Location:
Banket (originally known as Banket Junction) is a town in the province of Mashonaland West of Zimbabwe. It is located about 95 km north-west of Harare on the main Harare-Chinhoyi road.
Background:
The name of the town is derived from banket rock formation: early settlers saw a conglomerate, which they hoped would bear gold, like the banket of the Witwatersrand gold fields. The conglomerate was not gold-bearing, although gold was late discovered and, along with chromite, is still mined in the area. Cattle, maize, cotton and tobacco are commercially farmed in the area.
Banket grew as a service centre for the surrounding mines and commercial farms, and has suffered from the downscaling of chromite mining in Zimbabwe.
Population:
5698 (Estimated)
Attractions:
Places of Interest:
Popular Activities:
Accommodation:
Business:
Education:
The town has three primary schools (Kuwadzana, St Georges and Banket Primary) and two secondary schools (Kuwadzana High School and the Catholic-church-owned Sacred Heart Secondary School).
Health:
Banket has a district hospital and a council clinic and in addition private medical practices.