adminNegative coverage that focuses only on bad news has from time immemorial convinced people that Muzarabani is a place where the impulses of nature always frustrate development.
No coverage has made an effort to go beyond “disaster” and unveil hidden opportunities that have the potential to make Muzarabani the richest district in Zimbabwe. Negative publicity has been a contributing factor to the underdevelopment of the area and continuing negative portrayal is the main challenge that Muzarabani community struggles with every day.
Unfortunately, this is where the mighty Mavhuradonha wilderness area is situated, a magnificent scenery with the potential to propel the tourism industry to the next level.
Comfortably situated at the heart of 600 square kilometres of rugged mountains and situated along the Zambezi Escarpment, only two hours away from Harare in the northeast part of Zimbabwe, the wilderness offers visitors an experience of “what else can Zimbabwe offer”.
Small World Lodges operations manager Faith Dube described the wilderness area as a beautiful, peaceful environment and an amazing experience of nature.
“The area offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cool, moist climate makes it a perfect destination for getaways, camping, mountain hiking and nature walks. The extreme topography results in landscapes of exceptional beauty including high mountains, cliffs, gorges, waterfalls and pools,” said Dube.
She said the splendours of Mavhuradonha are enhanced by the occurrence of attractive well-developed miombo woodland, with most of the representative species of brachystegia (mupfuti) and julbernardia (mutondo).
She added that there are also ravines or “kloof” woodlands, with high soil moisture and nutrients providing a greater range of micro-habitats.
“The striking visual attractiveness and wilderness characteristic is an essential feature of the area and comprises a valuable natural asset giving pristine attractive scenery, in a protected and unpopulated area.
“The area is a perfect destination for game viewing as it is home to elephants, buffaloes, zebras, leopards, lions, baboons, and other wide range of animal species,” she said.
The area is unique breathtaking bird watching scenery as it has over 290 bird species under its territory.
Visitors to the place will be offered a lifetime opportunity to visit local communities that have a rich culture emanating from the unique historical background.
Early settlers to occupy the area were the Masvimba who were early Bantu people later preyed upon by Arab and Swahili slavers.
The Rozvi/Karanga tribes who settled in the southern part of the country early migrated northwards along the coastal plains, resulting in one of their offshoots under one Nyatsimba Mutota settling in the Zambezi Valley escarpment areas of the present Guruve and Mount Darwin districts.
This was the beginning of the Munhumutapa kingdom which is known today as Mavhuradonha wilderness area.
“Mavhuradonha” refers to the misty rains which often hover over the mountain tops and is a Shona name which when literally translated means “Land of Falling Water” or simply “waterfalls”.
In 1998 the Muzarabani Rural District Council gazetted, under the Communal Lands Act, Muzarabani wilderness area. This has given the area a similar status as national parks estates. In 1991, the council received the appropriate authority for the management of wildlife from the then Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
Currently the area is being managed for wildlife production and tourism purposes. Over the years the council has put considerable effort into developing the wildlife resources and building up income-generating activities based on the wilderness and wildlife.
Even if one is taken aback by the prevailing situation, it takes a strong heart cemented with dedication and commitment to harness the full potential of the area.
As such, Divine Aid Trust Company (Datco Group), in partnership with Muzarabani Rural District Council, is fully geared to make use of opportunities presented by natural resources that spawn around Muzarabani’s sphere of influence.
Datco Group is a local property developer established in 2007 and it is currently carrying out a housing scheme in Muzarabani district.
It also has several housing projects under its name in Marondera, Kadoma, Gweru, Zvimba and Harare.
Mashonaland Central Datco group manager Mangarai Manengureni, said it is virtually important to the future of Zimbabwe to put into context areas like Mavhuradonha wilderness so that visitors will experience new things that the country can offer.
“The geographical location of the area makes it a potential tourist destination as it is located between the magnificent Mavhuradonha Mountains and the mighty Zambezi River.
“Unfortunately, Mavhuradonha is a wilderness wildlife area that is little known to most locals and visitors.
“To those people who wish to travel and stay in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business and other purposes Muzarabani is a must,” said Manengureni.
He said it has been proven that tourism is an important and vital tool that can make it possible for Muzarabani to attain town status.
“In light of the upcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia this year, there is a need to put into context Muzarabani which has not been explored.
“Tourists will definitely experience the benefits of visiting the area and explore what else Zimbabwe can offer. It is under this backdrop that as Datco Group we are going to ensure infrastructural development in the area and fully prepare the place to serve as a tourist destination,” he said.
Apart from tourism Muzarabani community can also harness the availability of fertile soils and the prevailing favourable conditions for cattle ranching and cotton farming to boost agricultural production.
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