Rusere

Rusere
City
Motto:  By industry to the highest glory
Country	Rwizikuru
Province	Northern Territory
Founded	1896
Government
• Mayor	Job Batha
Population  (2021)
• City	225,483
• Rank	20th in Rwizikuru
• Urban	225,483
Time zone	UTC+3:45 (Rwizikuran Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3:45 (not observed)

Rusere is a city in the Northern Territory of Rwizikuru, located where the Tedawabe River joins the Rwizikuru River. Established as a fort in 1896, it became a mining town due to the abundant copper and gold reserves in the area in 1899, which led to the construction of the Rusere-Port Fitzhubert Railway to export copper and gold to the metropole. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Rusere became a centre for the New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme, which temporarily led to an influx of varungu into the region, but following independence, virtually all of the varungu left Rusere.

Today, it is a major commercial centre due to the mines surrounding the city, its position on the railhead of the Rusere-Port Fitzhubert Railway, and the head of navigation of the Rwizikuru River, and its location near the only border crossing between Rwizikuru and Yemet, and as the only major settlement north of the territorial capital of Zambuko.

Etymology

The name Rusere is unclear, although it is generally accepted to derive from the Rwizi term rufu rwerusere, or eighth death.

A popular folk etymology claims that this was because after a battle between Estmerish soldiers and either the Akortu or the Makomo, seven died on the battlefield, while one managed to reach the army camp, where he died of his wounds. Another folk etymology common in the area claims that this was named because it was the site of the eighth person in an expedition to the Northern Territory to die of malaria.

However, Casper Wigram, uncle of the first Chief Minister, Byron Wigram, and one of those who set up a fort in Rusere in 1896, claims that Rusere got its name because "when we hired a Rizi [sic] guide, he described that this was the site of a raid between the Rizis [sic] and Akortu, with eight people dying."

Other names include Mersa, deriving from the Akortu word meaning harbour (መርሳ), and Kokola Chabu, from the Makomo phrase meaning last harbour, Kokola Câbu. Both of these names reflect Rusere's location as the northernmost port on the Rwizikuru River.

History

Pre-colonial history

Evidence of a settlement in present-day Rusere dates back to between 600 BCE and 1000 BCE, with Oulume artefacts being found on the site from this period of time.

Due to Rusere's position at the point where the Tedawabe River converges with the Rwizikuru River, and due to its location as the head of navigation for many smaller boats along the Rwizikuru River, Rusere has served as a trading hub, particularly as merchants based in Rusere can trade with (TBD) across the Ambakaran Mountains. Furthermore, the oldest copper and gold mines in Rusere date to around 300 BCE.

However, as Hourege came into being, Rusere would be on the front line between the Rwizi Empire to the south, and TBD to the north as both competed for influence in the region. This effectively precluded Rusere from ever becoming an axial houregery in its own right.

Early colonial era

File:High Street Rusere 1919.jpg

High Street, 1919

In 1896, Casper Wigram and his soldiers established a fort in Rusere, marking the beginning of the modern settlement of Rusere. Initially comprised of a garrison of around 200 soldiers, the main priority was primarily to prevent Gaullica from advancing west of the Rwizikuru River and south of the Ambakaran Mountains.

Following the delineation of borders in 1897 between the Estmerish and Gaullican Empires, the fort in Rusere was still maintained, as it was seen as important to cementing Estmerish authority in the northern reaches of the Northern Territory. A small native settlement emerged around the fort.

However, with the discovery of copper and gold in 1899, Rusere became important as the revenues from the copper and gold could be used to help enrich the colonial government. This led to the influx of miners, particularly from areas which suffered hardships in the aftermath of the Estmero-Verizi War. Furthermore, with the need to export huge quantities of copper and gold, a railway was built to connect Rusere with Port Fitzhubert in order to facilitate the export of copper and gold from the mines to the harbours in Port Fitzhubert. The Rusere-Port Fitzhubert railway was completed in 1902, both shortening travel times to and from Rusere, and enabling the export of more copper and gold than could be done by barge or boat.

By the 1901 census, Rusere already had a population of 15,798 people, of whom 44% of the population were Rwizi, 4% were Mirite, only 214 varungu, and the remainder largely comprised of Akortu and Makomo peoples. This was a clear shift from prior to the start of extensive copper and gold mining, because prior to that point, the Akortu and Makomo were the overwhelming majority of the population. Thus, in 1902, Rusere was granted city status.

Rusere's population would double to 31,596 by 1911, due to continued population growth. However, by this point, concerns emerged about the lack of urban planning in Rusere, particularly due to the rapid population growth in the city as miners came in to find work. Thus, in 1913, a new urban plan was approved, which instituted a gridiron plan comprising of nine streets and sixteen avenues, with High Street to be the main commercial centre of town.

However, the Great Collapse hindered redevelopment plans, as copper and gold prices declined significantly. This not only affected the colonial budget, but it also affected employment prospects within the city of Rusere, as it was no longer economical to mine copper and gold in the Ambakaran Mountains. Thus, by the 1921 census, its population fell to 29,185 people, as a result of emigration to larger urban centres like Port Fitzhubert in the hopes of finding work.

During the Great War, Rusere would fall under Gaullican occupation when the Colony of Riziland surrendered. However, due to Rusere's proximity to copper and gold mines, and the military needs for copper during the Great War, the local economy recovered, and by 1931, its population rose to 33,195 people.

New Longwoodshire

View of High Street in Rusere, 1942

In the aftermath of the Great War, Rusere was in a good position economically, as due to the destruction of Estmere during the war, there was a greater demand for copper. At the same time, due to Rusere's location in the northern regions of the Northern Territory, and its high elevation thanks to its location in the Ambakaran Mountains, the Estmerish and colonial governments would designate the area around Rusere to be the site of the New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme in 1938.

This would bring significant pressures to the city, as due to the Great Collapse, only parts of the 1913 urban plan were implemented. Thus, in 1937, a revised plan was implemented that would see the clearance of slums, and the creation of a "modern city." Furthermore, the urban plan introduced racial segregation, with all areas between High Street and the Rwizikuru River being designated for the "exclusive use of the white community (in addition to Mirites and Freemen)," while areas to the west of High Street would be designated for the native population. Furthermore, due to New Longwoodshire being given a quasi-provincial status, Rusere naturally became the center of the settlement scheme, particularly because of its status as the only city in the region, and because of its rail links with the rest of the colony.

Because of this, an influx of white settlers arrived into Rusere during this period: by the 1941 census, Rusere had a population of 61,170 people, of whom 18,975 people, or 31% of the population were white, primarily recent immigrants from Estmere, with 1,259 Mirites, 56 Freemen, and the remainder comprised of natives. During this period, virtually all white settlers and Freemen lived on the "Fortside" of town (east of High Street), while the natives lived "Mineside" (west of High Street), with Mirites "evenly split" between the two sides.

However, as the Akortu began waging attacks on white-owned properties in New Longwoodshire, despite the colonial government expanding white immigration to all Eucleans, white flight began to take place. However, the presence of the white population was buoyed by those fleeing their farms into Rusere, to the point that on the eve of independence in 1946, 27,572 whites were living in Rusere.

After Zophar Bohannon became Chief Minister in 1945, Bohannon took action to end all segregation in the colony, doing so that year, as Bohannon wanted to prepare the Colony of Riziland for independence. As independence loomed, and settlers were given the choice to take on Rwizikuran citizenship or keep Estmerish citizenship, virtually all of those who immigrated into Rusere after 1936 kept their Estmerish citizenship.

Independence

File:Rusere 1979.jpg

View of the railway station in Rusere, 1979

Once Rwizikuru became independent on 2 December, 1946, the New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme officially ended, although the end of segregation the preceding year effectively ended the settlement scheme. Thus, Rusere became a provincial town within the Northern Territory.

During the early years of independence, while many varungu began to emigrate from Rusere, the continued economic prosperity of the town continued to attract immigrants from across Rwizikuru, particularly as the end of the Solarian War provided more opportunity for copper and gold exports to help rebuild many countries in Euclea. Thus, by 1951, Rusere's population was at 68,109 people, of whom 22,911 were Rwizi, 19,388 were Akortu, 10,565 were Makomo, and 6,092 came from other Bahian groups, with only 9,153 being whites, of whom only 217 were Rwizi citizens.

However, following the conclusion of Zophar Bohannon's term, and the election of Vudzijena Nhema to serve as the second President of Rwizikuru, Nhema's economic policies led to the nationalisation of the mines near Rusere in 1959, which combined with the worsening insurgency as Akortu militias near Rusere began to cooperate with fellow Akortu in Obergond, caused the exodus of most of the remaining white population: by 1961, Rusere's population was 70,013 people, but only 918 were varungu.

Following the deposition of Nhema and his vice-president in 1963 and 1964 respectively, the Council of National Salvation under Izibongo Ngonidzashe's leadership would reverse Nhema's economic policies, although due to the instability after the two military coups, in addition to Rusere's location next to the border with Yemet, these shifts in policy did not alter Rusere's economic stagnation.

This was worsened in the aftermath of the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War and the subsequent Garamburan War of Independence, when Izibongo Ngonidzashe engaged in isolationist policies, and went so far as to expel Rwizikuru's Mirite population. In 1971, its population only was at 71,495 people, and by 1981, its population was only at 76,109 people.

Modern era

A street in Rusere, 1997

Beginning in the 1980s, with economic liberalisation policies being pursued by Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe, and Kupakwashe Ngonidzashe allowing the Mirites to return to Rwizikuru, Rusere's population began to grow once again, with new mines springing up in the city By 1991, Rusere's population grew to 103,698 people, with most of this growth being immigration from the south to Rusere. This was despite worsening instability, particularly due to the Yemeti Civil War and the Akortu Insurgency.

During the 1990s, Rusere faced significant challenges, due to increased population growth, and a lack of urban planning since the colonial era leading to the formation of shantytowns on the outskirts of Rusere. Thus, the local government, with the assistance of (some organisation), began to improve the city's infrastructure. While in 1991, only 42% of the population had reliable electricity, by 2001, this rose to 68%. That year, Rusere's population was at 152,253 people.

During the 2000s, with a somewhat stable Yemet, Rusere became an important centre for trade with Yemet, as the only border crossing between Rwizikuru and Yemet was situated north of Rusere. While trade between the two sides was small, particularly due to the continued insurgency by the Akortu National Salvation Army, it was, nonetheless, a more prevalent part of Rusere's modernisation. Furthermore, increased demand for gold, and copper helped boost the economy. By the 2011 census, Rusere's population had risen to 198,974 people.

In the 2010s, Rusere's infrastructure continued to improve, although unbridled urban growth has led to the creation of more shantytowns on the outskirts of Rusere. Despite efforts to build better housing, many of them are out of reach for the working poor in the city.

Geography

Meserdi Road going north, 2012

The city of Rusere is situated at the point where the Tedawebe River merges into the Rwizikuru River. Thus, the city is situated on floodplains, although due to its location in the Ambakaran Mountains, the floodplains are narrow, and have led the city to be hilly. Most of the colonial-era town is situated on the floodplains, with the mines and newer neighbourhoods being situated on the slopes of the Ambakaran Mountains.

The lowest point in the city of Rusere proper is The Forks, at 437 metres above sea level, while the highest point is the 1,022 metre high Mount Afalabi.

Due to Rusere's location in the Ambakaran Mountains, Rusere has a subtropical highland climate, although due to its wider range of elevation than the hill station of Donston, Rusere exhibits microclimates, with temperatures higher up being cooler than temperatures in the lower town. Rusere has an average high of 23.5 °C, and an average low of 14.7°C, with the city experiencing similar dry and wet seasons to the rest of Rwizikuru.

Government

Like any city in Rwizikuru, it has an elected Mayor (Rwizi: meya) and an elected city council (kanzuru yeguta).

The city council comprises of seven members, each representing one of the city's seven wards, and are elected every four years by all inhabitants of Rusere over the age of 21, as stipulated in the Civic Decree of 1965 issued by Izibongo Ngonidzashe. The mayor is also elected in the same elections that elect the rest of the city council.

The current mayor, Job Batha, was elected in 2018, succeeding Nhoro Samkange.

Demographics

As of the 2021 census, Rusere's population was at 225,483 people.

Ethnically, 51% of the population, or 114,996 people, are Rwizi, around 24% of the population, or 53,251 people are Akortu, around 20% of the population, or 44,194 people, are Makomo, about 2% of the population, 5,966 people, are Mirite, and finally, 183 people are varungu.

Religiously, Rusere is almost entirely Sotirian, with 98% of the population, or 220,973 people, adhering to it. It is roughly evenly split between Solarian Catholicism, at 47% of the population, or 105,997 people, and the Embrian Communion, at 46.7%, or 105,957 people, adhering to them. The remaining 4% of the Sotirian population, or 9,019 people, adhere to other sects of Sotirianity. The remainder of the religious population, or 4,510 people primarily adhere to Fetishism or Badi.

Linguistically, Rwizi and Estmerish are the two official languages in Rusere. However, Akortu, Makomo, and Gaullican are widely spoken, due to the significant presence of Akortu and Makomo populations, as well as Rusere's proximity to Yemet.

Economy

Rusere city centre, 2017

Rusere has traditionally been a mining town, with much of Rusere's economic wealth being based in the gold and copper. However, Rusere also has smaller silver, zinc, and lead mines present in the area. Furthermore, as the nearest large city in the far northern regions of the Northern Territory, Rusere also functions as a market town. This is further helped by Rusere being close to the border with Yemet, which means that despite low levels of control on either side of the border by the central government, has allowed for trade to grow.

Transportation-wise, roads connect Rusere to both the border town of Meserdi, and southward as far as Port Fitzhubert, although road quality varies quite a bit, with some sections being up to motorway standards, and others being "little more than pot-holed roads that are barely maintained." In addition, Rusere sits at the head of navigation of the Rwizikuru River, and at the railhead of the Rusere-Port Fitzhubert railway, with the consequence that Rusere is the furthest point one can reach by barge or by train. In addition, Rusere Airport is situated to the west of Rusere, although this airport only serves domestic flights, primarily to Munzwa, Port Fitzhubert, and Port Graham.