KWEKWE

formerly Que Que, city, central Zimbabwe. Ancient gold-mine workings were discovered in the area in 1894. A settlement was established in 1902 and named for the Kwekwe River (meaning the sound of frogs, or a crowd). Kwekwe was created a village in 1904, a town in 1928, and a municipality in 1934. The city is now a busy industrial-commercial centre situated halfway between Harare (formerly Salisbury) and Bulawayo on the main road and rail lines. Located near the iron- and steelworks at Redcliff, Kwekwe processes rails, steel, and chrome. It also distributes tobacco, livestock, and general farm produce. Pop. (1992 prelim.) 74,982.