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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
BINGA district in Matabeleland North province could be sitting on millions of dollars in untapped tourism opportunities, as it has a sand beach that is not being utilised on the Zambezi River.

With investment, the beach can be commercialised and become Binga’s tourism draw card, the same way the Falls are to Victoria Falls.

Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) co-manage the place, which lies less than two kilometres down a steep slope from the Binga Aerodrome.

Business Chronicle visited the area on Saturday and observed some abandoned structures that look like were once used as chalets and only roofless walls are remaining.

One has to endure walking down the steep slope along a meandering rough and rocky road, with some portions surfaced with concrete as no vehicle can reach the river bank unless if the path is rehabilitated.

The sand beach is located on the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi River between the mountains. It stretches for about 200 metres from the current edge of water to the river bank at the foot of a hill, and is bounded by rocky parts on the eastern and western sides, where it stretches for about 300 metres.

Two groups of youth numbering about 20 were playing in the water, some of them braaing, showing the potential of the place as a leisure centre.

A number of fishing boats were in the water, also showing potential for boat cruises as they dock near the beach.

BRDC chief executive, Mr Joshua Muzamba, said plans were underway to develop the place into a recreational area.

“There are plans to develop the place. Initially there was an investor who was leasing it and had built some structures intending to make it a fully developed recreational centre but later left.

“We have finalised the process of arranging for getting new investors and probably after next month we may advertise for investors. We have some that have approached us but we have to go through the legal process and advertise,” said Mr Muzamba.

He said the place has the potential to be Binga’s cash cow as it can be utilised for recreation with sunset cruises, skiing, beach volleyball, fishing and other activities possible.

“The place’s proximity to the aerodrome makes it accessible to tourists from any part of Zimbabwe and even international visitors who would be touring any part of the country and want to be at the beach. They can fly to Binga and enjoy,” he highlighted.

“There is a lot of potential for the beach to become one of the key tourism activities for Binga. We have a lot of tourists who come and book at hotels here and once this is developed they can have somewhere to spend time,” added Mr Muzamba.

Some of the youth spoken to at the beach said there was limited risk of crocodiles, which are kept away by the waves although they sometimes come out to bask in the sun on the sand especially towards sunset.

“We only swim as far as 10 or 15 metres into the river because we know the crocodiles are not far. But they don’t usually come closer because the waves are active all the time,” said one of the lads. — @ncubeleon