Gweru is the capital city of the Midlands Province in Zimbabwe. Historically known as Gwelo, the settlement was founded in 1894 by Leander Starr Jameson as a military outpost. The name Gweru originates from "The Steep Place," a term used by the Ndebele people to describe the high banks of the Gweru River.
The city achieved municipal status in 1914 and was officially declared a city in 1971. It remains a significant administrative center within the Midlands region.