Govt to revamp Campfire projects

THE once successful Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) is now being revamped with the Second Republic wanting a more viable model that ensures sustainability and channels more benefits to the people.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu told the World Tourism Day commemoration on Saturday at Paradise Pools Resort in Bindura Rural that it was disheartening that the pools were once a thriving community project under Campfire benefiting the local communities, until other partners pulled out.

“It is my hope that these celebrations will mark the revival of this once thriving product. I challenge our team from the ministry, Campfire and the provincial teams including Bindura Rural District Council to immediately work on revamping this project,” he said.

“Campfire presents massive potential for inclusive growth if executed in line with the vision which it was conceived. In some areas Campfire projects have achieved in uplifting the lives of communities.

“However in order to institutionalise inclusivity into the arrangement, Government has already approved the need to revamp Campfire in a bid to come up with a viable model that ensures sustainability and channelling of more benefits to the community.”

Next year Minister Ndlovu said numerous Campfire projects across the country which have failed to thrive will be revamped in order to widen community participation in tourism, and promote improved livelihoods.

But Minister Ndlovu noted that Campfire needed to sustain the natural resources and he slammed illegal mining in ecologically sensitive ecosystems like Mazowe River.

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