Industrial Base

 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.

 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.

 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

 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.

 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.

 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.

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) ,Tele-banking

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)

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 1,  Statistical Information, High Schools 11,  Primary Schools  15,

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

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,  Multi-choice 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 and New Ziana

In addition, the following national newspapers are available in the city:-

The Herald, The Sunday Mail  and Kwayedza

Electricity supplies are done by the Zimbabwean Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). Should there be any delays the city Council is always ready to assist.