The ManicaPost
Obert Chifamba Post Correspondent —
DIZZYING heights, rarefied air and brutally cold in winter. That is Mutare and its environs for you — home to a spectacular peak, the Christmas Pass, which offers a panoramic view of both the scenic mountainous topography and the sprawling south-eastern residential suburbs of the city.
The huge mountain, which the pass bisects, stands ghost-like, a silent observer of the valley below. The only thing bigger than this peak of granite is the midnight sky, dotted with tiny lights, as vast as any eye can wander. Everything else about it looks pristine save for the defilement it suffered when excavators mauled a chunk off it to create a passage through it. Colonial pioneers who camped at its foot on Christmas day in 1890 christened the passage ‘Christmas Pass!’
This spectacular peak offers a panoramic view of both the mountainous topography and the sprawling residential suburbs lying to south-east of Mutare city. Christmas Pass is the gateway into and out of Mutare from the west.
From the pass’ vintage point, the sun rises slowly above trees to the south east, which look like fingers stretching out wide to wake up too and play with the sunlight in their hands.
The sound of roosters and other birds echo through the populated valley yet the sound of heavy trucks negotiating the steep gradient at the pass always drowns everything.
On a hot day, roofs of the sprawling suburbs become a source of mirages that hit the eye and discourage a second look, thanks to the blistering heat permeating the valley, but like always, the eye will always naturally look back for a second feasting- the scenery is awesome despite the simmering heat, I tell you.
At night, lights from the numerous settlements in the suburbs resemble a clear sky laden with stars but spread on the ground making it a ‘must-stop-and-watch’ spectacle for anybody leaving the city heading in a westerly direction.
The pass has become a ‘stopover’ spot for many sojourners to snap a few pictures to conserve as memories.
Mutare city is abode to the Mutare Museum, the Utopia House Museum, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Murahwa Hill, known for its rock paintings and Iron Age village, Cross Kopje with a memorial to Zimbabweans and Mozambicans killed in World War I and a nature reserve Cecil Kopje and Tigers Kloof. The Mutare Boys’ High Chapel was constructed in honour of former old boys who perished in World War II, situated on a hilly knoll at Mutare Boys’ High then Umtali Boys’ High.
The population is predominantly Shona, the majority of them speaking the Manyika dialect. Manyika people are locally known as Samanyikas. According to the 2012 preliminary census data, Mutare had a population of 188 243 of which 88 957 were males and 99 286 females.
Mutare is the third largest city in Zimbabwe. It is the capital of Manicaland Province. It has vast stretches of a mountainous terrain swathed in beautiful thick green bushes and has one of the widest ranges of excellent resorts and facilities in Zimbabwe. These include the Nyanga and Vumba mountains for excellent game viewing, scenic views, mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding and fishing.
Mutare was founded in 1897 as a fort about 8 km from the border with Mozambique, and is just 290 km from the Mozambican port of Beira, a fact that earned this city the title of “Zimbabwe’s Gateway to the Sea”. It is sometimes also called “Gateway to the Eastern Highlands”. Many Zimbabwean locals refer to it as ‘Kumakomoyo’ (place of many mountains).There is a border railway station on the railway line from Harare to Beira with a railways mechanical work shop.
Mutare was established between the Tsambe and Mutare Rivers. The word ‘mutare’ probably originates from the word ‘Utare’ meaning iron (or possibly meaning gold). The name was probably given to the river as a result of gold being discovered in the Penhalonga valley through which the Mutare River runs.
The town was proclaimed a municipality in 1914 and in 1971 it was granted city status. The name was officially changed from Umtali to Mutare in 1982.
Despite its tropical location, the city has a temperate climate. The average annual temperature is 19 degrees Celsius, surprisingly low for its moderate altitude (about the same as Harare, which is 360 metres high, above sea level.)
This is largely attributed to its sheltered position against the mountain ridge of Cecil Kop, which encourages cool breezes from lower altitude to the east and south. The coldest month is July (minimum six degrees Celsius and maximum 20 degrees Celsius and the hottest month is October (minimum 16 degrees Celsius and maximum 32 degrees Celsius).
The awesome temperate climate and natural allure aside, Mutare’s Christmas Pass remains an iconic feature of the town, which has given it more universal charm than the town for which it serves as both the entry and exit point to travellers going either way.
Arranging a holiday in the city of Mutare any time could be the best gift you can ever give to your fun-loving friends and family!
