Online Reporter
Nqoble Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Government has laid out comprehensive plans to transform Binga into a premier tourist destination, leveraging its unique natural attractions and rich BaTonga culture to boost both domestic and international arrivals.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, told Parliament last Wednesday that the ministry is implementing a cluster-based strategy in collaboration with key stakeholders, under a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, to unlock Binga’s full tourism potential.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is mandated to develop and promote tourism in Zimbabwe. Through its cluster-based strategy, the ministry is working on collaboration with stakeholders under the whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, which needs to develop tourism sites and resources around the country,” she said.
Minister Rwodzi revealed that Government had already embarked on a phased development plan for Binga, with major infrastructure projects underway.
“As a Government, using a whole-of-Government approach, we have already taken a phased approach to developing Binga as a premier tourist resort, working closely with relevant line ministries and agencies. Key milestones have been achieved to date, including road infrastructure for accessibility to the destination, which is under rehabilitation.
“It is 345 kilometres from Harare. It is a stretch from Binga. The stretch that is being rehabilitated in particular is the Binga-Siyakobvu-Karoi Road, which is underway. This critical route will open a tourism corridor between Kariba and Victoria Falls. Along the road, the corridor has the river Zambezi, which has a number of tourism activities along,” said Minister Rwodzi.
Accessibility has also been improved through air transport infrastructure, with the rehabilitation of an aerodrome already completed.
“There is an aerodrome with a runway of 1,1 kilometres that has been completed. The facility now has the capacity to handle up to six small aircraft daily, marking a major step in facilitating direct arrivals to Binga, though there are no aircraft that are landing as we speak. So this is part of the rehabilitation of transport infrastructure to Binga,” she said.
Connectivity has been another priority, with major telecommunications companies expanding coverage.
“Connectivity for mobile network is important for tourism, and Econet Wireless has been engaged and there is now connectivity in one of the wards near the beach itself, Ward 1, an area which previously did not have any coverage.
However, NetOne had already put up a booster in this area,” said the minister.
Minister Rwodzi added that, beyond infrastructure, Binga’s cultural heritage was already gaining international recognition.
“The ministry, together with ZTA, has also introduced activities that happen in Binga to promote this destination, particularly in 2024. Hosting of people who came from Dubai, who are usually called influencers, happened last year and some of them went to the destination Binga.
“Two of those have been promoting Binga online, through social media and they have even produced a film on the BaTonga culture, which they have showcased on Dubai Television, placing Binga on the international map.”
She narrated how the influencers, originally scheduled for a two-day stay, were so fascinated by BaTonga traditions that they extended their visit.
“They actually came in January 2024 and they asked to go to Binga. They wanted to spend only two days in Binga. Then when they got there, coincidentally, they found a cultural event happening for roora and they were so captivated by how roora is done in BaTonga culture.
“It forced them to stay in Binga for eight days. They even participated in Pfumvudza, ended up going to fetch firewood and doing other things.”
Minister Rwodzi said the experience demonstrated the growing global appetite for cultural diversity.
“So, they then derived a short film for the culture of BaTonga, which is quite known now on Dubai Television. We also launched our ZimBo, usual domestic tourism campaign that we always have in October.
“Like right now, end of October, we will be launching that. Last year, we had one in Binga, just to showcase and to show the world what Binga has and what they can enjoy in Binga. Yes, there is a beach with white sands, which we will be selling when we showcase the beach.”
The minister said Binga’s diverse tourism offering extended beyond leisure to include medical tourism, culture and wildlife.
“As a strategy, we have clustered the tourism sector in a bid to critically analyse the need for marketing and developing tourism as an industry in our country. We have identified the beach and its sand bath that happens there.
“There are also hot springs in Binga, which speaks to medical tourism and we are marketing medical tourism that is found in Binga and to make people believe that the medicinal properties that are found in the beach sand bath are therapeutic and can heal certain diseases.
“Therefore, this product is also for medical tourism.”
She stressed that BaTonga culture itself was a valuable product that should bring direct economic benefits to the community.
“However, Binga and its community, as I have mentioned already, is an attraction on its own. The ministry, through Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, would want these people, as we have experienced when those young people came from the Middle East in Dubai, they have to be paid directly because the tourists actually come to see them, particularly those that put sticks in their noses.
“We have seen that it is actually a product on its own, which, if tourists come and demand to see, they must be paid for that.
“Therefore, their culture and heritage have an economic benefit that can be given to the people of BaTonga. The boys and girls, traditional ceremonies are also a selling point besides the signature dishes or the gastronomy that is within BaTonga culture.”
Minister Rwodzi added that Government planned to integrate Binga into Zimbabwe’s wider tourism strategy, ensuring it contributes meaningfully to Vision 2030.
“Government has already embarked on infrastructural development in Binga. We are advocating and influencing that we could even have tourism promotion in Binga, to have meetings, conferences and events. That is underway and we are advocating for that.
“Binga does not just have the culture and heritage aspect but nature and wildlife as well, with beautiful scenery that has a variety of wildlife. That is another promotion that we are doing about Binga.”
