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Historical Background The history of Manicaland is associated with the Murahwa clan which was scattered all over the province. These people predominantly practiced agriculture, gold panning and the manufacture of iron tools. It is the gold and the good climate that lured the Portuguese and then the British to Manicaland. The British finally colonized the settlement and in 1890 established the original Fort Mutare and the provincial capital. In 1897, the mining town of Umtali was moved from Old Mutare to its present location. This move was instigated by the arrival of the railway line from the Mozambican port of Beira. The Trading Center of Umtali was proclaimed a Municipality in 1914 and became a City on 1 October 1971. In 1980 Zimbabwe attained its independence and Umtali was officially renamed Mutare in 1981.
Location The City of Mutare is located right on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Mutare is Zimbabwe’s closest City to the sea making it the most strategic location for transport cost sensitive import and export oriented enterprises. For this reason, the city has always been considered as Zimbabwe’s gateway to the Indian Ocean. Mutare is the capital of Manicaland province and covers an area of approximately 16,700 hectares. It is situated 263 kilometers east of Harare and 290 kilometers west of port Beira, Mozambique.
Climate The climate is characterized by variable summer rainfall which occurs between October and April each year. The average annual rainfall is 800 mm. In Mutare there are warm wet summers and cool dry winters. The mean temperatures are 27 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Resources The City of Mutare has an abundance of resources. It is surrounded by a diverse resource base which offers immense opportunities for investment in a wide range of industrial and commercial activities.
Commercial Development & Business Support Mutare is the third largest city in Zimbabwe. It has wide opportunities for business development in a variety of areas. Currently, all major banks, financial institutions and building societies have branches in Mutare the offer a comprehensive range of services. All the country’s major insurance companies also operate from the city’s central business district. The City of Mutare has a well developed central business district that has a variety of commercial, institutional and social services. These range from government offices, private sector, NGOs, transshipment companies and small to medium enterprises. With regard to retail business, chain stores, departmental stores, supermarkets, hardware and jewelry shops are all located in the city center.
Industrial Base (A) Forestry Mutare is situated in the heart of Zimbabwe’s timber growing areas. the timber resources range from softwoods such as pine to hardwoods, which include Mahogany and Mukwa. This makes Mutare the ideal location for any type of timber based industries such as board and paper manufacturing, joinery, roof trusses and furniture manufacturing for both local and export markets. (B) Agriculture Mutare is the provincial capital of Manicaland, which produces a wide variety of quality agricultural produce particularly fruits and vegetables. These include apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, tomatoes, peas and beans. This sets Mutare as the logical location for agro-processing industries for canning, freeze-drying and packing these products The new thrust of mechanization process in the farming sector will increase the development of the sector. Other agricultural produce includes tea, coffee, wheat, cotton, and tobacco. Processing factories, textiles industries and tobacco auction floors have developed and opportunities exist for the establishment of up and down stream linkages with these industries. (C) Tourism Manicaland, including the Mutare’s hinterland has clearly the widest range of excellent tourist resorts and facilities in Zimbabwe. These include Nyanga and Chimanimani Mountains for excellent game viewing, scenic views and mountain climbing and the Vumba Mountains for capturing scenery and botanical gardens, all within less than an hour’s drive from the city center. The city serves as a springboard for visitors who are attracted to the splendor of the mountains, lakes and valleys which characterize the area. First class hotels, motels, lodges and mountain homes are scattered around Mutare and are very popular with visitors. Immense opportunities exist for tourist related activities for the area’s ever-increasing tourist traffic. In keeping with its commanding position in the tourism and hospitality industry, Mutare is served with the following international acclaimed hotels: Leopard Rock Hotel Holiday Inn Wise Owl Christmas Pass Hotel White Horse Inn Mountview Hotel Hotel Eastgate Inn on the Vumba (D) Manufacturing The abundance of raw materials in the forestry, agriculture and mining sectors resulted in the establishment of manufacturing industries in Mutare such as textile and food canning industries. There is also a major vehicle assembly plant in the city. (E) Mining There is a rich gold belt to the Northeast of Mutare in the Penhalonga Valley through which the Mutare River flows. The discovery of diamond in Chiadzwa has resulted in investment in the city. (F) Informal Sector The number of people in the informal sector is growing annually as a result of current economic hardships and a depressed job market. Approximately a total of 8000 registered people are involved in the informal business ventures. The figure downplays the actual level of participation in the informal sector since at least 80% of the population is involved in the informal sector. This sector has potential to create employment for school leavers and college graduates. Having realized the economic importance of the informal sector, Council is providing appropriate working space for players in this sector in accordance with their trades and levels of skills. To this end, four green markets namely Murahwa, Dangamvura, Chikanga, and Hobhouse were established. New sites have been identified in Area 13 and Maonde. A new vending site is also under construction for rural traders at Sakubva Musika. A people’s market exists at Sakubva Bus terminus and 12 vending sheds were provided in the city center. a process of clustering goods for marketing purposes, registration and formation of small to medium enterprises is also underway. (G) Education and Training Institutions Mutare has some of the finest education and manpower training facilities in the country. These are:- Zimbabwe College of Forestry SADC Forestry Industries Training Centre Mutare poly Technical College Africa University Mary Mount Teacher’s College Mutare Teacher’s College Magamba Training Centre Zimbabwe Open University Mutare Commercial College CCOSA Crystal Academy Herentials College Hi-Tech ZIDCO Mutare School of Nursing Kudanana College Mutare Bible School Furthermore the city has the following educational facilities: Facility Statistical Information High Schools 11 Primary Schools 15
Security Adequate fire and ambulance services are available and cater not only for Mutare but the whole province of Manicaland. The city has 5 ambulances fully equipped and rescue vehicles and equipment. The Government and private hospitals also provide efficient ambulance services. The city also boasts of being home to some of the most strategic bases for the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe National Army (3 Brigade) respectively. There are private security companies operating in the city These are:- Safeguard Fawcett Guard Alert Border Security Guardian Security Cobra National Eye Securitus Peace Security Ebernezer Security Vision Security Stay Alert
Health Care The city’s primary health care service is made up of two broad functional divisions which are environmental health and medical health care. Environmental health services include operations related to environmental and food hygiene control, control of outbreaks, waste management, pollution and pest control. The city’s clinical facilities include Mutare Infectious Disease Hospital, two 24 hour maternity facilities (Sakubva and Dangamvura) and seven five-days per week out-patience services. all units except Mutare Infectious Disease Hospital provide 5 days Mother and Child Health services. There are also government and private hospitals providing health services at affordable fees.
Housing & Community Services The Housing and Community Services Department endeavors to provide decent and affordable accommodation to the residents of the city and ensures an efficient and effective housing delivery system that affords equal opportunities for all. It also endeavors to ensure the provision of recreational facilities that cater for the social and economic needs of the residents of Mutare. In an effort to cater for the huge housing backlog’s continuously providing stands for building own houses and has also invited the participation of private housing developers. Various housing projects are under different phases of development in the city. Cemeteries Yeovil Cemetery St. Josephs Cemetery Dangamvura Cemetery Theatres, Halls, and Cinema Concerts Weddings Conferences and Meetings Workshops In-door Games (aerobics, table tennis, badminton, darts, etc) Plays and Drama Swimming Pools City swimming pool Sakubva swimming pool Both swimming pools are closed to the public in winter Market Places 11 Major market places are situated at convenient positions in and around the city
Transport Companies in Mutare Transport companies in Mutare include the following:- Tenda Transport Migdale Investments Matan Holdings B&C Buses Masara Transport Zvinoira Bus Company Matongo Transport Mupfumi Commuters Matengambiri Transport Swift
Business Support Services Mutare has adequate business support services. All commercial banks in Zimbabwe have fully fledged branches offering a comprehensive range of banking services. The city is also complemented by building societies which offer mortgage facilities. Commercial Banks include the following: Standard Charted Bank Barclays Bank ZB Bank Stanbic Bank Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe ZABG First Bank Kingdom Bank Metropolitan The above banks offer the following facilities; Current Accounts Savings Accounts Loan Facilities Overdraft Facilities Foreign Discount Services (FDS) Visa Cards (Credit Cards) Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Telebanking Building Societies include the following: Central Africa Building Society (CABS) Beverley Building Society Intermarket Building Society First Bank Corporation Services offered by Building Societies include: Savings Accounts Mortgage Facilities Paid-Up Permanent Shares (PUPS) Power Electricity supplies are done by the Zimbabwean Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). Should there be any delays the city Council is always ready to assist.
Communication Facilities For Business In addition to being close to the port of Beira, only 290 kilometers away, Mutare is adequately served by an excellent communications network. Wide tarred roads connect the city with the rest of the interior country. Sound railway network. Daily and efficient passenger and goods trains link the city to Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare. Light aircraft can land on the Mutare Aerodrome situated only 5 kilometers from the city center. Plans are underway to upgrade the Mutare Aerodrome. Telephonic, telegraphic, and facsimile service are based on a state of the art digital exchange and are of a high standard. Cellular telephone services E-mail and internet services Multichoice television Express and ordinal mail to any destination in the world are readily available Comprehensive and personalized travel agencies. Mutare Newspapers the following local newspapers produced in the city to serve the residents of Mutare:- Manica Post New Ziana In addition, the following national newspapers are available in the city:- The Herald The Sunday Mail Kwayedza
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