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Manzini

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Manzini is a large city in the country of Eswatini. It sits within the Manzini Region and is a very busy place. People often call it "The Hub" because so much happens there. It is the second largest city in the country, after the capital, Mbabane. About 110,000 people lived there in 2008. The city lies along the MR3 road. Near the western edge of the city is the industrial site of Matsapha.

Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland
Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland

Many different types of places exist within and around the city. Residential areas spread out from the Central Business District. To the west, you can find KaKhoza Township. North of the downtown area, there are places like Helemesi Estates and Fairview Township. Helemesi Estates was built on a former farm in the early 1990s. To the east, there are upscale neighborhoods like Coates Valley and Madonsa Township. South of the center, Ngwane Park Township spreads out across land that was once a private farm. Some areas near the river or the industrial zone are very poor.

Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland
Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland

The history of the city is quite long and interesting. It started as a trading post in 1885. At that time, it was called Bremersdorp. This name came from Arthur Bremer, who sold his hotel to the authorities. He wanted the settlement to use his name. The town was a headquarters for many years. However, it was destroyed in 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War. The administrative center moved to Mbabane after that. In 1960, the name changed back to Manzini. This honored Chief Manzini Mbokane, who was a trusted leader.

Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland
Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland

There are many important facts and numbers to know about Manzini. The city was officially declared a city in 1994. This happened when the Manzini Town Council became a City Council. A very big event happens here every year. It is the Swaziland International Trade Fair. This event has been held since the 1920s. It is the largest and best-attended annual event in the country. The city also has a Christian radio station called Voice of the Church. This station began in 1995 with one transmitter.

Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland
Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland

Manzini connects to many things in the wider world. The weather is a humid subtropical climate. This means the summers are hot and rainy. The winters stay mild and dry. For travel, the city is near King Mswati III International Airport. This airport is 56.9 km to the east. Manzini is also the closest urban center to that airport. The city is even twinned with Lancaster in the United States. A famous person from here is the paralympian skier Anna Jochemsen. She was born in the city in 1985.

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File:Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland.jpg
Ex Tum's George Hotel Manzini Swaziland.jpg
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