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Mount Hampden

Coordinates: 17°44′S 30°56′E / 17.733°S 30.933°E / -17.733; 30.933
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Hampden is the parliamentary seat[1] of Zimbabwe.[2] It is in Mashonaland West Province about eighteen kilometers from the main capital, Harare. It was the original destination of the Pioneer Column of the British South Africa Company;[3] however, the Column eventually settled to the south, in present day Harare. Mount Hampden was named after English politician John Hampden by the hunter and explorer Frederick Courteney Selous.[3]

Mount Hampden City
City
Mount Hampden City
Map
CountryZimbabwe
ProvinceMash West
Settled1890 (135 years ago) (1890)
Construction Started2012 (13 years ago) (2012)
Government
 • TypeCeremonial Mayor
 • Bodynot estab.
 • Mayornot elected yet.
Area
 • Total
38.61 sq mi (100 km2)
 • Land38.22 sq mi (99 km2)
 • Water0.39 sq mi (1 km2)
Elevation
547.8 ft (1,466.97 m)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
30,000 est.
 • Estimate 
(Sept. 2023)
30,000 est.
 • Rankunranked
 • Density771/sq mi (300/km2)
 • Urban
30,000 est.
 • Urban density771/sq mi (300/km2)
Demonymnone
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (CAT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (CAT)
ZIP Codes
00000
GDP (City, 2023)$2 million est.
GMP (2023)refer to Harare Metro
Largest suburbs by areaMount Hampden Suburb (3 sq mi or 7.8 km2)
Largest suburb by populationMount Hampden Suburb (2023 est. 22,000)

Recent Developments

[edit]

In 2012, the government of Zimbabwe under then President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe announced plans to build a new parliament in Mount Hampden, replacing the previous parliament in central Harare. The new complex already houses the New Zimbabwe Parliament Building, and will eventually include a Presidential palace, the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe and the High Court of Zimbabwe, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, residential suburbs, hotels and modern shopping malls.[4]

After completion of New Zimbabwe Parliament Building in 2022,[5][6] with the move of parliament in 2023, Mount Hampden became the parliamentary capital of Zimbabwe.[7]

In Mount Hampden, Dubai based Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk is building a development called "Zim Cyber City"[8][9] with centerpiece Mulk Tower, potentially to be the tallest building in Africa.[10][11] It is on the site of the former Turner Farm and its construction is expected to displace thousands of current residents.[12][13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Parliament of Zimbabwe Relocates to New Parliament Building | ZBC NEWS". www.zbcnews.co.zw. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Major boost for Zim's new administrative city – The Herald". www.herald.co.zw. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gwaze, Veronica (26 January 2020). "History of Mt Hampden". The Sunday Mail.
  4. ^ "Zimbabwe farmers displaced by new city compensated". Bulawayo 24 News. 6 April 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025.
  5. ^ Nyathi, Kitsepile (1 July 2022). "China gifts Zimbabwe a modern Parliament". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ Nyathi, Kitsepile (27 October 2023). "China hands over new parliament to Zimbabwe as 'gift'". The EastAfrican. Nairobi, Kenya. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Zimbabwe parliament shifts to new building in Mt Hampden". The Zimbabwe Mail. Harare, Zimbabwe. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Rebates a game changer: Zim Cyber City". Daily News. Harare, Zimbabwe. 25 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Construction at Zimbabwe Cyber City in Mount Hampden Resumes". The Zimbabwe Mail. Harare, Zimbabwe. 12 December 2024. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024.
  10. ^ Maromo, Jonisayi (21 July 2022). "Shifting perceptions: Dubai billionaire to build Africa's tallest building in Zimbabwe". Independent Online SA (Pty) Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022.
  11. ^ Cabral, Alvin R. (21 July 2022). "UAE's Mulk International starts construction of $500m tech park in Zimbabwe". The National. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Residents Face Uncertainty Amid Mt Hampden Cyber City Development". The Zimbabwe Mail. 21 February 2025. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025.
  13. ^ Thandiwe, Garusa (11 November 2024). "Zimbabwe's Planned Cyber City Brings Pain to Citizens Facing Displacements, Job Losses". New Zimbabwe. London, England. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024.

17°44′S 30°56′E / 17.733°S 30.933°E / -17.733; 30.933