Lukosi strip road ‘vanishes’ into thin air?
THIS week’s article was supposed to be a continuation of major places whose Tonga names continue to hog the limelight with interesting insights into historical tourism.
However, this has has been postponed as yours truly seeks to untangle an interesting phenomenon.
The recent piece on the origins of names such as Jotsholo, Lupane, among others, did send a few tongues wagging even though and there was unanimity that indeed the world is some form of a global village.
One may be tempted to question benefits associated with historical tourism and the role it plays in the mainstream hospitality industry.
However, one leisure industry fundi stated that historical tourism was key in the promotion of a country’s economic and social impact. It is strongly believed that it also reinforces identity and in the process maintain cultural and historical lineages.
Another school of thought is that historical tourism facilitates a sense of understanding and belonging among the local populace.
Some examples of major historical tourism places across the world include The Great Wall, Mao Zedong Mausoleum (both in China), Eiffel Tower in France, Big Ben Clock in the United Kingdom, Capitol Hill in United States of America, and the Egyptian Pyramids, among others.
The Libyan province of Cyrenaica can also make it into the historical tourism books whose town of Cyrene is briefly mentioned in the Bible over heavenly tidings-related issues.
Those interested in trying to establish the reasons why the place can also be a tourist place, the answer might be in Matthew27 verse32.
However, the ruins of the then special town are situated in what today is known as the modern village of Shahhat in Libya.
As for the Great Wall of China, that is a major tourist attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists and it is reported to bring a sense of pride among the Chinese nationals.
The purpose of this 20 921-kilometre-long gigantic wall was all about how the ancient Chinese emperors wanted to shield themselves with a heavily fortified structure from marauding adversaries.
The majestic edifice did indeed prove its worth as enemies were kept at bay and to this day it continues to be a symbol of resistance and this has given rise to thousands of both local and foreign visitors being enticed to throng this historical piece of information.
Most Chinese nationals are always proud and remain gratified to be associated with such an edifice, hence an influx of local tourists to such particular places.
The same also applies to monuments such as the Pyramids of Egypt and these do not need any form of explanation as they are a major contributory factor to that country’s tourism industry.
Back in Zimbabwe we have our own monuments such as the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, National Heroes Acre, Bumbusi Ruins and Pupu War Memorial, just to mention a few.
Some of these shrines are favourites of students during educational tours as they will be provided with firsthand information on how the country’s history evolved in relation to such particular structures.
The government recently proclaimed an area in Pupu near Lupane centre to national monument status because it was the place where King Lobengula and his Matabele warriors made their gallant last stand against the early colonial settler forces.
This was during the AngloNdebele war of December 3, 1893 when Allan Wilson and his Shangani Patrol forces were annihilated as they tried to capture the last Matabele king.
It was during this battle that Mtshane Khumalo was one of the Matabele generals whose heroics left enemy forces at sixes and sevens as they met their ultimate fate in pursuit of the elusive Matabele king.
The Zimbabwean government posthumously accorded Khumalo national hero status due to his war exploits during this specific epic battle.
His prowess was also two months earlier displayed during the Mbembesi Battle on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Even though his regiment was defeated, Mtshane Khumalo remained a force to reckon with among the early settler forces.
While we are still on the issue of monuments and their contribution to domestic tourism, yours truly was excited upon learning that there is some place in Hwange known as Lukosi Strip Road.
This place was before the country’s independence declared a monument.
Lukosi Strip Road was declared a national monument in 1969 and Pandamatenga site also being proclaimed the following year probably with pomp and fanfare.
These two historical places are all situated within Hwange district.
However, the strip road is currently nowhere to be seen!
Yours truly has in the past tried to establish the exact location of this rather “fascinating” strip road, but to no avail as most people in that side of the country are at sea as far as this issue is concerned.
Some even went to the extent of suggesting that a gravel road which lies parallel to Lukosi River could be suitable for national monument status.
Others guessed that some path from Lukosi business centre to Bumbusi Ruins in Sinamatella could be the one and yours truly was referred to some local traditional elders to buttress this kind of notion.
Yours truly’s search of the elusive strip road went as far as the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) but nothing was forthcoming despite the organisation being the bona fide custodian of the country’s monuments.
Lukosi Strip Road and Pandamatenga site are both documented as monuments on the NMMZ website.
The search did not yield any positive result and it is a clear indication that the promotion of the country’s domestic tourism is not yet being fully done.
At the time of writing this Travelling and Touring article, yours truly was desperately searching for this interesting monument which continues to baffle some locals from this provincial divide.
Those with the necessary information concerning this vanishing phenomenon are always welcome with their input to: For feedback, email: dubebasill@gmail.com or Twitter: @DubeBurzil