Beggars on a beach of gold

Tucked between the northern tip of the Midlands’ Gokwe district and the furthest parts of Hurungwe in Mashonaland West province, the Gandavaroyi Falls are rated among Zimbabwe’s most breathtaking natural wonders.

Endowed with rare scenic splendour, gushing waters cascade from a steep waterfall which was sculpted by Mother Nature out of a massive granite outcrop.

Gathering in an underground pool, the water quickly disappears into an underground tunnel before re-emerging downstream.

A large crater, which is bordered on all sides by a steep, rocky cliff, makes Gandavaroyi a nature lover’s paradise.

The history of the falls has always been shrouded in mystery.

According to local folklore, all suspected witches were, during pre-colonial times, thrown into the giant hole, hence the Shona name “Gandavaroyi”.

The Gandavaroyi Falls, if marketed and developed, have the potential to become a major international tourist destination.

Renewable energy experts are on record maintaining that it is possible for a mini-hydro station to be established at the falls.

Once constructed, the experts say, the electricity generated will not only supply Gokwe but would also feed into the national grid.

Players in the tourism industry, chiefly among them the Community Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire), maintains that the Gandavaroyi Falls have the potential to turn the surrounding areas into tourist and business hubs. Despite the fact that the falls have the potential to become a major tourist destination, the rare scenic sight remains one of the country’s least-known travel destinations.

Unlike communities in areas surrounding such tourist attractions as the Great Zimbabwe which are deriving economic benefit from the massive structures, Gokwe villagers are yet to benefit from the close proximity to the falls.

Instead, the area is one of the country’s most underdeveloped, with a very bad road network.

Roads linking Gandavaroyi to Nembudziya Business Centre, about 100 kilometres away, is in a bad state.

A recent visit to the Gandavaroyi area revealed that a lot needs to be done before the area, which was in the past best known for cotton production, becomes a fully-fledged resort and business hub.

Three dilapidated and unfinished structures, which are located in the middle of a dense forest, are the only structures at the Gandavaroyi Falls.

The underdevelopment of the Gandavaroyi area is a perfect example of how natural resources are at times not used to their full socio-economic potential, resulting in the slow development of the areas.

Locals are ruing the missed economic opportunities.

“When it comes to food security, we are fine. But now the problem is that we have nowhere to sell the surplus maize. There is virtually no economic activities here. If only the tourists would come,” Mr Enock Chihiya of Chihiya village, said.

Another villager, Mr Zindoga Mafusire, of Fumise village, who had travelled to Tshoda Business Centre, some 40km away to sell his cotton, said the falls have the potential to become Gokwe’s “economic saviour”.

“We are growing cotton simply because we cannot grow any other cash crops. I am pinning my hopes on the falls. In the past, tourists used to come to this area and we could sell them our wares. Once the roads are rehabilitated, I am sure the tourists will once again flock to Gandavaroyi,” an optimistic Mr Mafusire said.

Gandavaroyi Business Centre, less than 100m from the falls, was practically deserted.

“We are struggling. Business is at an all-time low. We used to have the tourists and the illegal gold panners but now we only have the locals whose wallets are thin,” said Mr Taonga Muronzi, a shop owner.

In the past, illegal gold panners were the shops’ main customers.

The panners have since re-located to Karoi where lucrative gold claims were recently discovered.

Mr Martin Zimbeva, the local councillor, is, however, optimistic that tourist arrivals will increase in the near future.

“Efforts are being made by all stakeholders to develop and market this place. A committee has since been formed and is currently working flat out to make sure that tourism is revived,” Mr Zimbeva said.

Mr Charles Jonga, the Campfire director, said the Gandavaroyi Falls have been earmarked for village and eco-tourism.

He, however, said the lack of funds and the downturn in tourist arrivals resulted in the project suffering a stillbirth.

“This place was earmarked for eco-tourism in 2000 and funds were released towards the construction of basic amenities. We, however, ran out of funds before the completion of the work. The decline in tourist arrivals resulted in the abandonment of the project,” Mr Jonga said.

Mr Jonga, however, said efforts are being made to resuscitate the project.

“We are working on something. Within the next 12 months, we should be able to get to the ground and look at what needs to be done. We are not promising much but we are definitely going to do something within the 12 months,” Mr Jonga said.

Ms Marcia Dube, a travel consultant, said Gandavaroyi Falls are largely inaccessible, a factor she says will affect tourism traffic.

“It is very difficult to offer to tourists Gandavaroyi as a single package. It was going to be easy if the falls were connected by road to major highways that will also link the falls with other tourist attractions such as Binga, Kariba and Chizarira Game Park, among others.”

Mr Jonga shared the same sentiments, adding that if the roads are rehabilitated, the tourists will flock to the falls.

“It is very easy to market the falls. The problem lies with the bad roads. As long as the roads are bad, the tourists will not come,” Mr Jonga said.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority says it is on a drive to market all tourist destinations.

“We have the Destination of the Week where we highlight some of the lesser-known tourist destinations and Gandavaroyi Falls have been highlighted,” ZTA spokesperson Mr Sugar Chagonda said.