Entrepreneur works on boosting Bulawayo domestic tourism

05 Dec, 2021 - 00:12 0 Views
Entrepreneur works on boosting Bulawayo domestic tourism Mr Nkosana Mazibisa

The Sunday News

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
A LOCAL entrepreneur has embarked on an ambitious project that will see him turn houses in Bulawayo’s high density suburbs into Bed and Breakfast facilities in a bid to boost domestic tourism.

Mr Nkosana Mazibisa who was recently named in the top 10 Zimbabwe Tourism Innovation Challenges under the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), is working with the community of New Lobengula where he aims at establishing local tours, celebrating the history of the western suburbs.

In an interview, Mr Mazibisa said the initiative, under the Matlive Township Tourism facility, was aimed at giving tourists a full package in the city’s high density suburbs. He said he was inspired to spearhead the project by the need to uplift the community of Lobengula.

“The idea is for tourists to have a complete experience in the high density suburbs, at the same time empowering the locals financially. Our aim is to show that we can also establish up market bed and breakfast facilities here.

“I have tested the concept in my own house in New Lobengula, where I have hosted a number of tourists and they all enjoyed the experience which is why I am working with a number of home owners so that we establish these viable

Bed and Breakfast facilities,” said Mr Mazibisa.

He said their main goal was to further contribute towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the city by showing that even locals can contribute towards the national initiative of domestic tourism.

“Our tourism enhances the linkages between tourism businesses- local traditional restaurants, bead and craftwork women clubs and poor people, so that tourism can meaningfully contribute towards poverty reduction through sustainable development in marginalised areas with rich history and culture.

“Our Township Tourism activities opens up a communal, shared and unique tourism experience such as opportunities to stay overnight in a range of small-scale home stay accommodation services establishments in the townships while preserving and enhancing respect for cultural differences, traditions, customs and devotion to principles of non-discrimination and tolerance,” he said.

Mr Mazibisa said he was also working on tapping in the rich history associated with Lobengula township by creating tours that will highlight this history.

“The suburb was established in 1978 during the colonial era, the houses were for the then natives. It was named after the last Ndebele Monarch, the very king who gave the name koBulawayo to his two capital towns.

In 1987 Denzel Washington once stayed in Lobengula during the shooting of Cry Freedom movie about Steve Biko a South African Struggle Icon.

“The township is located between two major highways (Masiyephambili and Luveve Road): Masiyephambili which up north leads to Victoria Falls then Zambia while down south leads to Plumtree then Botswana.

Across the township is Emakhandeni which is the Ndebele name for Fort Rixon, which was the area where the regiments Emakhandeni were located,” said Mr Mazibisa.

The initiative has to date attracted visits from the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni, his deputy, Clr Mlandu Ncube, among a number of prominent people.

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