Parks Authority Completes Road, Builds 3 Lodges

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: 27 October 2006

Author: Anon

THE National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has completed the construction of three lodges and a 170km road that links centres in Gonarezhou National Park.

The move to refurbish infrastructure in the Gonarezhou National Park is in line with Government's efforts to develop the national park which is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

In an interview, Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Retired Major Edward Mbewe said the authority completed the construction of three lodges at Simuwini Rest Camp and the refurbishment and electrification of some chalets that are to be turned into lodges.

"This is a major investment in the park as the road will make travelling easier for tourists visiting the Gonarezhou National Park. It will also enable them to move easily from one centre to the other within the park", Rtd Major Mbewe said.

The authority was putting finishing touches to the 40km road stretch that links Chipinda Pools and Chilojo Cliffs.

Last week the authority visited Gonarezhou National Park to assess developments made so far and to brief the national taskforce on Tourism, Image and Communication on their progress.

"We wanted the taskforce to have a first hand account of the developments made so far in the Gonarezhou as well as the challenges being faced.

He said lack of resources was hampering the construction of a bridge that would link Gonarezhou and Kruger National parks.

Construction of the bridge is supposed to be a joint effort amongst the three countries involved in the GLTFP and these are South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The bridge is expected to increase tourist inflows from South Africa.

"Tourists will cut down on the period they spend travelling to Zimbabwe via Beitbridge because they will get to Gonarezhou directly from Kruger Park in South Africa.

"Our aim is to meet the 2010 deadline when we expect more tourists to come to Zimbabwe during the World Cup finals in South Africa," said Rtd Major Mbewe. Gonarezhou is the second largest animal sanctuary in Zimbabwe after the Hwange National Park.