# Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe – Districts

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/

Province · Zimbabwe 

# Mashonaland Central Province

Mashonaland Central Province is a province of Zimbabwe. It had an estimated **1,595,456 people** in 2023 on 28,195 km² (about 57 per km²). Its main town is Bindura. It is divided into 10 districts. 96 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 225 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,595,456people (2023)
- 28,195km²
- 10districts
- 225mapped services

## How many people live in Mashonaland Central Province?

Mashonaland Central Province had an estimated **1,595,456 people** in 2023 — 9.2% of Zimbabwe, 7th of 10 provinces. There are 1,005 women for every 1,000 men (below the Zimbabwe figure of 1,077). Spread over 28,195 km², that is about **57 people per km²**, 4th of 10 provinces.

42.4% of people are children under 15 and 4.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 19 years (it is 19 across Zimbabwe). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 87 children and older people.

0–4 ****253,865**

5–9 ****225,315**

10–14 ****197,980**

15–19 ****164,799**

20–24 ****143,315**

25–29 ****122,998**

30–34 ****100,778**

35–39 ****90,784**

40–44 ****74,031**

45–49 ****57,183**

50–54 ****40,206**

55–59 ****28,857**

60–64 ****29,453**

65–69 ****21,861**

70–74 ****16,696**

75–79 ****10,917**

80+ ****16,418**

Source: [UNFPA and Zimbabwe 2012 Census via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zwe).

## Where is Mashonaland Central Province?

Mashonaland Central Province lies in [Zimbabwe](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/). It borders 3 other provinces: [Harare](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/harare/), [Mashonaland East Province](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-east/) and [Mashonaland West Province](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-west/). By area it is the 8th largest of 10 provinces in Zimbabwe. It covers 7.2% of [Zimbabwe](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/). The centre of Mashonaland Central Province is about 140 km in a straight line from Harare, the capital. The centre point is at 16.6794° S, 31.6024° E.

Source: [Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT Central Statistics Office via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zwe).

## Things to see in and around Mashonaland Central Province

OpenStreetMap lists 56 named sights in Mashonaland Central Province: 28 attractions; 7 nature reserves; 6 archaeological sites; 5 ruins; 4 waterfalls; 3 viewpoints; 1 cave; 1 museum; 1 gallery.

- Tengenenge Museum · museum
- Bushman Paintings · archaeological site
- Bushman Paintings · archaeological site
- Bushman Paintings and Skeleton · archaeological site
- Bushman Paintings and Skull · archaeological site
- Chisvingo Ruins · archaeological site
- Svisvamoyo Ruins · archaeological site
- Black Granite Rapids · waterfall
- Muchazvivepi Falls · waterfall
- Sohwe Falls · waterfall
- Umfurudzi River Falls · waterfall
- Dande Safari Area · nature reserve
- Karinyanga Wildlife Conservancy · nature reserve
- Mazoe Botanical Gardens · nature reserve
- Mbire North - Kanyurira Widlife Conservancy · nature reserve
- Mbire North Wildlife Conservancy · nature reserve
- Nyamaneche National Park · nature reserve
- Umfurudzi National Park · nature reserve
- Vics Vlei · viewpoint
- View from Rock Art Hill · viewpoint
- View of Chizinga Hills · viewpoint
- Azikara · attraction
- Big Cordilia · attraction
- Bore Springs · attraction
- Cave and Bushman Paintings · attraction
- Comifora Forrest · attraction
- Cropserve New · attraction
- Cropserve Pomona · attraction
- Eagles Crag · attraction
- Giant Leadwood Tree · attraction

…and 26 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Mashonaland Central Province

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Harare
- CurrencyZimbabwe Gold (ZWG)
- Country calling code+263
- LanguagesEnglish, Shona, South Ndebele, North Ndebele
- Plug typesType G · 220 V
- Driving sideLeft

### Nearest airports

- Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) · Harare149 km
- Tete Airport (TET) · Tete227 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.1 hours, sunrise around 05:15) and shortest in Jun (about 11.1 hours, sunrise around 06:19, sunset around 17:27).

Month Sunrise Sunset Daylight 

Jan 05:31 18:32 13.0 h 

Feb 05:48 18:27 12.6 h 

Mar 05:56 18:09 12.2 h 

Apr 06:01 17:45 11.7 h 

May 06:09 17:30 11.3 h 

Jun 06:19 17:27 11.1 h 

Jul 06:22 17:35 11.2 h 

Aug 06:12 17:44 11.5 h 

Sep 05:49 17:48 12.0 h 

Oct 05:25 17:52 12.4 h 

Nov 05:12 18:04 12.9 h 

Dec 05:15 18:22 13.1 h 

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Districts of Mashonaland Central Province

District People per km² Area km² Wards Services 

[Mazowe District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/mazowe/) 349,307 80 4,354 34 31 

[Mount Darwin District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/mount-darwin/) 265,817 58 4,596 40 17 

[Shamva District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/shamva/) 186,667 69 2,695 29 13 

[Bindura District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/bindura/) 172,558 77 2,242 21 17 

[Centenary/ Muzarabani District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/centenary-muzarabani/) 166,974 39 4,266 29 63 

[Guruve District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/guruve/) 159,370 53 2,994 24 3 

[Mbire District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/mbire/) 114,024 24 4,696 17 18 

[Rushinga District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/rushinga/) 96,765 42 2,328 25 20 

[Bindura Urban District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/bindura-urban/) 67,589 3,385 20 12 38 

[Mvurwi District](https://wherepedia.org/zimbabwe/mashonaland-central/mvurwi/) 16,385 5,915 2.8 1 5 

Source: [Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT Central Statistics Office via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zwe); [UNFPA and Zimbabwe 2012 Census via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zwe).

## Largest towns in Mashonaland Central Province

- Bindura50,400
- Mvurwi15,646
- Shamva10,317
- Mazowe9,966
- Glendale9,798
- Mount Darwin6,349
- Concession4,983
- Centenary3,388
- Madziwa527

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Populations as recorded in GeoNames, which may be older than the estimates above.

## Landscape and landmarks of Mashonaland Central Province

Named natural and historic features inside Mashonaland Central Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

377 rivers and streams; 66 reservoirs and tanks; 3 lakes; 1 waterfall; 1 dam.

- Aliatswa
- Ambi
- Aurelia
- Baka Dam
- Bakasa
- Banda
- Bemberi
- Bhinya
- Binga
- Bome
- Bonga
- Bopoma
- Bumhururu
- Bungwe
- Bunzamombe Dam
- Bunzangombi
- Bvundudzi Dam
- Bwapwi
- Chamakuyo
- Changa
- Charunya
- Chaukunga
- Cheanga
- Cherieri

…and 424 more.

### Hills and mountains

409 hills; 52 mountains; 5 mountain passes; 1 peak.

- Chikonyora · 1,641 m
- Nyamanyetsi · 1,619 m
- Smoky · 1,571 m
- Merrys Pass · 1,566 m
- Chisiwa · 1,563 m
- Mavurwe · 1,559 m
- Makura · 1,558 m
- Ghenje · 1,557 m
- Gombekombe · 1,531 m
- Mbebe · 1,530 m
- Pembi · 1,525 m
- Rwazi · 1,525 m
- Usaka · 1,522 m
- Aberdeen · 1,519 m
- Alpes · 1,511 m
- Musorowodoni · 1,510 m
- Nendere · 1,494 m
- Chironzi · 1,493 m
- Nyarasuswi · 1,493 m
- Mupingi Pass · 1,490 m
- Lone Palm Pass · 1,474 m
- Masimbi · 1,471 m
- Magodzombo · 1,469 m
- Manungwe · 1,467 m

…and 443 more.

### Forests and nature

1 wildlife reserve.

- Umfurudzi Safari Area

### History

1 ruin; 1 ancient site; 1 historic site.

- Fort Mazoe
- Fossil Forest
- Mutota’s Ruins

### Getting around

16 airfields; 1 airport; 1 railway station; 1 bridge.

- Bredenkamp
- Centenary Airport
- Chombira
- Concession Station
- Glendale South
- Gurungwe
- Hucks Drift
- Impinge Ranch
- Komani
- Membwe
- Mount Darwin Airport
- Mukumbura
- Murara
- Mutumba
- Mwanzamtanda
- Pedza Pasi
- Rushinga Hills
- Siyalima
- Tatagura

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Mashonaland Central Province and the best time to visit

In Mashonaland Central Province, the warmest month is Nov (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 688 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (191 mm) and the driest Aug (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **March to November**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 191 

Feb 24 158 

Mar 24 78 

Apr 23 16 

May 21 2 

Jun 19 1 

Jul 18 2 

Aug 21 0 

Sep 24 2 

Oct 27 8 

Nov 27 61 

Dec 26 170 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Mashonaland Central Province

Places mapped inside Mashonaland Central Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals21
- Banks3
- Petrol pumps7
- Hotels16
- Shopping malls2
- Schools144
- Colleges and universities13
- Cinemas1
- Pharmacies4
- Restaurants10
- Police stations4

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Mashonaland Central Province?In Zimbabwe
- What is the population of Mashonaland Central Province?1,595,456 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Mashonaland Central Province?About 19 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Mashonaland Central Province?About 57 people per km²
- What borders Mashonaland Central Province?Harare, Mashonaland East Province and Mashonaland West Province
- What is there to see in Mashonaland Central Province?Azikara, Big Cordilia, Black Granite Rapids, Bore Springs
- What time zone is Mashonaland Central Province in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Mashonaland Central Province?Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG)
- What language is spoken in Mashonaland Central Province?English, Shona, South Ndebele (main languages nationally)
- What is the largest town in Mashonaland Central Province?Bindura
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Mashonaland Central Province?66 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Mashonaland Central Province?Chikonyora (1,641 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Mashonaland Central Province?March to November
- How many hospitals are in Mashonaland Central Province?21 mapped
- How many banks are in Mashonaland Central Province?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Mashonaland Central Province?7 mapped
- What is the P-code of Mashonaland Central Province?ZW12 (OCHA common operational dataset)