What is "mutoko"

Mutoko is a small town in Mashonaland East province, Zimbabwe. It was established as an administrative station in 1911. It lies 143 km from Harare. It is named after the local Chief Mutoko.

This town is capital of the Mutoko District which is inhabited by the Buja people. The Buja people are said to have settled in Mutoko from Mhingari in what is now Mozambique

The Buja people are known for being amongst the best tomatoes and mango farmers in Zimbabwe. Besides Mutoko is surrounded by villages which were given to farmers after the war, its from these resettlements the country is fed. In these areas we produce maize, cotton, beans and recently tobacco. I guess Mutoko is one of the major bread baskets of Zimbabwe.

Mutoko area is also known for being a very mountainous region of Zimbabwe and as such is an important source granite stone.

It is also home to Nohoreka.Nohoreka found Makate and his people in this area and Nohoreka gave his sister Njapa to Makate as a wife who later tricked Makate to lose the kingdom to Nohoreka. (see Nehanda and Chaminuka), a spiritual leader of the Buja people. Nehoreka's totem is shumba( lion). He is the father of all that use the lion as their totem originally from Mozambique. Nehoreka is also the name of a 10 piece Afro Fusion music band, formed in Gweru Zimbabwe by Percy Nhara, Solomon Jahwi and Innocent Madamombe. Band is now based in Harare.

In 1937 at nearby Mutemwa there was established one of the few leprosy treatment centres in the country at which John Bradburne worked from 1969 until he was killed by guerrillas during the Rhodesian Bush War. Up to 25,000 people attend a service each year in his memory.

Mutoko is also the birthplace of Tsitsi Dangarembga, author of the famous post-colonial novel Nervous ConditionsWilson Katiyo,Dzekasburg,Chawasarira,Admire Mudzonga and many others who stood as luminaries in this corner of Zimbabwe.

list of famous institutions in Mutoko: Nyadire Methodist Mission :Teachers College, mixed boarding facilities for High and primary school, hospital, Methodist church institution Mutoko High School Gvt Funded boarding facilities mixed All Souls Catholic Mission : Orphanage mixed Boarding facilities for High and primary schools, hospital, church Nyamuzuwe Methodist Mission: mixed Boarding facilities for High and primary School hospital and church.

Tourist attractions: Mutoko airport mutoko centre Mutoko ruins Mudzi River

Mutoko is also the birthplace of Abel Kahuni, one of the best middle distance runners Prince Edward School and Zimbabwe has ever produced.