eBusiness Weekly
Tawanda Musarurwa
Hauna Growth Point, located in Honde Valley about 80 kilometres north of Mutare, touches in some way every aspect of tourism activity in the Honde Valley. But a sight-see of the growth point shows that there are more benefits that could accrue to this little area from tourism.
Poverty in the Hauna area, extending to the basin, continues to be a major setback to sustainable development in the area and a snap survey reveals that the majority of households have incomes that fall below a level that satisfies basic needs.
This is despite the fact that tourism activities are so rampant in surrounding areas.
Or is it this poverty that the tourists would like to see?
Township tourism basically entails people visiting townships or ‘slum’ neighbourhoods in order to observe life in this situation. In South Africa, for example, international tours of townships have grown so popular since the 1990s, with Cape Town alone now attracting upwards of 300 000 tourists each year to view the slums.
But if I remember very well, in 2011 the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority said they were launching the township tourism concept as a strategy to ensure that these communities get an opportunity to accrue economic benefits from tourist activities that occur in their domain.
Using the latter conceptualisation, the dormancy of Hauna Growth Point could be a thing of the past if locals are allowed and capacitated to harness the opportunities around them.
Next to the Growth Point are the Mutarazi Falls, and the Mahwemasimike Mountains which are beautiful to watch for tourists. Then there are the Eastern Highlands Tea, Katiyo, Rumbizi and Chiwira tea Estates that are close to the village.
Blessed with such extensive tourism activities and stunning environs, Hauna Growth Point however remains your typical Zimbabwean growth point: ordinary, semi-rural folk running around trying to irk out a living.
The men relieve stresses of that hectic life in beerhalls over the weekends, anxious over the coming of a new week; the women are busy being women; the youth act out a dearth of our traditional ways and tots enjoy life unfettered. That’s Hauna for you.
Although seemingly having in-depth knowledge of their area, the sights and the recreational activities it offers, locals of the area seem to perceive tourism in the area as some sort of preserve for the “whites”.
Said one of the locals, Mr Ivan Mushwe:
“Yes, the white guys came here especially during the weekends mainly for water activities in the Nyawamba Dam, white-water rafting in the Pungwe River and viewing of the Mutarazi Falls. They tend to flood in especially during holidays.
“Myself I have been to all these areas but we’re more busy (sic) looking for money,” he said.
I think: “Seriously?”
There are, however, a few locals who are very excitable at the mention of the word “tourism”, and these are mostly those who are employed by the few tourism and resort businesses in the area.
“You should come back here in December, the atmosphere will be electric. Tourists seem to take over, and over there on the edge of the Nyawamba Dam they park their cars.
“You’ll see some incredible motor-bike racing on the dust roads and speed-boat racing in the dam. It’s also our time to make a little money,” said Trust Manhere, a young man employed with one of the exclusive lodges in the Eastern Highlands.
Hauna Growth Point has all the basic social and economic amenities (albeit a bit derelict) that could result in it benefiting from tourist activity in the Honde Valley and Nyanga areas.
It has hotels, supermarkets and home industries, a hospital and Government institutions.
It promises to be an important economic hub in the Mutasa Rural District, but promise is all you get at the moment.
