Mutare

Mutare is the provincial capital of Manicaland province in Zimbabwe, situated in the Eastern Highlands. It is the third largest city in Zimbabwe and serves as the country's gateway to the sea, located about 265km from Harare and 300km from the port of Beira in Mozambique. The city's strategic location along the Zimbabwe – Beira route provides advantages for promoting local and international trade, supported by an excellent road and rail transportation system, as well as two air transport facilities. The area around Mutare is rich in natural resources, particularly timber, with extensive pine, mahogany, and mukwa forests, making it a hub for timber-based industries. Agriculture also thrives, producing a variety of fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, tomatoes, peas, and beans, which supports agro-processing industries. Additionally, there is a rich gold belt to the north-east in the Penhalonga valley and diamond mining in Chiadzwa, contributing to the region's economic growth. Mutare and its hinterland offer a wide range of tourist attractions. The nearby Nyanga and Chimanimani mountains are popular for game viewing, scenic vistas, and mountain climbing. The Vumba Mountains, within an hour's drive, feature lush botanical gardens and picturesque scenery. The city itself has a growing population, recorded at 224,802 in the 2022 census, and has a long history, having been established as a settlement in 1891, proclaimed a municipality in 1914, and accorded city status in 1971.