BULAWAYO, chief town of Matabeleland, the western dis trict of Southern Rhodesia; 2o° 11' S., 28° 41' E.; 4,46oft. above sea-level. Distance by rail from Cape Town, 1,360m., from Dur ban, 1,162m., from Beira, 676m.
The climate is fairly healthy, though high temperatures are common, especially in October and November, when over ioo° may be recorded. The average rainfall is about 26in., concen trated largely in the five months, November to March. The European population in 1931 was 10,589. In addition there are some 9,000 natives and Soo or goo Indians and coloured.
Bulawayo was inaugurated in 1893 on the site formerly occu pied by Lobengula's kraal. It then consisted of a collection of tents. In 1894 the settlement was moved to its present. site, 3m. away, though the Government house, built by Rhodes and now the seat of the governor, still occupies the original position. The town is situated amidst undulating, pastoral country. It is laid out on a rectangular plan, centred about the market square.
Bulawayo is well provided with parks, and with grounds for horse racing, cricket, football, tennis, hockey, bowling and golf. Electric lighting and the water-supply are at present in the hands of a private company, but parliamentary powers have been ob tained to enable the municipality to raise a loan for the construc tion of water-works and the supply of electricity. There are several primary and secondary schools, Government and private.
Among the principal buildings and memorials are the stone-built edifice occupied by posts, customs and the municipal offices, the museum, the Matabeleland war memorial, consisting of cloisters, in the Barth of which is a large granite monolith, and the large bronze statue of Cecil Rhodes at the junction of two of the prin cipal streets. Bulawayo is the headquarters of the Beira, Mashona land and Rhodesia railways.