Story by Providence Maraneli
Communities around tourist attraction sites in Umzingwane have implored the local authority to expedite implementation of the campfire project for the transformation of sites which have remained under-utilised.
As we walked along the Mbilamboyi River in an area called Diana’s Pool in Umzingwane, we came across a sight that stunned us.
It is an orbicular granite rock, a rare plutonic and igneous rock found in few locations around the world.
While we were still perplexed two elderly men appeared from the thickets and took us around the rich yet sacred Diana’s Pools which have remained a proverbial low hanging fruit that is failing to attract those who can harvest the fruit.
Known to the locals as Ezimbizeni (place of pots) because of the neatly carved potholes along a steep granite rock, the place might just be a charming natural wonder.
Diana’s Pool Tourism Committee member, Mr Given Nxumalo said, “We are told that this is a rare rock only found in Zimbabwe and few other countries, but we have failed to market this place so that we can make money out of it. We need to be educated.”
A villager added, “We have failed our place, we need a vibrant committee that can work with the RDC so that we market this place,” while another said, “Our hearts bleed when we see so much potential that is being under-utilised. It is closer to Bulawayo and Gwanda, but we are not utilising it.”
However, Diana’s Pools is not the only potential tourist attraction site that has failed to live up to its billing around Ezintabeni area; the famous Anthill where Cecil John Rhodes and the Ndebele Indunas negotiated for peace to end the 1896 Umvukela/Chimurenga stands across the road.
Village head, Mr Juda Sibanda said, “We have so many places here that can attract and promote domestic tourism, but we are failing to get an investor. We need help.”
With the country on a drive to promote domestic tourism, the Umzingwane Rural District Council has mooted having a campfire system to run the tourist sites.
“We are meeting the villagers around this area to revive the committees so that we pave the way for a campfire project. This is our top priority. We are going to train the committees on the promotion, finances, of the sites. They have so much potential and we need to play our part in transforming the sector,” said Umzingwane RDC chief executive officer, Mrs Sithembiso Sibanda.
Umzingwane is a hub of potential tourist sites, including the Lumene Falls, Rhodes Indaba Site, the Nyunteya Cave fixated with 13 grain bins, an array of beautiful rock paintings and the Zhilo Shrine, among others.
