Chimanimani District Profile

Chimanimani Rural District Council is located on the South Eastern border of the country (Zimbabwe) grid reference VP6911. Chimanimani District is the smallest in the southeast of Manicaland province, boarded by Mozambique in the east, Mutare District in the north, Buhera District in the west and Chipinge District in the south. It has an area of 3 450.14 square kilometres. The population of 153 620 (2022 census) and 39,100 households.

Chimanimani District is the smallest of the 7 Districts in Manicaland with high rugged terrain rising to 6,000m above sea level in the east to 1,600 m above sea level in the Save and Odzi valleys in the western part. The district prides itself in having all five (5) natural agroecological regions in Zimbabwe. The district is made up of 23 wards categorised as Communal (18), Resettlement Area (1) Commercial (3) Peri-urban (1).

Before independence in 1980, the district was named Melsetter by colonialists in 1897.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Hydrological System: Rainfall averages 200mm in the west to 1000 mm per annum in the east. The district is home to 3 main perennial rivers: Wengezi and Umvumvumvu in the North; and Nyahode, Haroni and Rusitu in the Eastern part of the district. (These rivers are slowly becoming seasonal due to changes in climatic conditions). Both Orographic and Relief rainfall patterns exist.

Climate: Temperature averages 16ºC in Natural Region 1, 20ºC in Natural Region 2 and 3 and +25ºC in region 4 and 5.

Landscape: High and rugged terrain in the Eastern area with an altitude of up to 6000m above sea level. Low flat terrain especially in the Save and Odzi Valleys. The district mainly consists of dolerite clays, silica clays in the High terrain quartzite sands and aluminium in the low-lying areas.

Natural Regions: The district has a total of 354 805 hectares distributed over five natural regions found in Zimbabwe. Natural regions are distributed as follows Vegetation: There are three categories:

Low-lying areas: (dry region) mixed deciduous woodland predominantly of baobab and Mopani trees

Escarpment: Savanna woodland to Montana grassland and broad-leafed evergreen forests.

Highlands: Broad-leafed Montana forests with exotic trees to include pine, wattle and eucalyptus.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC FEATURES

Transport: The district is linked by 3 major tarred roads namely: the Mutare- Masvingo road to the Northern boundary, the Wengezi – Chimanimani Road to the North East border and the Chimanimani – Chipinge Road to the South. More of the other road’s network is gravelled.

Telecommunications: About 25% of telecommunication service is being provided by TelOne. The larger part of the district is covered by cellular phones provided for by NetOne and Econet Zimbabwe constituting 80% of district coverage.

Water facilities: The District has lots of water in the eastern part and underground water in the west i.e. regions 4 and 5. The quality of underground water in the west is variable in some areas and has high fluorine content e.g. Hotsprings and Tonhorai. However, most underground and surface water is suitable for irrigation and domestic use. The biggest River in the Eastern part of the district is Rusitu with its tributaries being Nyahode, Mutsangazi, Chipita, Haroni then Musapa near Chikwakwa communal area.

To the West, the biggest Rivers are Save and Odzi, with major tributaries of Nyanyadzi, Umvumvumvu and Wengezi. Most springs are found in region 1. The district has a total of 48 small dry dams 95% of which are silted and one medium-sized dam namely: Mhakwe. The water from the Mhakwe dam is mainly used for irrigation and livestock purposes. There are several suitable dam sites, many of which have been surveyed on major rivers but cannot be constructed due to a shortage of funds.

Settlement Pattern: Average density is 31.91/km². The total population is 153 620 people (census 2022). There are a total of 39,115 households. Settlement pattern ranges from linear in the western part of the district to random in the eastern part of the district, especially in communal areas. Most of the areas have well-defined patterns due to a high level of land use planning in their areas. However, in the western parts settlements follow major sources of water supply and communication e.g. major rivers and roads.