New resort town for Tugwi-Mukosi Dam 

Source: New resort town for Tugwi-Mukosi Dam – herald

Lincoln Towindo

A NEW ecologically smart resort town is set to be established near Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in Masvingo province, as part of a broader master plan to unlock economic opportunities in the region.

The 560-hectare town will serve as a hub for tourism, agriculture and industry, aiming to attract both local and international investors. The proposed town is a key feature of the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan, a comprehensive 20-year development blueprint unveiled by the Government last week. It is open for public input until June 25.

Developed by the Zimbabwe State Universities Consortium — led by the University of Zimbabwe and the National University of Science and Technology — in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Authority and the rural district councils (RDCs) of Masvingo and Chivi, the master plan is geared towards harnessing the economic, agricultural and tourism potential of Zimbabwe’s largest inland dam.

“One of the key proposals in this concept master plan is the establishment of a new ecological resort town,” reads the plan.

“The town centre is to be in the south-eastern part of the planning area, about 4,5km from the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in Ward 28 of Chivi RDC. An ecological resort town has been proposed to be developed on a grazing area covering about 560ha in area extent.”

The site, formerly used for grazing, was selected using a multi-criteria analysis through a geographic information system that considered proximity to the dam, accessibility, topography and current settlement patterns.

“Three candidate sites were considered, but based on settlement density, two sites located close to Gororo BC were eliminated in favour of the proposed site with a sparse settlement. Previously the site was grazing land and the few settlements observed are relatively new, indicating recent migration.

“In contrast, the other candidate sites had a long history of permanent human settlements characterised by family burial places,” reads the plan. The plan proposes a wide range of infrastructure projects, including a modern water treatment plant near the dam to supply potable water to the new town, the Ngundu Rural Service Centre and surrounding irrigation schemes. Additionally, a pipeline will channel water to revive the dormant Banga Irrigation Scheme, boosting agricultural productivity in the region.

Transport infrastructure will also receive significant upgrades, connecting Tugwi-Mukosi to Masvingo, Great Zimbabwe and Buffalo Range Airport.  A new bridge will improve access for eastern communities, facilitating the movement of goods and people. The plan also proposes a 15-megawatt hydroelectric plant and a 20-megawatt floating solar farm to meet the region’s energy needs using renewable sources.

“To contain the anticipated housing demand, it is proposed that the combination authority focuses on the provision of infrastructure and service land at Ngundu Township and the resort centre and encourage partnerships (public-private partnerships) where this is viable in the provision of infrastructure.

“Underutilised land at Ngundu Township should be rezoned and subdivided to encourage intensification, densification and regeneration.The combination master plan authority should encourage the development of flats and cluster houses at Ngundu Township and at the resort centre. National policy encouraging vertical development should be considered,” reads the plan.

Funding

A diverse financing model will support the ambitious initiative, combining Government grants, public-private partnerships and international investment.

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion is expected to provide seed capital, while sector ministries and rural district councils will implement projects aligned with their respective mandates.

“Financing the implementation of the master plan will depend first and foremost on the support of the Ministry of Finance, which provides grants to support the executive authority and to provide seed capital for priority projects,” reads the plan.

“All sector ministries with activities included in the master plan implementation matrix will get their share through the annual budgets and engage the executive authority of Tugwi-Mukosi in the detailed implementation of projects.

“The same logic will apply to the rural district councils within the master plan area. The executive authority of Tugwi-Mukosi has to aggressively market the potential projects and work closely with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), private sector banks, international organisations to support the emerging economic zone developing around the dam.”

Tourist attractions

Among the proposed tourist attractions is a 313-hectare golf course near the town centre and Tugwi River to boost sports tourism.

Other recreational offerings include speed boating, canoeing, angling and clubbing services at the dam.

“A 313-ha golf course adjacent to the new town centre and Tugwi River is proposed to boost sports tourism,” the plan reads. “This will cater for visitors into the area, enhancing the quality of their stay and promote sport.

“Speed boating, canoeing, angling and clubbing services are also proposed at the dam to provide water-based recreation.

“The authority should establish a botanic garden in the buffer zone that is expected to have diverse animal species alongside the pristine natural vegetation as a tourist attraction.

“There shall also be the development of a museum on Chidzidzi Mountain, lodges, hotels, information centre and boat cruising sites and host tourist-related activities.

“Thus, the dam is expected to blend well with existing tourist nodes, including Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Gonarezhou, Lake Mutirikwi, Mushandike Safaris, hotels in Masvingo City and the Ancient Lodge in Masvingo Rural District, thereby creating a regional tourism belt.”