Lions for Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park
THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has introduced lions at the Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park to diversify the tourism product and grow the sector in line with Vision 2030.
Vice-President Kembo Mohadi officially launched the Lions Enclosure which houses a lion and lioness named Kenya and Dingan.
There are plans to introduce two more lions soon.
In a speech read on his behalf by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri, VP Mohadi said tourism development was one of the key pillars for the country’s economic development.
“This project is within the framework of one of the key pillars of our tourism thrust, that of product diversification, as we push ahead with Vision 2030 development agenda, where tourism constitutes one of the low hanging fruits in the revitalisation of our economy,” he said.
VP Mohadi said Government was aware of the tourism industry’s potential to generate foreign currency and the New Dispensation had taken a deliberate stance to develop the industry.
He said the implementation of devolution in the provinces was in motion and Mashonaland West province was showing great potential and the introduction of lions at the Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park was a step in the right direction.
“At our local level the Government is forging ahead with its vision of devolution. Provinces like Mashonaland West are already showing signs that potential economies can be a reality and are possible through such tourism boosting projects such as the lion project that we are witnessing today,” said VP Mohadi.
“The introduction of lions here (Chinhoyi Caves) will not only be an attraction to tourists but will increase the profile of Chinhoyi Town as one of the educational hubs in this town.”
He said Chinhoyi was an important gateway to other tourism destinations such as Kariba and Mana Pools and it should be a stopover for tourist going to the Zambezi Valley. For this to happen, he said there was need to develop compelling packages saying previously Chinhoyi Caves had limited activities with only scenic viewing of the caves and deep pool for tourists.
He said good times lay ahead for Mashonaland West province and people should take advantage of the anticipated tourism boom to uplift themselves.
“For the people of Chinhoyi and the province in general, these are moments that we should be proud of and pay close attention to because of the resultant economic potential,” he said.
“I foresee more local people being employed, I foresee new and downstream business activities such as curio stores emerging and I foresee the development of educational centres among other related activities starting up.”
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka welcomed the development and called for the introduction of other animals and activities to increase diversity.