Environment
uhera’s
Of Rural B
Farai Matebvu
F
or the second time in as many
years, I have just booked another
trip to the far end of Buhera’s
semi- arid communal lands. A lot of
things have changed for the better and,
of course, an allegedly sacred forest just
close to Bangure High School has partially
depleted, but not to detrimental levels.
Having been fortunate enough to have
a close friend relocated to that part of the
country, I was first encouraged to visit
some years ago, and have not regretted
entreating myself to a fabulous travelling
experience to this most resplendent part
of Manicaland Province. In my traveling
itineraries, I have never repeated the
same holiday.
Page 46
Whilst more than 75 percent of
Buhera is covered by an uninterrupted
stretch of moderate soils for farming,
the most fertile places comprise
Chirozva, Muzokomba, Marambanyika,
Machiragwama, Murambinda,
Gotora
and parts of Birchenough Bridge.
Buhera is not an area where villagers
can largely depend on farming for
survival, but there remain little things
that people cannot resist appreciating.
And one of these is village tourism.
Masasa, layered in typical Epworth
Rock style is Buhera’s best natural
attraction for the local village tourists.
An abundance of high and flat mountains
with huge green trees interlocking
crevices is the main attraction, as you
travel throughout the area.
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Fishing in Ruti Dam has become an
obligatory part of my trips and my first
tiger fish catch is one of my most prized
memories. Before heading off, I was
assured that tiger fish, although belonging
to the same family as the piranhas, is not
known to attack humans.
Any fish, in my opinion, whose teeth are
still clearly visible when its mouth is shut
is not to be sniffed at, and I convinced
myself that the best way to deal with any
potential catch was to get it far enough
out of the water so as to allow me to club
it over the head with a bottle of beer and
not risk getting beaten.
Thankfully, my panicked hollers at
realising I had one on line have been met
with a net and a helping hand on more
than one occasion.
April 2013