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Rutendo Rori Herald Reporter
Government is currently working on strategies to revive the Chiremba Balancing Rocks in Epworth, for the preservation and conservation of the heritage site.
Addressing journalists in Epworth recently, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Anastancia Ndlovu said the site will generate immense benefits to the Epworth community.
“Community-based tourism can be identified as projects that offer services to tourists and are owned or managed by communities and generate wider community benefits.
“The residents earn income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service and produce providers and employees, and at least part of the tourist income is set aside for projects which provide benefits to the community as a whole,” said Deputy Minister Ndlovu.
She said it was important to increase tourism awareness to reduce vandalism of the heritage site.
“For the preservation and conservation of the heritage site, it is necessary to encourage community participation.
“Currently, the domestic tourism department is on a drive to promote and develop community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs),” she said.
Deputy Minister Ndlovu said revamping the heritage site will make the Epworth community realise the commercial and social value of the site.
Zanu-PF Epworth legislator Cde Zalerah Makari said, the balancing rocks were a sign of how rich Epworth is in history and culture.
“We want to partner with the Ministry of tourism so that we make the area more palatable in terms of the way it looks. There is a lot of history, a lot of geography going on, but this place has not been taken care of,” said Cde Makari.
National Museums and Monuments regional director Mr Godhi Bvocho said there were investors from Saudi Arabia and Italy who intended to partner Government in building a hotel at the monuments.
“We have worked closely with the Ministry of Tourism (and Hospitality) to look for partners to invest in this place, and there are investors from Saudi Arabia and Italy who intend to partner the Government in putting up accommodation and eating facilities.
“We are still at a point of vetting the kind of investment they want to put, but yes, we have hints that a hotel might be built in these premises,” said Mr Bvocho.
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