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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
A 29-YEAR-OLD man from Mutorashanga, in Zvimba District, has for the past five years been throwing caution to the wind, dicing with death to entertain tourists.
Kelvin Kutaika is doubling as a tour guide at the Mutorashanga Green Pools and an entertainer. He head-dives into the 45-metre deep pool from a 30-metre high platform for as little as US$1 from tourists.
He is undoubtedly a talented swimmer and diver from the farming and chrome-mining settlement.
Kelvin has saved the lives of at least nine people who attempted to swim in the “sacred” waters.
The pool, which has managed to attract tourists locally and regionally, remains a bone of contention between the local community and a Chinese investor currently setting up a company a stone’s throw away.
Forget Hospitality and Tourism diploma and degree, Kelvin has chosen to entertain, spruce the area and provide a guide and rich history of the formation of Green Pools to visitors.
This is a trade that he has learned to teach himself daily, for years. His communication and customer service decorum is next to perfectionism as he markets an area that has brought bread, eggs, and bacon once in a while to his small family and in-laws. Kelvin believes his swimming talent is slowly reaching its twilight stage due to age. He is however, convinced that if the pool is put on the map, it will attract more tourists.
He also eyes its opening as a tourist attraction for him to be employed given the vast experience he now has. That can help him fend for his wife, son, and siblings.
“I have been operating at this pool for over five years providing entertainment to visitors by diving into the water, providing rescue services, tour guides, and cleaning the area. I believe I am talented but this is going to waste as nobody is working to uplift us.
“We are well-versed with this place and as tour guides together with my colleague, Adam, we provide all the necessary services to visitors,” Kelvin said.
After having risked his life, diving into the scary pool, Kelvin is given peanuts.
“It depends on the people that visit the area that day. At times we take home US$30 to US$40 from the whole package that includes cleaning, tour-guiding, and diving into the pool but this depends on the visitors. Some even threaten to shoot us after we have provided the services,” he added.
The tunnels that Kelvin takes tourists through lead to four other small pools that can only be accessed through the man-made caves created during the mining expeditions.
On rescue missions, Kelvin said he valued the lives of the visitors more than his as he believes he was sent by God to operate at the pool for a reason.
“I don’t fear for my life as God gave me this talent to help save lives. I have helped save nine lives so far from this pool and this has made me see life from a different perspective because although I’m struggling to make ends meet and fend for my family, I have a gift to save lives.”
The young man stays at his in-law’s place, at Norro Mine, less than a kilometre west of the pool.
During a recently held meeting at the site aimed at creating positive synergies between tourism and mining industries, Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, said the Green Pool was a tourist attraction that needed to be tapped into.
Deputy Minister Rwodzi visited the area leading a team from her ministry and various parastatals to assess threats to the majestic pools.
Her visit was after the Mutorashanga community petitioned the Government over alleged concerns that mining activities including an impending chrome production could affect the functioning of the world-renowned centre.
“There should be harmony between the two industries. Mutorashanga Green Pools has become one of the key drivers of domestic and international tourism. There is a need to create a balance between the two industries.
“My ministry and all the parastatals will continue to work with the community to enable harmonization of Mining and Tourism developments,” said the Deputy Minister.
The pools are a remnant of the defunct Ethel asbestos mine, which was closed down ages ago with its Emerald blueish – greenish colour fascinating visitors and passers-by.
Online Reporter