About Us

The Great Zimbabwe National Monument is bequeathed with a rich cultural heritage, which is a major tourist attraction both locally and internationally.  In its ancient times, the Great Zimbabwe was a city of stone buildings built and occupied between 12^th and 15^th Centuries.  During its peak of power and prosperity in the 13^th and 14^th Centuries, the ancient city was the largest settlement in Southern Africa with an estimated population of 20 000 inhabitants. 

The name of the country, Zimbabwe, was derived from the Great Zimbabwe National Monuments. At the inception of the Second Chimurenga in the early 1960’s, which was a revolution against British Colonial rule, the revolutionary political parties that were formed then to spearhead the revolution adopted the name Zimbabwe, as a national symbol. The Great Zimbabwe National Monuments were viewed as a symbolic pillar of resistance by the progressive forces against colonialism. When the country attained independence in 1980, the name of the country was renamed Zimbabwe from Rhodesia.

At its peak of economic prosperity that is between 13^th and 14^th centuries, the ancient city was a centre of major economic activities such as livestock farming, crop farming and mining.  It became a centre for international trade as exports of agricultural produce and gold and other minerals were made to Asia and other countries in the East.

The City of Masvingo enjoys a unique geographical attribute. It is centrally located equidistant from six major urban settlements in the country :

• Harare, the Capital City of the country, which is 293km away to the north;
• Bulawayo, the second largest city in the country, which is 282km to the west;
• Mutare, a border city with Mozambique in the East is 297km away to the east;
• Beitbridge, a border town with South Africa is 289km to the south;
• Gweru, a capital city of the midlands Province West is 183km to the north west;
• Kwekwe, a city in the Midlands Province, is 245km.

Population and suburbs

Masvingo has a population of approximately 110,000. It is divided into suburbs including Mucheke, Rujeko, Rhodene, Target Kopje and Eastvale. The suburbs are divided into high-density, middle-density and low-density suburbs. Mucheke, the oldest township and Rujeko are the most populous high-density suburbs. Mucheke is also the site of the city's main bus rank as well as the stadium which is named after the ghetto. Runyararo and Hillside suburbs are relatively new high density suburbs beyond Mucheke. The middle-density suburbs are Eastvale located close to Zimuto Police Camp and Target Kopje located on the southern part of town on a small hill close to Flamboyant Hotel. Rhodene, a low-density suburb on the northern part of the city centre, is the most affluent suburb in Masvingo. A new suburban development, Zimre Park, is also taking shape to the north east of the town along Bulawayo Road.

Another suburban development is taking place close to the affluent Clipsham Park and is aptly named Clipsham View as it straddles the hills running parallel to the Beitbridge_Masvingo road.

CITY STATUS                                                                            : 2002    

POPULATION ESTIMATE                                                          :87,886.(2012 census)  

TRANSIT POPULATION                                                                           : 100,000

AREA (total surface area)                                                        :9,800 hectares(Commonage)

ALTITUDE                                                                                  :1095m 

CLIMATE                                                                                    : local Steppe Savanna

RAINFALL                                                                                  :614.4mm                  

ROAD NETWORK                                                               :286km

TARRED                                                                                       :189km 

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