Kwekwe, city, central Zimbabwe. Ancient gold-mine workings were discovered in the area in 1894. A settlement was established in 1902 and named for the Kwekwe River (meaning the sound of frogs or “a crowd”). Kwekwe was created a village in 1904, a town in 1928, and a municipality in 1934. The city is now a busy industrial-commercial centre situated halfway between Harare (formerly Salisbury) and Bulawayo on the main road and rail lines. Located near the iron and steel works at Redcliff, Kwekwe processes rails, steel, and chrome. It also distributes tobacco, livestock, and general farm produce. Pop. (2002) 93,608; (2012) 100,900.