Talk:List of renamed places in Zimbabwe

Name changes

Excellent work on this page! Two comments:

1. Bulawayo is an example of settlements whose name did not change as the colonial-era name used reflected the correct Ndebele pronunciation. Other examples include Lupane, Gwanda, Filabusi, Insiza. The changes to Shona pronunciation were limited to the Mashonaland provinces, Midlands and Masvingo. Hwange and Mbalabala are Kalanga.
2. The naming of some roads after Robert Mugabe should be understood in the correct context: it took place alongside the other changes in road names. So although most towns/cities have roads named after him, they also all have roads named after JZ Moyo, Josiah Tongogara and so on. Whilst there are obviously people who do not like it, this is not a separate case of renaming, but part of the process of recognising major nationalist leaders in the road names. Babakathy (talk) 09:56, 5 June 2013 (UTC)

That first comment gives me an idea: perhaps a table with all the name changes with explanations, for example

Pre-1982 name	New name	Region	Notes
Balla Balla	Mbalabala	Matabeleland	Amended to better reflect local Kalanga pronounciation
Gwelo	Gweru	Midlands	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation
Hartley	Chegutu	Mashonaland	Name with obvious colonial connotations replaced with indigenous Shona name
Salisbury	Harare	Mashonaland	Name with obvious colonial connotations replaced with indigenous Shona name. "Harare" had previously been the name of a black township in the south of the city, which was concurrently renamed Mbare

To simplify things it might be better to just refer to "regions" (Mashonaland, Matabeleland etc) rather than the provinces, which as you know include divisions into East, Central etc. Moreover considering the context labelling Harare as in "Harare Province" doesn't really help international readers. What do you think?

The second thing, regarding the naming of things after Mugabe and other black nationalists, is made more clear in the body of the article. I've changed the last sentence of the lead to end "... in favour of those of black nationalist leaders, prominently Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and Josiah Tongogara." What do you think?

Thanks for the comments and I hope you are well and having a productive week. —Cliftonian (talk) 10:21, 5 June 2013 (UTC)

Yes, I basically agree. For a full table, maybe give connection rather than just colonial connotations, e.g. Marshall Hatley, Lord Salisbury etc?

Regions rather than provinces: yes, also as provincial configuration has changed significantly over the period discussed.

Nationalists: Jason Moyo also in most towns. Babakathy (talk) 06:41, 6 June 2013 (UTC)

Yes I remember street signs with Moyo well, but these things tend to work better in threes and I happened to put Tongogara instead. Anyway, I've switched in the lead for Moyo, and Tongogara is still mentioned in the body.

Re the table—yes, I think you're right. I also think it might be more accessible for most to have the new names in the first column. So maybe a format along these lines

Renaming of Zimbabwean cities, towns and villages in 1982

New name	Old name	Region	Notes
Chegutu	Hartley	Mashonaland	Original name, referring to Henry Hartley, a 19th-century hunter and explorer, replaced with indigenous Shona name
Chimanimani	Melsetter	Manicaland	Original name, referring to a place in Scotland, replaced with indigenous Shona name. Initially changed to Mandidzudzure, then to Chimanimani in September 1982 because of local public opinion
Chivhu	Enkeldoorn	Midlands	Original Afrikaans name replaced with indigenous Shona name
Guruve	Sipolilo	Mashonaland	Initially amended to "Chipuriro" to better reflect local Shona pronounciation, then changed to Guruve in September 1982 because of local public opinion
Gweru	Gwelo	Midlands	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation
Harare	Salisbury	Mashonaland	Original name, referring to the 19th-century British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, replaced with indigenous Shona name. "Harare" had previously been the name of a black township in the south of the city, which was concurrently renamed Mbare.
Kwekwe	Que Que	Midlands	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation
Marondera	Marandellas	Mashonaland	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation
Masvingo	Fort Victoria	Masvingo	Original name, referring to Queen Victoria, replaced with indigenous Shona name. Changed first to Nyanda, then to Masvingo in September 1982 because of local public opinion. Victoria Province concurrently became first Nyanda, then Masvingo Province.
Mbalabala	Balla Balla	Matabeleland	Amended to better reflect local Kalanga pronounciation
Mutare	Umtali	Manicaland	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation
Shurugwi	Selukwe	Midlands	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation

—Cliftonian (talk) 07:55, 6 June 2013 (UTC)

Additional info:

• Chimanimani (referring to the nearby mountains)
• Kwekwe, referring to nearby river, whose name reflects the cries of frogs, common in the river
• Masvingo: Changed first to Nyanda (referring to the nearby mountain), then to Masvingo (referring to the nearby Great Zimbabwe ruins)
• Mbalabala, better reflect local Kalanga word for the kudu

Pre-1982 name	New name	Region	Notes
Mberengwa	Belingwe	Midlands	Amended to better reflect local Shona pronounciation of the nearby mountain
Hwange	Wankie	Matabeleland	Amended to better reflect local Kalanga word for the name of a local chief

Babakathy (talk) 08:41, 6 June 2013 (UTC)

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