Bulawayois the second-largest city inZimbabweafter the capitalHarare.Located inMatabeleland, colloquially the city is also known by various names, these being the 'City of Kings', 'Skies', 'Bluez', 'Bulliesberg' or 'KoNtuthu ziyathunqa' – aisiNdebelephrase for "a place that continually exudes smoke". This name arose from the city's historically large industrial base.The majority of the Bulawayo's population belongs to theNdebeleethnic and language group.
For a long time in Zimbabwe's history Bulawayo was regarded as the industrial centre ofZimbabweand the city served as the hub to the country's rail network with the National Railways of Zimbabwe headquartered there because of its strategic position nearBotswanaand South Africa.It is the nearest large city toHwange National Park,Matobo National ParkandVictoria Falls.