West Nicholson

{{EngvarB|date=July 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox settlement   |official_name = West Nicholson |other_name = |native_name = Tshabezi |nickname = |settlement_type =  |motto =  |image_skyline = Mzingwane WN.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption =Mzingwane River at West Nicholson |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Zimbabwe |pushpin_label_position =inline |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Zimbabwe  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = 25px Zimbabwe |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Matabeleland South |subdivision_type2 = Districts of Zimbabwe |subdivision_name2 = Gwanda District |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = Municipality |subdivision_name4 = West Nicholson Town Council  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title =  |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi =  |population_as_of =1982 Census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =1633 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_blank2_title =Religions |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  |timezone = CAT |utc_offset = +2 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|21|03|52|S|29|21|54|E|region:ZW|display=inline, title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = 820 |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = Cwa |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''West Nicholson''' or '''Tshabezi''' is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe.<ref name="1R">{{cite web|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/scores-feared-dead-in-west-nicholson-bus-accident/ |title=30 Perish In West Nicholson Bus Accident |newspaper=The Herald (Zimbabwe) | date=16 November 2018 |author=Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu and Paidamoyo Chipunza |access-date=26 July 2020 |location=Harare}}</ref>

==Location== It is located in Gwanda District, along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Highway, approximately {{convert|44|km|0}}, southeast of the town of Gwanda, where the district headquarters are located.<ref name="2R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gwanda,+Zimbabwe/West+Nicholson,+Zimbabwe/@-21.1247177,29.0923434,10z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca69b1b06eda79:0x9f71d63e18ce906f!2m2!1d29.0070667!2d-20.9428731!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca3463424ba141:0x2e5f8d869433f1a!2m2!1d29.3615014!2d-21.0595205!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Gwanda and West Nicholson |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> This is approximately {{convert|171|km|0}}, by road, southeast of Bulawayo, the nearest large city.<ref name="3R">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bulawayo,+Zimbabwe/West+Nicholson,+Zimbabwe/@-20.6037185,28.4141135,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eb553f3a8738f73:0x1d2d555c3f07ed7e!2m2!1d28.5873388!2d-20.1457125!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca3463424ba141:0x2e5f8d869433f1a!2m2!1d29.3615014!2d-21.0595205!3e0 |title=Distance Between Bulawayo And West Nicholson |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> West Nicholson is approximately {{convert|150.5|km|0}}, by road, northwest of the town of Beitbridge, at the international border with South Africa.<ref name="4R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/West+Nicholson,+Zimbabwe/Beitbridge,+Zimbabwe/@-21.6297229,29.118461,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca3463424ba141:0x2e5f8d869433f1a!2m2!1d29.3615014!2d-21.0595205!1m5!1m1!1s0x1ec8c85e992cc41b:0xc5c7dba25c5d2674!2m2!1d29.9915106!2d-22.2018105!3e0 |title=Distance Between West Nicholson And Beitbridge |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> The geographical coordinates of the town are: 21°03'52.0"S, 29°21'54.0"E (Latitude:-21.064444; Longitude:29.365000).<ref name="5R">{{google maps| title=Location of West Nicholson, Zimbabwe|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/21%C2%B003'52.0%22S+29%C2%B021'54.0%22E/@-21.028186,29.2231605,27883m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-21.0644444!4d29.365 |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> West Nicholson sits at an average elevation of {{convert|820|m|0}} above mean sea level.<ref name="6R">{{cite web|url=http://www.tiptopglobe.com/city?i=2674789&n=West%20Nicholson |title=Elevation of West Nicholson | date=26 July 2020 |publisher=Tiptopglobe.com |access-date=26 July 2020 |author=Tip Top Globe}}</ref>

==Overview== West Nicholson is named after Andy Nicholson, an early prospector who entered the country with the Pioneer Column and was responsible for mining exploration in the area.<ref name="7R">{{cite web|url=http://www.rhodesianstudycircle.org.uk/west-nicholson-mine/ |title=West Nicholson Mine, Gwanda District | publisher=The Rhodesian Study Circle Organisation, United Kingdom |author=The Rhodesian Study Circle |date=911 |access-date=26 July 2020 |location=London}}</ref>

The town hosted a large beef factory, that turned the local cattle into corned beef and biltong, but this is now closed. There is a supermarket and butchery run by Rogers Brothers and Sons. Game and Safari activities are available at Tshabezi Safaris, Tamba, Sondelani and Tod's Guest House. Once a major gold mining area, the country around West Nicholson is riddled with small workings, the only major mining activity still occurs about four kilometers along the main road towards Bulawayo. The mine is called Jessie Mine owned by F.A. Stewart Private Limited.<ref name="7R"/>

The Mzingwane River runs through the town and a railway runs past it, carrying passengers and cargo.<ref name="8R">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/21%C2%B003'57.0%22S+29%C2%B022'11.0%22E/@-21.0602859,29.3862371,13.21z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-21.0658333!4d29.3697222 |title=Map Showing Umzingwane River in West Nicholson, Zimbabwe |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

==Population== According to the 1982 population census, West Nicholson had a population of 1,633.<ref name="9R">{{cite web|date=1990 | url=https://www.huntinafrica.com/hunting-camps/zimbabwe/41-uncategorised/253-west-nicholson |title=Population of West Nicolson, Zimbabwe In 1982 |publisher=Huntinafrica.com | access-date=27 July 2020 |author=Hunt in Africa}}</ref>

==Sports== Sporting activities are mainly based on soccer, having two teams namely, Mazambane United, Jessie Mine Football Club and West Nicholson United playing in the Zimbabwe Football Association's lower division leagues. Other sporting activities include netball and volleyball with Jessie Mine and JZ Moyo High School taking part in the Matabeleland South Volleyball Association's leagues.<ref name="10R">{{cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/jz-moyo-high-believes-in-holistic-inclusive-approach-to-education/ |title=JZ Moyo High believes in holistic, inclusive approach to education | newspaper=The Chronicle (Zimbabwe) |date=14 October 2017 | author=Prince Sunduzani |access-date=27 July 2020 | location=Bulawayo}}</ref>

==Education== The local primary school, West Nicholson Primary School, is located close to downtown and is run by the Lutheran Church. JZ Moyo High School (Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo High School), is a government high school, for both girls and boys, that was established in 1982.<ref name="10R"/> It is located in the former Majoda Farm, approximately {{convert|14|km|0}}, north of West Nicholson on the road to Filabusi.<ref name="11R">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/West+Nicholson,+Zimbabwe/JZ+Moyo+High+School,+Zimbabwe/@-20.7557497,29.3513259,10.13z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca3463424ba141:0x2e5f8d869433f1a!2m2!1d29.3615014!2d-21.0595205!1m5!1m1!1s0x1eca4a688fd40249:0xed95665dd4f88cf8!2m2!1d29.358993!2d-20.975521!3e0 |title=Distance Between West Nicholson and JZ Moyo High School |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> JZ Moyo High School is part of the '''ZIMFEP''' group of schools.<ref name="12R">{{cite web|title=ZIMFEP: Education Through Production |url=http://zimfep.org/achievements/ |publisher=Zimfep.org |date=2012 |access-date=27 July 2020 |location=Zimbabwe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313093914/http://zimfep.org/achievements/ |archive-date=13 March 2012 |format=Archived from the original on 13 March 2012}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.cite.org.zw/leibigs-meat-factory-former-employees-living-in-abject-poverty/ Leibigs meat factory: Former employees living in abject poverty] As of June 2020.

Category:Gwanda District Category:Populated places in Matabeleland South Province