WATCH | Manchester United co-owner Ratcliffe gives Zimbabwe a 10/10 — and the coffee gets a special mention

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Harare – British billionaire and Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has praised Zimbabwe’s natural beauty, wildlife and hospitality during an eight-day holiday in the country, describing it as “magnificent” and “very safe”.

Ratcliffe, founder of chemicals giant INEOS, celebrated his 74th birthday on Sunday with a round of golf at Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls, before planning visits to Hwange National Park and Mana Pools.

According to ZimLive, Ratcliffe also played golf at Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga, where he enjoyed the natural surroundings and wildlife.

“You’ve got animals on the golf course, so you’ve got impala and warthog and bushbuck and it’s just one with nature really,” he said, in comments circulated in a video by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

Ratcliffe gave Zimbabwe’s hospitality a rating of 10 out of 10, praising the friendliness of its people and the quality of its coffee.

“The coffee is good, in fact, the coffee is excellent here… and again, friendly faces everywhere. That’s why I love Zimbabwe,” he said.

In separate reporting, The Herald quoted Ratcliffe saying he had chosen Zimbabwe for his birthday because “the people have been lovely” and the weather was fantastic.

He also recalled canoeing between 80km and 100km along the Zambezi River about a decade ago, saying he knew Mana Pools well.

“Zimbabwe is a magnificent place, it’s full of friendly people, it’s very safe,” he said, describing Victoria Falls as “one of the wonders of the world”.

According to Billionaires.Africa, the visit comes as Zimbabwe seeks to attract more international tourists and investment to its tourism sector, with Victoria Falls remaining a major draw for foreign visitors.

Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in Manchester United in 2024, gaining control of the club’s football operations. He also built INEOS into one of the world’s largest chemical companies through acquisitions.

His visit provides international exposure for Zimbabwe’s tourism attractions, particularly its wildlife, golf courses and natural heritage, although the extent of any direct economic benefit from the trip has not been established.

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