Beatrice, Zimbabwe

Beatrice
Beatrice
Coordinates:
Country	Zimbabwe
Province	Mashonaland East
Population (1982)
• Total	1,300
	estimated
Time zone	CAT (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+1)

Beatrice is a farming community in the province of Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. It is located about 54 km south-west of Harare on the main Harare-Masvingo next to the Mupfure River. According to the 1982 Population Census, the village had a population of 1,300. The village was named after the Beatrice gold mine, around which it grew. The mine was in operation from 1895 to 1945 and was named after Beatrice Borrow the sister of Lieutenant Henry J Borrow, a member of the Pioneer Column. The original Beatrice Mine was pegged by Frank Johnson & Company, Henry J Borrow being a partner of the firm. Gold is still mined at the Joyce Mine nearby. Mixed farming and dairy farming take place in the surrounding area.

In March 2009, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's vehicle was involved in an accident which led to the death of his wife, Susan, on the Harare-Masvingo road near Beatrice. She was taken to a hospital in Beatrice where she was pronounced dead.

The area gained further notoriety in August 2011, when a fire broke out at Alamein Farm, a 5000 Hectare farm which had been requisitioned by the owner in 2003 by retired General Solomon Mujuru and his Wife, Vice-President of Zimbabwe, Joice Mujuru killing the General and another officially unidentified person in circumstances that many commentators suggest were suspicious