title: Midlands Province
text: # Midlands Province
  
  Midlands is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 49,166 square kilometres (18,983 sq mi) and a population of 1,614,941 (2012). It is home to various peoples. Located at a central point in the country, it contains speakers of Shona, Ndebele, Tswana, Sotho and Chewa, as well as of various other languages. Gweru, the third-largest city in Zimbabwe, is the capital of the province.
  
  Midlands Province contains Kwekwe, a city of considerable mining and manufacturing industries, in which also the Sable Chemicals Trust maintains a presence.
  
  ## Districts
  
  Midlands Provinces is divided into eight districts:
  
  * Chirumhanzu
  * Gokwe North
  * Gokwe South
  * Gweru
  * Kwekwe
  * Mberengwa
  * Shurugwi
  * Zvishavane
  
  ## Local government
  
  The Provincial Administrator oversees all eight districts in the province, each district having its own district administrator. District Administrators work with local authorities in their respective districts. Local authorities have their own Chairmen (mayors for municipalities). These urban councils were established in accordance with the Zimbabwe Urban Councils Act, Chapter 29.15 while rural district councils were created in terms of the Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Act, Chapter 29.13
  
  Of the eight districts, Gokwe South, Gweru, Kwekwe, Shurugwi and Zvishavane have two local government administrative authorities; the Urban District Council (town council or municipality) and the Rural District Council. Chirumhanzu, Gokwe North and Mberengwa districts have no urban councils.
  
  Mberengwa's main economic activities are mostly concentrated at Mataga growth point.
  
  ### Rural councils
  
  The 8 rural district councils in all 8 subdivisions;
  
  * Gokwe North RDC in Gokwe North
  * Gokwe South RDC in Gokwe South
  * Mberengwa RDC in Mberengwa
  * Runde RDC in Zvishavane
  * Tongogara RDC in Shurungwi
  * Takawira RDC in Chirumhanzu
  * Vungu RDC in Gweru
  * Zibagwe RDC in Kwekwe
  
  ### Urban councils
  
  * City Councils in the province are Gweru and Kwekwe municipalities.
  * Town Councils are Shurugwi, Zvishavane and Gokwe, Redcliff.
  