adminwhen one drives and buries past the rustic villages of Cross Dete, Kamativi, Siachilaba and Manjolo, among others, the swathe after swathe of land, tells of stunning beauty, peace and tranquillity.
In Rhodesia the place was famed for fishing and mining of tin. But there are now new business opportunities, which makes sense to explore.
Binga, which is situated along the southern bank of Zambezi River, is known for high temperatures and culture-conscious people.
It has been distanced from most activities in the country. As development of the area is moving in a snail’s pace, efforts are being made to develop fully the area into a town.
Binga is one of the development-starved districts in the country despite having a variety of resources.
The area is said to have limited access to service providers. Although most residents have been feeling sidelined in most of the national developmental activities, they still have hope that their area could be better and more developed.
Traditional leaders from Binga have expressed their concern over the slow development coming into the area.
Chief Pashu from Binga said transforming Binga into a town, is surely a dream which everyone has been waiting to see.
He said since Binga was one of the tourist destinations for Zimbabwe there is need to upgrade the place.
“The changing of the business centre in a town also comes with the improvement of infrastructure,” says Chief Pashu.
The traditional leader said he is welcoming the development of Binga with both hands because Binga is one of the areas lagging behind in terms of development.
Chief Pashu said development will also bring a lot of economic and social advantages for Binga.
“We are expecting a lot of advantages if Binga is transformed into a town. Investors will flood the area and this will generate employment for our people. This place has a lot of business potential,” said Chief Pashu.
He said the growth of Binga will see the development of residential and commercial stands and put to an end temporary structures which were mainly put in place by non-governmental organisations.
“Now that our business centre will soon be a town, we need permanent structures and permanent investors to operate in our area, unlike the NGOs who just come here when there are problems,” he said.
He also confirmed that most of the NGOs who operate in Binga only came in on temporary basis and leave the place as soon as they get what they want.
Primrose Mudenda from Binga said they look forward to economic and social development.
“If this place becomes a town we will also feel as part of Zimbabwe, and it feels great to be finally recognised” she said.
Binga Rural District Council chief exucutive Mr Joshua Muzamba confirmed that the council was pushing for Binga to become a town, adding that the local authority was now working on the masterplan.
“People from Physical Planning are working on updating the local plan for the town. It is important since it will show various economic development points and possible routes of expansion as we prepare for the growth of the town as a tourist destination,” said Mr Muzamba.
He also said the plan will inform them of the tourism capacity and their potential so that they work on important areas like roads to make the place more accessible.
“We would also want to develop the wildlife areas in Binga and all the tourism services we have in this area.
“We have lodges, houseboats, hot springs and another Interesting thing is half of Lake Kariba is in Binga, therefore we have to develop more this place because it one of the tourist attractions in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Muzamba said now that the UNWTO General Assembly is going to be held in the province, they would also want more tourists to spill over the Binga District as well.
He also said he is optimistic about an upsurge in tourist arrivals because the 81km Siabuwa-Binga road was now passable.
He said the council is working hand in glove with the Zimbabwe National Road Administration in construction of the roads.
Mr Muzamba said a total of US$1,5 million would help in the completion of the developmental projects in Binga.
“On rehabilitating the roads, we hired 40 local casual workers as of the last quarter of the previous year and as of the first quarter of the year. These were clearing the bush and stumping thereby creating employment,” said Mr Muzamba.
Adding on to the developments, Mr Muzamba said the council is clearing and issuing out stands in both low-density and high-density suburbs.
“We have cleared and issued more than 300 low-density suburb stands and more 200 high-density suburb stands,” he said.
He further said that the council is working on improving the flea markets at Siabuwa, Manjolo, Lusulu and Kariangwe since flea markets are one of the economic hubs in the districts. However, Government has allocated 240 000 sq km of land to Binga District Council for expansion and for sewer systems.
The area also is known of having the largest number of NGOs operating in it. It is a tourist destination and has a number of lodges situated along Zambezi River.
Online Reporter