Bikita District
Bikita | |
|---|---|
District | |
Typical Scene at business centres across the district. | |
| Nickname: Bikita kuMakomo | |
Districts of Masvingo province | |
Masvingo constituency seats for the 2008, showing the division of Bikita (District) | |
| Coordinates: 20°05′S 31°37′E / 20.083°S 31.617°E | |
| Country | Zimbabwe |
| Province | Masvingo |
| Government | |
| • Type | Rural Council |
| • Council Chairman | Councillor Mataga |
| • Chief Executive Officer | Vacancy (Eng Arnold Mutuke Acting) |
| Population (2022 Census) | |
• Total | 176,835 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Bikita is a district in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. It borders with Gutu District, Zaka District, Chipinge District, Chiredzi District, and Buhera District . It is located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Masvingo town. Its administration is at Nyika Growth Point but initially it was at Bikita Office, 10 km south of Nyika Growth Point towards Jerera Growth Point in Zaka District.Bikita District in Zimbabwe is divided into several chiefdoms, including Chief Budzi, Chief Mukanganwi, Chief Mazungunye, Chief Mabika, Chief Marozva, and Chief Ziki. Additionally, the district has 17 headmen and 1,101 village heads.
Bikita District is named after a sacred mountain with similar name but with the "B" pronounced as a soft "B". It is reported that the original colonial administrative offices were located in the foothills of Bikita Mountain before being moved to Bikita Office located 10km south of Nyika Growth Point. Bikita mountain is located in the Chikuku area of Bikita East approximately 53km away from Birchenough Bridge. Folklore states that whenever the ancestors are angry, lions can be located in Bikita Mountain whose top is often shrouded in mist.
The district is under the administration of the Bikita Rural District Council with Chairman of the council as the Mayoral Figure (Councillor Matanga) and a CEO as the Executive figure of the Council/District(contested).
There is a Lithium mine in Bikita District along the Mutare-Masvingo highway at about 23 km from Nyika Growth Point towards Masvingo town. Bikita District is believed to be one of the richest Rural municipalities with diamond belt stretching from Chiadzwa, via Devure down south. The municipality also owns Mkonto Mine, with a rich belt of gold located in Save Conservatives. Save Conservatives is also owned by Bikita District Council with all big five Animals. The district is further blessed with natural guava trees, providing free guava to the natives