Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
UMZINGWANE District in Matabeleland South Province, which is rich in breathtaking natural attractions, is now taking bold steps to tap into community-based tourism.
The goal is to boost local economic growth, preserve cultural heritage and empower communities.
To make the vision a reality, Umzingwane Rural District Council has formed local committees at each tourist site and is actively seeking investors to unlock the district’s vast potential.
By participating in the recent Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo, the Umzingwane Rural District Council demonstrated its confidence in its natural treasures and commitment to attracting investors.
The premier tourism event is renowned for showcasing Africa’s best tourism products, making it the perfect platform for entities to shine.
The council’s strategic move is expected to open doors to various opportunities, transforming Umzingwane into a thriving tourist destination.
With its unique cultural identity and stunning natural beauty, the district is poised to become a hub of community-based tourism, enriching the lives of locals and visitors alike.
The RDC’s chief executive officer, Mrs Sithembiso Sibanda, said they were seeking investors to take up accommodation infrastructure opportunities, among other tourism prospects.
“We are saying to anyone interested in coming to Umzingwane as an investor that there are opportunities in lodges, tour operators and travel agencies, among other opportunities. We are also putting up a cultural centre and have already identified the space and a company that will do that.
“In all this development, we want to put up the isiNdebele huts so that we preserve our history and culture so that it remains known by generations to come. Above all, any investor who wants to come, we are more than willing, the land is there at the mentioned tourist sites because there is no accommodation,” said Mrs Sibanda.
The CEO also gave an overview of some of the tourist attractions that were in Umzingwane, noting that the district had huge potential to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“First and foremost, there is the famous Diana’s Pool and Orbicular Granite. This is a World Heritage Site with Diana’s Pool consisting of 23 pots and one big one, which makes them 24. We also have the Orbicular Granite Rocks. This rock is only found in South Africa and Zimbabwe and it is a blessing to be the custodian of such a rock as a district.
“We also have Lumene and Matshatshatsha falls, balancing rocks, caves, cave paintings and granaries and wildlife in Mtshabezi Valley, which is about 300 hectares. In this area, we have animals that include leopards that spill over from Matobo National Park, which borders Umzingwane and Matobo districts,” said Mrs Sibanda.
She said with all those precious sites, they are looking for investors as they seek to unlock tourism investment opportunities for local economic development, which is in line with their vision for an exclusive, empowered and responsible community with a high-quality of life by 2030.
“How are we doing that? We want to involve the community at large so that they partake in tourism activities such as gastronomy, dance groups, music and art, cultural exchange. What we have done so far is to set up local committees at every tourist site so that they can start running these.
“We have also started assisting them as we are in the process of refurbishing some of these sites. At Diana’s Pool, we have now reached 95 percent completion in the rehabilitation of the facility,” said Mrs Sibanda.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recently held Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbra Rwodzi, said the Government is promoting and encouraging investments in community-based tourism development, which will support the sustainable development of local communities by growing the value chain through small enterprises and projects.
“By investing in community-based tourism, investors not only have the opportunity to earn a financial gain but also to have a positive impact on the society and the environment in sync with Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 by the UN.
“To support investments nationally, the Government has put in place several incentives, which include but not limited to, duty rebates on imported capital goods and equipment (S.I. 222 of 2022) and safari vehicles (S.I. 10 of 2022) for tourism businesses,” said Minister Rwodzi.
The tourism sector is expected to contribute US$600 million to total capital investments by 2025, while in the same year, the tourism industry is targeting to become a US$5 billion Tourism Economy as outlined in the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy: 2020-2025.
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