The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara recently in CHIMANIMANI
THE tourism and business sectors in Chimanimani, which were battered by the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai and are reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, are now on the rebound.
In business, Chimanimani presents immense investment opportunities in timber, energy and agriculture, among others.
In terms of tourism, Chimanimani, which is famed for its breathtaking natural beauty, is one of the country’s prime tourist destinations.
Its rolling mountains, chiefly among them the magnificent Chimanimani Mountains, have often drawn adventurous travellers.
Hiking, rock climbing, camping, bird watching and swimming in crystal clear pools and natural sparkling waterfalls, are some of the activities that have endeared the destination to tourists.
The Chimanimani National Park, natural reserve which houses the Bridal Veil Falls, used to be a perfect place for picnics and braais, with golfers doing their thing at the local Nine-hole Golf Course.
However, Cyclone Idai and recently Covid-19, slowed down Chimanimani.
All these activities came to an abrupt end on March 15, 2019 when Cyclone Idai induced floods and landslides ravaged Chimanimani resulting in the destruction of homes, roads and loss of lives.
The district was the most affected by the cyclone, with an estimated 50 000 households suffering the brunt of this natural phenomenon.
Two years after Cyclone Idai and several months under the coronavirus induced lockdown, the Chimanimani community is slowly coming out of its shell.
Mandla Mataure, the general manager of the Chimanimani Hotel, is optimistic that the tourism sector in Chimanimani will, within two years, return to its more fruitful years.
“We are still in recovery mode with very few arrivals. Save for the Cyclone Idai related conferences, tourist arrivals are very low,” notes Mataure.
He is, however, optimistic that the tourism sector in Chimanimani is set for a rebirth.
“Deliberate efforts are being made to lure the tourists back with the focus being domestic tourism. Plans are underway to reintroduce things that attract tourists to this area like hiking trails and the Chimanimani Arts Festival,” Mataure said.
He said the rehabilitation of roads is a major boost to tourism.
“. . . as long as some of the people affected by the cyclone are still in tents, the atmosphere will remain tense. The relocation of the victims will surely act as a catalyst to a return to our glory days,” said Mataure.
In an effort to market the business activities in the district, the Chimanimani Business Community (CBC) recently organised a business expo where stakeholders came together and shared information of how they can move forward.
“The expo provided a platform and an interactive environment for academia, farmers, the private sector, and development partners to showcase cutting edge innovations, business related products and services,” Mataure said.
“The expo brought together business people and other interested stakeholders under one banner to promote our various products and services to the rest of Zimbabwe and beyond.
“A conference was held on the side lines of the expo and participants networked and exchanged notes”.
Held at the Chimanimani Hotel, exhibitors included farmers, development partners, private sector institutions, civil society and the community at large.
The expo was graced by officials from the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
Collen Sibanda, the vice chairman of the Chimanimani Tourist Association, said efforts are being made to draw tourists to Chimanimani.
