The district has a rural area of 5,523 km², and 191 km² It is bounded on the east by Mozambique, on the northeast by Mutasa District, on the northwest by Makoni District, on the southwest by Buhera District, and on the southeast by Chimanimani District. The city of Mutare is in the northeastern corner of the district, near the border with Mozambique. Mutare is the largest city in the district, and the fourth-largest city in Zimbabwe. Other towns include Chiadzwa and Odzi. The Eastern Highlands extend north and south through eastern portion of the district, along the border with Mozambique. The Bvumba Mountains form a part of the highlands, and rise southeast of Mutare city. The highest peak is Castle Beacon at 1,911 metres. The Bunga Forest Botanical Reserve conserves the mountains' high-elevation mist forest. Banti Forest Reserve is located south of Bvumba range, in the mountains along the Mozambican border. Most of the district lies in the basin of the Save River, which forms the southwestern boundary of the district. The Odzi River, a tributary of the Save, drains the center of the district, flowing southwards to join the Save at the district's southernmost point. The Burma Valley, an area along the southeastern border with Mozambique on the eastern slope of the Bvumba mountains, drains eastwards into the Revué River, a tributary of the Buzi River.
People
The 2012 census recorded a population of 262,124 in the rural portion of the district. Mutare urban had a population of 187,621.
Administration
The rural portion of the district is divided into 36 administrative wards. Mutare has an elected City Council, with 19 councillors each representing one of the city's 19 wards. The city of Mutare is the district's administrative headquarters, and also serves as the administrative headquarters of Manicaland Province. The district is divided into six Assemblyparliamentary constituencies. Dangamvura-Chikanga, Mutare Central, Mutare North, Mutare South, and Mutare West constituencies are entirely within the district, and a portion of Mutare municipality is in Mutasa South constituency. The district is divided between two Senate constituencies; Mutare constituency includes Dangamvura-Chikanga, Mutare Central, and Mutare North, while Mutare West and Mutare South are in Chimanimani constituency.
