Tugwi-Mukosi set for tourism development
meant to operationise the constitutional provision in Section 4, says rural land is vested in the President who shall permit it to be occupied and well used in accordance with this Act.
Despite knowing that rural land should be dispensed to individuals for free after consultation, some traditional leaders have allegedly chosen to ignore the law for profit.
One of the victims in the Department of Agricultural Education Services, director Mr Jotamu Dondofema, said he was ordered to pay US$2 500 to $3 000 for a hectare by a village head.
‘‘I was referred to Chegutu Railway 28 farm just about 13km from Norton along the road to Murombedzi. I was taken to the village head and was told that they are five 6ha plots not yet occupied. I wanted one but was told I have to pay US$2 500 to US$3 000 to be shared by the district administrator, lands officer and village head. I was then informed that after making payment, the license or offer letter would be processed but backdated to an acceptable date. Then after I will need to pay rents backdated to the date on the offer letter,” he said.
The rising cost of urban land has seen urban home seekers move into adjacent rural areas which are now experiencing pressure on demand for social services.
Areas such as Domboshava 30km from Harare and Goromonzi about 40km have become the locations of choice for home seekers. The situation is not unique to Domboshava and Goromonzi alone, but other peri-urban settlements in an arc around the metropolitan province.
ZIMBABWE’S largest interior water body, Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in Chivi district, will soon start accruing economic benefits for the nation in the sphere of tourism as the Government mobilises resources and investors to attract more visitors and showcase local tourism products to both local and international visitors.
Tugwi-Mukosi cost around US$250 million to construct and the reservoir with a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres offers vast opportunities for tourism through its scenic topography and islands that are not only captivating to the tourist eye but also offers prospects for building of hotels and lodges.
A game park is planned in the dam’s buffer zone while recreational boating in the vast lake has also been touted as another low-hanging tourism fruit.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Babra Rwodzi said President Mnangagwa said communities in Masvingo and the nation at large must draw dividends from the country’s largest interior water body that has largely remained underused since it was commissioned in May 2017.
Addressing guests during a tourism promotion event at a Masvingo hotel, Minister Rwodzi said Masvingo province was among the priority regions identified by her ministry to stimulate the growth of tourism to anchor the national economy in line with Vision 2030.
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