Esigodini

Esigodini, originally known as Essexvale, is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. It is the administrative centre for Umzingwane District, one of the seven administrative districts in Matabeleland South. It was originally an estate of Frederick Selous, a British explorer, officer, professional hunter, and conservationist.

Location
Esigodini is situated approximately 44.5 km, by Gwanda road, southeast of Bulawayo, the nearest large city and largest urban centre in the province. The town sits along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road, approximately 82.5 km northwest of the town of Gwanda. The geographical coordinates of the town are:20°17'33.0"S, 28°56'17.0"E (Latitude:-20.292500; Longitude:28.938056). Esigodini is located at an average elevation of 1182 m, above mean sea level.

Overview
Esigodini is the district capital of Umzingwane Rural District Council, which is responsible for running the affairs of the district as a whole. The trading centre is surrounded by ranches and mixed farms. The surrounding communities also host gold, dams and tungsten mines. The area has many rivers, although it suffers from long dry season and drought is common in this area. Average annual rainfall is approximately 30 in.

Population
According to the 1982 population census, Esigodini had a population of 1,492. The 2012 national population census and household survey enumerated 2,228 inhabitants in the town.

History
The town was officially known as Essexvale until 1982, when the name changed to  Esigodini. It was founded in 1894. Prior to the coming of European settlers, the surrounding area was settled by Rozi Moyo people, who had moved here from the area near Gwanda.

Schools
Nearby schools include Falcon College, a renowned secondary school for boys and Mzingwane High School, Mvuthu High School, Esikhoveni Secondary, Mawabeni Secondary, Longfied Secondary, and Mlomotsha while primary schools are  Bayethe, Bezha, Bonjeni, Carlisle, Dobi, Doyana, Dula, Esigodini, Glen Grey, Godlwayo Annex, How Mine, Impu, Inyankuni, Irisvale, Isotsha, Kumbudzi, Longfield, Malungwane, Nsezi, Shale, Bezha, Zhilo, Swazi, Matshetshe, Mawabeni, Mbalabala, Mbizingwe, Mzinyathini, Mlomoliwoto, Mpisini, Mpofini, Mtshede, Munkula, Mvuthu,. Also nearby, is the Roman Catholic mission school known as Sacred Heart Girls School, a boarding secondary school. This school was founded in 2014 and is run by the Sisters Of The Precious Blood who fall under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo, and came mainly from Germany shortly after the Second World War.