Chinhoyi, known until 1982 as Sinoia, is a city in Zimbabwe.
Location
It is located on the western banks of the Manyame River, in Makonde District, in Mashonaland West Province in central northern Zimbabwe. Its location lies approximately, by road, northwest of Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe and the largest city in that country. Chinhoyi lies on the main road, Highway A-1, between Harare and Chirundu, at the International border with Zambia, about, further northwest of Chinhoyi. The geographical coordinates of Chinhoyi are:17°20'59.0"S, 30°11'40.0"E. Chinhoyi sits at an average elevation of, above mean sea level. There are a number of small towns which are close to Chinhoyi. Banket lies about, southeast of Chinhoyi on the road to Harare, Alaska lies approximately directly west of town, and Lion's Den, which lies about, northwest of Chinhoyi, on the road to Chirundu.
The town was established as Sinoia in 1906, as a group settlement scheme by a wealthy Italian, LieutenantMargherito Guidotti. He encouraged ten Italian families to settle here. The Second Chimurenga War started in this town in the area occupied by the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital. The name Sinoria derives from Tjinoyi, a Lozwi/Rozwi Chief who is believed to have been a son of Lukuluba, who was the third son of Emperor Netjasike. The Kalanga was changed to Sinoia by the white settlers and later Chinhoyi by the Zezuru.
Transport
Transport to and from Chinhoyi is mainly by road. Bus services connect Chinhoyi with Harare, Karoi, Kariba, Mhangura, Bulawayo, and smaller villages in the district. Chinhoyi is on a rail branch from Harare, which ends at Lions Den. There are scheduled passenger trains. Taxis operate within the town area. There is also a local bus service. There is a small airport for private planes, called Chinhoyi Airstrip, located about, south-east of the central business district. The airport is said to be in need of maintenance. Its geographical coordinates are quoted as:17°25'58.8"S, 30°18'00.0"E.
The population of Chinhoyi during the 2002 census was 56,794. In 2013, the city population was estimated at 63,014 people. At that time it was the 11th largest urban centre in Zimbabwe.
Recreational Sites
Chinhoyi Caves
These are a group of limestone and dolomite caves situated about 9 kilometers northwest of Chinhoyi along the A-1 Highway. The main cave contains a pool of cobalt blue water, which is popularly called Sleeping Pool or Chirorodziva.. They have been designated as a National Park and they are managed by the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority. The caves have an important place in African Traditional Religion, with the caves themselves as a site for rainmaking, surrounded by a sacred forest, from which trees could not be felled.