Luthando Mapepa
Correspondent
BIRCHENOUGH Bridge is positioning itself as one of Manicaland Province’s emerging domestic tourism destinations, with Government calling for increased investment in accommodation facilities, community-based tourism initiatives and supporting infrastructure to ensure that local communities reap tangible economic benefits from the growing number of visitors.
The call was made by Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Minister Barbara Rwodzi during the launch of the 2026 Domestic Tourism Festive Season Campaign at Birchenough Bridge Beach Bash yesterday, where stakeholders from different sectors converged to celebrate the area’s tourism potential.
The annual event, which has continued to grow in stature, is increasingly becoming a platform for bringing together tourism players, local businesses, artistes and communities in promoting domestic tourism, while unlocking economic opportunities for the surrounding areas.
Minister Rwodzi said Government is committed to make the Birchenough Bridge Summer Beach Bash a permanent feature on the country’s tourism calendar, noting that the event presents an opportunity to stimulate business and improve livelihoods.
She challenged communities surrounding the tourism attraction to take advantage of the growing visitor numbers by investing in accommodation facilities and other tourism-related businesses.
“Domestic tourism is not just about visiting tourist destinations. It is also about spending money in local communities through the purchase of goods and services, thereby supporting livelihoods and contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” she said.
Minister Rwodzi encouraged residents to improve their homes and consider converting them into accommodation facilities to cater for visitors seeking overnight stays.
She also called for the upgrading of Birchenough Bridge Hotel to increase its capacity and improve the quality of services offered to tourists.
“The Summer Beach Bash will continue, and the visitors who come for this event bring business opportunities and income to different sectors of the local economy,” she said.
The minister also identified the local market as an important component of the area’s tourism value chain, urging stakeholders to improve its infrastructure and facilities to make it more attractive to visitors.
She said a well-developed market will encourage tourists to purchase locally produced goods, ensuring that tourism expenditure circulates within the community.
Beyond the beach festivities, Government believes Birchenough Bridge has the potential to develop into a broader tourism destination, drawing on its iconic bridge, natural attractions and proximity to the Save Valley Conservancy.
Speaking through his representative, Dr Anywhere Mutambudzi, Deputy Chief Secretary for Presidential Communications in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr George Charamba, said tourism development requires collective responsibility and participation from all Zimbabweans.
He said the country is endowed with beautiful destinations, lakes and a rich cultural heritage which needed to be adequately promoted to attract both domestic and international visitors.
Mr Charamba said unity and collective efforts are essential in transforming local attractions into internationally recognised tourism destinations.
“Tourism belongs to all of us. Let us promote our beautiful destinations, lakes and cultural heritage. Through collective efforts, we can transform this area into a major internationally recognised tourist destination,” he said.
He encouraged participants to embrace the festival as an opportunity to celebrate Zimbabwe’s tourism identity while promoting unity and appreciation of the country’s natural endowments.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, described Manicaland as a sleeping tourism giant whose potential needed to be fully explored and marketed.
