Umzingwane District: History
In the early 19th century, the Northern Ndebele invaded and settled in the Esigodini area which was at the time inhabited by the Rozi and Moyo Karanga people, who themselves had migrated north from the territory around Gwanda and Belingwe.
A township of some 200,000 acres was founded in 1894 as Essexvale, by Frederick C. Selous In 1896 the buildings at Essexvale were burned down by Inxnozan (Inxnogan), during the Matabele Rebellion.