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Natasha Kokai Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has committed to working with relevant partners in developing the Joshua Nkomo Heritage Trails into a fully-fledged tourism product.

Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Joshua Nkomo Day Commemorations — Joshua Nkomo Legacy Walk and Umdala Wethu Dance held in Bulawayo on Monday, ZTA acting chief executive Mrs Rita Likukuma) said when properly packaged, trails can benefit communities as they often lead to the heart of communities as is the case of the Joshua Nkomo Heritage Trails.

“My team is on the ground and they have taken note of how to develop this product, we will reconvene with the Trust to map a solid way forward to bring this dream to life.

“We remain committed working with other relevant partners in developing these trails until they are a fully-fledged tourism product,” she said.

Mrs Likukuma said Zimbabwe’s history cannot be complete without bringing up the value that our founding fathers added to the country.

She said ZTA has the task of developing products that have capacity to boost product offering in the tourism industry.

“As a nation we value our founding fathers for the role they played in liberating our great nation, hence our story as a nation can never be complete without their mention.

“Part of our role as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is to identify and develop tourism products that have potential to enhance our product offering, hence in 2018, we partnered with the Trust in launching The Joshua Nkomo Tourism Heritage Trails,” she said.

Heritage and tourism trails are routes that seek to take one on a historical journey around a particular event or person.

Trails have become a new phenomenon not only in Africa, but globally.

Zimbabwe was listed by a notable travel organisation, The Lonely Planet, as the number one tourism destination to visit in 2019.

Mrs Likukuma said ZTA is “challenged to do better” so that the country does not only maintain its position as a must visit, but also ensure that the anticipated influx of domestic and international tourists comes, “we have a diverse tourism product offering”.