Opinion: All roads lead to Maphisa!

Early morning in Maphisa has its own kind of movement. Buses from the far reaches of Matobo roll through the town one after another, picking up passengers on their way to Bulawayo. Schoolchildren hurry along the streets in different directions towards the town’s schools, some laughing, others half-running to beat the bell.

Hawkers spread out vegetables, fruits and various wares along the roadside while shopkeepers sweep the dust from their storefronts, preparing to open for the day. On the edges of town, groups of artisanal miners quietly head along narrow paths towards the surrounding hills, beginning another shift before the sun climbs too high. It is the rhythm of a rural town going about its business, steady and unhurried.

But this year, that rhythm carries an unmistakable sense of anticipation. In the next few weeks, the quiet settlement of Maphisa in Matobo District will host Zimbabwe’s National Independence Day celebrations—an honour that will draw national attention to a town whose history stretches far beyond its modest size. In a place where generations have watched the seasons change across grazing lands and granite hills, preparations for the national event have sparked a sense that something historic is unfolding.

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For many residents, the moment feels almost surreal. Yet the story of how Maphisa arrived here is rooted deeply in the long and layered history of Matabeleland. Over time, surrounding communities continued to refer to the area as Maphisa, and the name survived even as new chapters of history unfolded around it.

The first major transformation of the landscape came with the discovery of gold. In the late nineteenth century, prospectors working under the British South Africa Company spread across Matabeleland searching for mineral deposits. Evidence of ancient African gold workings in the region attracted their attention, and by the 1890s formal mining claims had been pegged in the area.

Commercial operations began in 1913 with the establishment of Antelope Gold Mine. The mine quickly drew workers and traders to the remote location, creating a small but active settlement around the mining shafts. The name Antelope Mine reflected the wildlife that once roamed the plains in abundance before settlement began reshaping the landscape.

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