Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe gushes at ‘magnificent’ Zimbabwe

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his partner Catherine Polli at a gold course in Nyanga, eastern Zimbabwe, in October 2026

HARARE – Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has praised Zimbabwe as “magnificent” and its people as exceptionally friendly after a holiday that took him to Nyanga, Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park.

The British billionaire, who founded chemicals group INEOS, played golf with his partner Catherine Polli at Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga, visited the Victoria Falls, went on safari in Hwange and said he planned to end his trip at Mana Pools, where he has previously travelled by canoe along the Zambezi River.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority circulated a video of Ratcliffe speaking from the golf course, where wildlife regularly wanders across the greens.

“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.

Ratcliffe gave Zimbabwe’s hospitality top marks, praising the friendliness of its people and the quality of its coffee.

“Ten out of 10, it can’t be more friendly. The coffee is good, in fact, the coffee is excellent here… and again, friendly faces everywhere. That’s why I love Zimbabwe,” he said.

The 73-year-old billionaire, who has visited Zimbabwe before, recalled canoeing on the Zambezi.

“Many years ago, I canoed… the Mana Canoe Trail down the Zambezi, I did it twice actually… about 80 or 100 kilometres down the river in a canoe, which was quite exciting. So I know Mana Pools quite well,” he said.

Ratcliffe described Zimbabwe as safe and singled out Hwange and Mana Pools among the country’s outstanding attractions, alongside Victoria Falls.

“Zimbabwe is a magnificent place, it’s full of friendly people, it’s very safe. It’s got two, the only two I know, magnificent national parks, Hwange and Mana Pools, and of course you’ve got Victoria Falls, which is one of the wonders of the world. Nobody would ever forget going to Victoria Falls,” he said.