The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Features Reporter
TOURISM is one major economic sector which was heavily disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting livelihoods, public services and economic opportunities in all continents.
Since 2020, tourism suffered heavily with airplanes grounded, hotels closed and travel restrictions put in place in virtually all countries around the world.
Camp de Tuli- Participants that attended the camp and tour
As countries eased lockdown regulations domestic tourism became one of the major growing calls amongst the tourism and hospitality sector.
In Zimbabwe the option to save the sector through domestic tourism promotion saved the day for the industry which could have sunk into oblivion.
It brought in a significant revenue for the economy. It is in that spirit that the Rural Enterprise Development Trust (REDT) organised a three-day Camp de Tuli in Beitbridge where Zimbabweans at home and those based in the diaspora got to experience the essence of domestic tourism characterised by visits to architectural heritage sites.
Camp de Tuli- dinosaur fossils at Sentinel Ranch in Beitbridge
The special safari camp and tour gave over 100 participants an appreciation of what Zimbabwe’s southern border town of Beitbridge could offer where entrepreneurs, patriots, nature and culture enthusiasts got the opportunity to explore for investment and business opportunities in tourism, agribusiness, mining, engineering, transport as well as many other services.
“The Camp was meant to impart knowledge on the range of resources (natural and cultural) that could sustainably be utilised to drive development that would transform people’s lives,” said Mr Joseph Israel Thompson, REDT chairman.
“Camp de Tuli is one of our programmes to promote domestic and rural tourism. For long, tourism has been viewed as a preserve for the elite and also only a few places in Zimbabwe have been marketed as tourism destinations. Whilst we have lots of interesting places, a rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes in the rural areas that have not been exploited.”
He said the objective was mainly to show that black Zimbabweans could be tourists and also enjoy their country. Mr Thompson noted the need to support local communities so that they get extra income through tourism.
“This was achieved as we utilised Maramani Community Camp and we supported local mopani worm harvesters and local traders for our food, refreshments and beverages.
Camp de Tuli- Enterprise Development Trust (REDT) chairman Mr Joseph Israel Thompson stresses a point during a tour
Domestic tourism needs to be marketed and cost-conscious packages need to be developed. This should be a separate product on its own and not an alternative product to the international market. We need products specifically tailored for domestic tourism,” he added.
He said as a trust they were improving livelihoods of the rural communities and developing infrastructure thereby speaking to National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) where tourism compliments most of the Government programmes.
Mr Thompson noted that tourism was non-extractive, environmentally sensitive and most communities were living museums and custodians of culture and traditions.
Camp de Tuli- participants moving through the bush
“During our camp and tour we visited Sentinel Ranch that has dinosaur fossils and skeletons. The ranch also has a lot of heritage sites like caves with rock art, grain bins and several precolonial artefacts.
“We also visited Fort Tuli which has the Fort, the pioneer cemetery, first prison and police station in Zimbabwe. Along the way we got a chance to go to the fly camp at Nottingham Estate which has a huge number of animals including elephants, elands, giraffes and many more,” he said.
Mr Thompson said as REDT they have identified other places like Kanyemba, Save Conservancy, Deka Drum, Mahenye among others that they would promote.
“Zimbabwe is full of opportunities. Let’s exploit them and not wait for investors. With the scourge of Afrophobia in South Africa, people should consider coming back and investing in the countless opportunities at home.”
Professor Munyaradzi Manyanga from the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), an archaeologist and heritage specialist with over 16 years of experience in heritage training and research in Southern Africa who was the tour guide gave a rich description of sites that included Nottingham Estate, Sentinel and Border Ridge farm, Shashi Limpopo confluence, Maramani communal area and the Tuli Circle.
“Beitbridge town is going through major infrastructural transformation intended to make it a model transit town. It offers opportunities in transport and logistics, freight forwarding, hospitality industry, real estate among others.”
Prof Manyanga said the Nottingham Estate was a massive farm with mining, citrus, wildlife ranching, tourism and environmental conservation.
He said it was also rich in archaeological sites that include some unique rock paintings, villages and agricultural outposts of the 11th to 13th Century Mapungubwe state, with historical settlements associated with the Rozvi and Venda.
Looking at the Sentinel and Border Ridge Farm which offered viable wildlife ranching, tourism ventures, camping sites, wheat farming, sheep and goat farming, he said it had a rich heritage comprising paleontological sites at Pimwa Hill and the Shashi Limpopo confluence area.
Some of the dinosaurs’ specimens seen at the farm discovered about 15 years ago were said to be as old as 200 million years. Added to these were several rock art sites, grain storage sites, drystone walled monuments and agricultural outposts of the precolonial Mapungubwe state, which Prof Manyanga said dated to the 11th – 13th Century AD.
He said the Pimwa Hill on sentinel was a rain petitioning site and is still being utilised to this day, emphasising the importance of spirituality in the African lives on matters of livelihoods, technology, governance and social organisation.
“The precolonial African cultural heritage in southern and south western Zimbabwe dispels the myth that Africans have no history before colonisation. If anything, the heritage sites show a very proud deep history that is characterised by innovation, adaptation and creativity.
The Shashi Limpopo confluence area has some of the best sites to establish camps and eco lodges in the area. With the South African and Botswana sides already developed, there is a great chance for building comparable or even better structures on the Zimbabwean side.”
He also suggested: “What is important in my view is proper land use planning for the region that takes into consideration the rich cultural, natural and geological resources of the area. The Shashi and Limpopo valley is a fragile ecosystem that needs to be properly managed and informed decisions made on various activities permissible.”
Prof Manyanga said a key priority was to preserve the biodiversity, landforms, culture and heritage and what should then follow is investment in infrastructural development to make the area easily accessible. He said developments in the area needed to be done in a regional context with established land use zones in Botswana and South Africa.
“The adjoining area in Botswana is designated as a wildlife conservation zone, while in South Africa it is the Mapungubwe National Park and world heritage site. Zimbabwe may benefit more by declaring the whole area a conservation and tourism zone. Going the route of the previously proposed Transfrontier Park is one option.”
Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) chief executive officer Mr Peter Moyo said the town was endowed with a lot of opportunities with those willing to invest having endless options to choose from in tourism, agriculture, mining, education, health, business and development project, among others.
