Township Tour for Byo
THE Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is working on the Bulawayo Township Tour, which is part of the Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs) programme aimed at promoting areas of interest within local communities.
Tourism and Hospitality Deputy Minister Anastancia Ndhlovu said her ministry, with support from the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) was promoting community-based tourism through the strengthening of CBTEs.
She said the Bulawayo Township Tour was one of the first initiatives to benefit from JICA.
“In line with the Zim Asset theme ‘ Towards an Empowered Society and a Growing Economy’, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is playing a leading role in the empowerment of local communities through the promotion of CBTEs. The City of Bulawayo boasts of three of Zimbabwe’s seven wonders, namely its wonderful people and culture, rich history and heritage, pristine wildlife and nature. Bulawayo is not just the second largest city in Zimbabwe, it is the City of Kings,” she said.
Deputy Minister Ndhlovu said Bulawayo was a cultural and historical hotspot and its proximity to Matopo National Park with spectacular scenery and balancing rocks, made the city strategic in tourism development. She said communities needed to utilise such opportunities to create employment and empower locals. She added work on the project site had already begun with a JICA expert working closely with the community.
“The Bulawayo Township Tour, a CBTE, has been identified as one of the four pilot projects and will benefit from support from JICA. The support will benefit members of the project in the form of technical assistance to enhance product diversification, capacity building of committee members, training of community members in tour guiding skills, financial management of the project and marketing of the products, general understanding of the tourism business and linking the products with mainstream tourism operators.
“A JICA expert is currently stationed at the project site and will work closely with the community for a period of one month together with officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). The Bulawayo Township Tour offers to tourists a package of tourism products that include tours of the City Hall, Mzilikazi Home Industries, Makokoba Market and koS’nqoe Ngekhaya,” said Deputy Minister Ndhlovu.
She said the Bulawayo Township Tour promotion will also focus on The Wishing Well, Pioneer House, Centenary Park (Museum), late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo’s statue, Post Office — one of the oldest buildings in the city, National Art Gallery in Bulawayo and Meikles Exchange Bar — where Cecil John Rhodes used to have a drink.
Further on, she said Mzilikazi Home Industries which showcases handcraft skills that include knitting, basketry, embroidery, and weaving will be included. Other areas of focus would include McDonald Hall which is used for weddings, festivals, shows, ballroom dancing, singing and dancing competitions.
The tour will also include Makokoba Market which offers for sale traditional herbs like moringa (for the immune system), iron products like wheel barrows, hoes, rakes and beds, traditional clothes like animal skins — amabhetshu, imisisi and leopard skins.
Some of the history of local people is told at the market.
Deputy Minister Ndhlovu said the tour will lastly focus on KoS’nqoe Ngekhaya in Emganwini township, which was home to one of King Lobengula’s wives.
“The community of Emganwini offers a Township Guest House with three bedrooms and well-furnished, traditional dances ingquzu, isitshikitsha, bhasikoro and contemporary African music, a Cultural Cuisine of amacimbi (caterpillars), idelele/derere (okra), isitshwala/sadza with beef and vegetables, roasted meat and traditional beer.”
She said access to Bulawayo has been made possible by the new state-of-the-art Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.