Greetings
Mhoroi
mho-RO-ee
Hello, to a group or politely to one person. Chitungwiza is Shona-speaking, like Harare and unlike Bulawayo.
Maswera sei?
ma-SWE-ra say
How has your day been? The afternoon greeting — and in a commuter town, most conversations start in the afternoon.
Social
Maita basa
ma-EE-ta BA-sa
Thank you — literally 'you have done work'. The warmer of the two common forms.
Daily life
Kombi
KOM-bee
The commuter minibus. In Chitungwiza it is not transport, it is the thing your day is built around.
Mushika-shika
moo-SHEE-ka SHEE-ka
Unlicensed private cars running informal commuter routes, faster and pricier than a kombi. Ubiquitous on the Seke Road and a genuine safety trade-off.
Rank
rank
The kombi terminus. 'Which rank?' is the practical question about any journey — Makoni, Zengeza, Chikwanha and Huruyadzo are the ones you will hear.
Marii kuenda kutown?
ma-REE koo-EN-da koo-TOWN
How much to go to town? 'Town' always means central Harare, never Chitungwiza.
Kiya-kiya
KEE-ya KEE-ya
Hustling, improvising, making a plan when the formal way is closed. In a city with almost no formal employers of its own, it is a job description.
Musika
moo-SEE-ka
Market. Chikwanha and Huruyadzo are the big ones and they are cheaper than anything in Harare.
EcoCash
EE-ko-cash
Mobile money, and the default here — bank branches are few and agents are everywhere. The ZiG and USD wallets are separate.
Food
Sadza nemuriwo
SAD-za neh-moo-REE-wo
Maize meal with greens — the everyday meal, and what a roadside takeaway will sell you for a couple of dollars.
Emergency
112 · 993 · 994 · 995 · 999
One-one-two
112 reaches emergency services from an Econet or Telecel mobile; 993 fire, 994 ambulance, 995 police, 999 general emergency on a landline. Chitungwiza's landline code is 0270.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.