By Elliott Siamonga

ZIMBABWE is a rich cultural destination and initiatives to harness and safeguard this heritage must be pursued with diligence, considering the diversity of Zimbabweans.
The launch in October 2012 of the Township Tourism Initiative (TTI) by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) that seeks to recognise and celebrate old homes of prominent pre-and-post-independence nationalists is commendable, but should also open avenues for the dormant ‘community rural tourism’ in Zimbabwe.
The properties targeted under the initiative are houses once occupied by the late Vice-President Cde Joshua Nkomo, former ZANU Chairman Hebert Chitepo and ZANU founder Enos Nkala.
Highfield suburb in Harare where former president Cde Robert Mugabe has a house was chosen to launch this tourism project because of its historical significance in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Like Mbare, Highfield was the bedrock of the liberation struggle.
Besides ZANU being founded there, it was home to many nationalists who eventually led Zimbabwe to attain independence on April 18 1980.
However, the launch of TTI should be used as a benchmark to develop rural-based.
Some rural communities in Southern Africa are managing lucrative township tourism ventures.
Efforts should be put to link tourism to rural development and conservation through the ZTA and other stakeholders such as the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe so that local people can benefit from visitors, while the visitors learn about the local environment and culture.
There are many cultural, historical sites and other places that can unlock tourism revenue for rural communities.
However, failure to market the places has led to the deterioration of these sites as potential tourism ventures.
If given attention, these places and sites can bring advantages to local communities, in income generation through tour companies, selling of souvenirs and local delicacies to tourists.
Although there are several challenges faced by many communal areas such as being remote and inaccessibility, lack of funds and good infrastructure, these can be overcome.
Community-based tourism is a new field and each project needs to be tailored to local priorities.
Communal lands have many attractions to offer and tourists already enjoy nature tourism, white water rafting and canoeing, rock climbing and bathing in natural hot springs.
Other activities include trophy hunting which is considered the ultimate eco-tourism in Southern Africa, and is especially important for rural communities in Zimbabwe, which earn significant revenues from foreign hunters.
Hunters tend to travel in smaller numbers and are usually satisfied with more basic amenities than other tourists hence they have less damaging impact on the environment, while paying higher fees.
The hunters are strictly monitored and have to work within Government approved quotas.
They are usually accompanied by local licenced trophy hunters who are trained in wildlife biology, weapon use and maintenance, motor mechanics and camp maintenance.
Leasing hunting concessions to professional safari operators is the most common and successful way rural communities can gain immediate profits from sharing their land with wildlife.
This also helps in minimising human and wildlife conflicts in communal areas.
Rural communities can also benefit from bird watching which visitors enjoy.
There are over 600 species of birds in Zimbabwe, and most of these are in rural areas.
They range from paradise fly catchers to fish eagles and ostriches.
This is an innovative project which emphasises the spiritual and cultural significance of certain bird species and rural communities would greatly benefit from offering bird watching tours.
Cultural tourism is another area that could be exploited.
Zimbabwe has a diversity of cultures ranging from the BaTongas, Kalangas, Nambyas and Vendas, among others, that are not benefitting from culture tourism.
Tourists experience local cultures through sharing traditional foods, music and lifestyle.
The more adventurous version involves tourists staying in pole and dagga huts, eating local dishes and trying their hand at traditional tasks such as grinding millet, ploughing, fishing and mat making.
Story tellers entertain visitors with local tales and visitors can enjoy traditional dances, millet beer and partake in local festivities.
However, in order to achieve the above, rural communities need to clearly define and secure access to their natural resources, as well as get technical assistance to successfully design and manage community-based tourism.