Unlocking Binga sand beach

Nqobile Tshili

ON the serene banks of the Zambezi River sits Binga Sand Beach beckoning travellers to experience its natural allure in the scorching embrace of the Binga district. Despite its appeal as a tourist hotspot, this haven of tranquillity craves enhanced offerings to captivate the hearts of adventure enthusiasts.

Designated under the Uripi/Ungaphi local tourism campaign by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Binga Sand Beach boasts management by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, with the Binga Local Board reaping its benefits.

A respite from the searing Binga heat, this beach draws numerous visitors seeking solace in its cooling waters, particularly during weekends. 

However, its potential remains untapped, trailing behind global counterparts in recreational amenities, offering mere sand and water, rendering it less enticing to visitors.

Alfred Sibanda, Binga Local Board Town Planning officer, acknowledges the surge in tourism interest.

“Some will be braaing while others will be just swimming. 

“So as a council we have now put up ablution facilities so that when people go there they have enough rest rooms. Almost every weekend there are people but there were no ablution facilities which was now a health concern and inconveniencing the public,” said Sibanda.

Yet, recognising the need for substantial improvements, plans are afoot to introduce accommodation and bolster recreational infrastructure, welcoming potential investors to bolster these efforts.

“As council, we are looking for an investor to partner us in building chalets or any activities that can be required there. As a council we do not have enough money to finance the project. 

“At the moment few individuals do personalised boat cruises, fishing house boating. We are short of lodges and hotels, otherwise if people could build those lodges and hotels, we can accommodate more clients who visit the area,” said Sibanda.

Already hosting events like the Binga Marathon, Binga Beach Volleyball, and the BaTonga Festival, the beach craves entertainment and services to complement these attractions, allowing vendors to bridge the gap in services.

Chief Siansali underscores the necessity of value-added products, envisioning a surge in Binga district’s economic growth through increased tourist spending. 

“It will increase money circulating in the district and any economy is measured by money circulating in the area. Tourists will come here and leave money in the district and that will result in our economic growth as a district,” said Chief Siansali.

However, the absence of basic amenities like drinking water presents missed opportunities for locals to harness their natural resources.

Additionally, Chief Siansali highlights the importance of revamping the Binga Airstrip for enhanced accessibility, urging collaborative efforts between government departments to address road constraints inhibiting visitor access to the beach.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry should push Treasury to work on the road so that the place becomes accessible. That road on its own is very restrictive for someone to visit the beach. 

“Only those with cruisers and high rangers can easily access it but those with small vehicles that is a nightmare. So there is a need to jointly address the road issue. But of course we recognise that the Binga Air strip has been worked on,” said Chief Siansali.

ZTA stressed the crucial role of value addition in elevating tourism offerings, inviting investors to enhance recreational facilities, houseboats, aquatic activities, game drives, and infrastructural development.

According to ZTA, “There are very wide opportunities as far as we are concerned. 

“There is a water body but how many houseboats are there? How many speed boats are there? 

“What other aquatic opportunities are there. There is also a game, is there anyone who has invested in game drive activities, those are the things that prospectors need. There is a need for accommodation, access in terms of roads infrastructural development.”

ZTA envisions a comprehensive approach, advocating for shopping complexes to extend visitor stays, aiming to transform Binga Sand Beach into a magnet for both local and foreign tourists.

In pursuit of elongated visitor stays within Matabeleland North, ZTA champions a shift from fleeting two-three night stays to a more immersive five-seven night experience, contingent upon the diversification of activities beyond the beach.

According to ZTA, what is required is “to capture the client and when they come. They must increase their night days. An average tourist when they visit they stay for two to three nights especially in Matabeleland North. 

“They will come and enjoy Victoria Falls for one or two nights and go to Hwange for one or two nights and then they are out. But we want to increase that to maybe five to seven nights. 

“But that can be done when there are value added products, the client should ask themselves other than just staying in Binga and the Beach what else must I be doing.”