Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura in BIRCHENOUGH BRIDGE
BIRCHENOUGH Bridge was bustling with activity on Saturday as it hosted the Save Beach Party, officially closing the 2025 Sanganai/Hlanganani/Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo in style.
The event, held on the banks of Save River, featured various sporting activities, including volleyball, netball, tug of war, rugby and athletics, all enjoyed on the beach.
Hundreds of people cooled off in the mighty river as temperatures soared.
The growth point thrived with visitors and locals mingling, while shop owners and restaurants reported brisk business.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbra Rwodzi said the Birchenough Bridge area, with its iconic bridge and the country’s largest river, showcases the potential of rural tourism in Zimbabwe.
She said Government is committed to supporting communities in benefiting from their local attractions.
Minister Rwodzi said the Beach Party will now be an annual event, with plans to engage investors to construct standard accommodation services, while encouraging communities to improve their homesteads to accommodate more tourists.
“The Save Beach Party encompasses entertainment, sports, culture and arts, promoting community-based rural tourism,” she said.
“Our plan is to establish a state-of-the-art hotel for Birchenough Bridge, starting with community-based accommodation facilities so locals can benefit from hosting tourists.”
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said Birchenough Bridge is an iconic feature and it is time to fully exploit its potential.
“Birchenough Bridge is a key tourist destination that we aim to market locally and internationally. Its significance is comparable to Sydney Harbour in Australia, which attracts many visitors, and we can achieve the same here,” said Advocate Mugadza.
Buhera South legislator Ngonidzashe Mudekunye praised the Government for promoting tourism, including in rural areas.
