2 2 

General Beds 0 4 10 3 0 15 3 0 5 6 

Access Road yes no yes no no yes 

Communicatio yes yes yes yes yes no 

ns 

Fire Protection yes no no no no no 

Internal Roads yes no yes yes yes yes 

Fencing yes yes yes no yes yes 

Power Supply yes no yes no no no 

Water Supply no no no yes yes yes 


5.0 Animal Health 

There are 46 801 cattle in the whole constituency, 12 Animal Health Centers and 39 dip tanks 

within Silobela constituency. Ward 17 has the largest herd of cattle whilst ward 20 has the least. 

Figure 5: Dip tank Based Cattle Distribution by Ward 

The graph below closely shows that there is no relationship that exists between cattle and dip tank 

distribution. Ward 17 with the highest number of cattle has 3 dip tanks whilst ward 25 with the 

second largest herd has 5 dip tanks, a number equal to dip tanks in ward 26. 


Figure 6: Number of Dip Tanks by Ward 

6.0 NGOs 

A total of five non governmental organisations provide various activities in Kwekwe and Redcliff 

districts, and these include Plan International and Oxfam among others. Most of the organizations 

take part in child welfare programmes, agriculture, education, food distribution and poverty 

alleviation whilst WFP take part in institutional support. 

Table 3: NGOs Operating in the Constituency 

Name 

Ward of Activity 

activity 

WFP District Wide Institutional support 

Plan International District Wide Child welfare 

Care International District Wide Education, Agriculture 

Oxfam District Wide Food Distribution 

IOM District Wide Food Distribution 

Orap District Wide Poverty Alleviation 


7.0 Business Centres 

There are 7 business centers in the Silobela constituency. Half of the major business centers are 

electrified, namely Mkobongwe, Simana, Crossroads and Ruya. A post office is located at 

Crossroads Rural service centre. All the business centres have got retailing outlets with the 

exception of Bamala. 

Table 4: Major Business Centres 

Centre Status Electrification Post Office Retailing 

Outlets 

Donsa Bc Yes 

Mkobongwe Bc Yes Yes 

Malisa Bc Yes 

Simana Bc Yes Yes 

Crossroads RSC Yes Yes Yes 

Bamala 

Bc 

Ruya Bc Yes Yes 

8.0 Water Points 

The constituency has a total of 365 boreholes and 38 deep wells from which residents draw water. 

Of the 365 boreholes, 312 are functional whilst 35 deep wells are also functional from a total of 38. 

Increasing the number of boreholes and deep-wells within the constituency will help to ease 

pressure on the existing ones. The presence of so many water points is an indication of the dry and 

arid nature of the constituency. Hence crop production is less compared to animal husbandry in this 

constituency. 

Table 5: Water Points 

Ward Ward Name Boreholes Functional 

Bore-Holes 

4 New 

37 21 

Resettlement 

5 Sessombi I 29 15 

Deep Wells 

Functional 

Deep Wells 

15 Sessombi II 13 10 1 1 

17 Kwaedza 39 30 2 1 


Ward Ward Name Boreholes Functional Deep Wells Functional 

Bore-Holes 

Deep Wells 

18 Batanai 13 13 8 8 

19 Kubatana 27 25 5 5 

20 Sebenzani 24 24 11 11 

21 Mtshikitsha 51 47 4 3 

25 Msokeli 26 25 1 

26 Sessombi III 15 12 1 1 

27 Hlanganisa 50 49 1 1 

28 Inhlangano 41 41 4 4 

9.0 Local Government 

The constituency is represented by 12 councilors in local government of which all are males serve 

for Mrs Maratera of ward 19. There is no gender balance in local governance within the 

constituency. Most women still shun participation in governance issues as candidates and they need 

education and encouragement so that they can also stand as individuals in their own right. 

Table 6: Councilors in the Constituencies 

Ward Councillor Gender 

Number 

4 J.J.E Chademana M 

5 L. Siziba M 

15 R. Takawira M 

17 T.D Moyo M 

18 M. Ndere M 

19 E.B Maratera F 

20 N.P Ncube M 

21 J. Munjanja M 

25 S. Masendeke M 

26 M. Ncube M 

27 G. Nkomo M 

28 J. Mpofu M 


10.0 Conclusion 

Infrastructure servicing calls for urgent attention in the constituency. There is need to empower 

residents through resource ownership and improvement in service delivery 

11.0 Recommendations 

Rehabilitation of dip tanks, schools and health facilities 

Promote institutions that provide HIV/AIDS related information. 

Promote small scale projects in the constituency. 

Residents to participate in economic activities such as mining. 

Non Governmental Organisations should provide development assistance not food “hand 

outs”, through assistance with inputs and raw materials. 


Bibliography 

1. Central Statistical Office (CSO), 2002. Census 2002 Provincial Profile: Midlands, 

Government of Zimbabwe, Harare 

2. Government of Zimbabwe, 2006. Zimbabwe 2003 Poverty Assessment Study Survey 

Summary (PASS) Report, Ministry of Public Service , Labour and Social Welfare, July 2006, 

Harare. 

3. Government of Zimbabwe, UNDP, 2010. 2010 Millennium Development Goals Status Report, 

Ministry of Labour and Social Services, UNDP, Harare. 

4. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), 2008, A Profile of Constituencies: 

Understanding Elections in Zimbabwe, ZESN, Harare. 

5. Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), 2008. The Report on the Delimitation Exercise for 

the 2008 Harmonised Elections, Government of Zimbabwe, Harare. 

6. Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVac), 2009 ZimVac Rural Household 

Livelihoods Survey Report No.11, October 2009, Harare.

Silobela Constituency Profile - Parliament of Zimbabwe

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