Commission to lease out forestry assets in Mat’land

THE Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe is seeking to lease out several of its forest resources for commercial investment purposes in Matabeleland North province and Chipinge to locals and international bidders.

The commission is seeking investments in consumptive and non-consumptive safaris, non-consumptive tourism, and the construction of a business complex.

In a bidding notice, the Forestry Commission said areas available for investment include Sijarira Forest in Binga measuring 24 600 hectares. It is earmarked for consumptive or non-consumptive safaris.

Binga has immense tourism potential with untapped resources and the potential to resuscitate the country’s leisure sector and drive the economy if efforts are made to exploit existing opportunities.

According to the notice, the area gets a trophy hunting quota from National Parks.

Main game species found include elephant, leopard, kudus, impala, 10 warthogs, crocodiles, and bushbucks.

Gwampa Forest located in Nkayi/Lupane district measuring 47 000ha main attractive species include elephants, elands and zebras.

Other areas designated for investments include Mvutu Forest located along Victoria Falls- Bulawayo highway, Ubuso Block B, Tshukela Pan in Sikumi Forest in Dete and Lupane Dam site in Gwayi Forest.

The notice added that a Gwayi Food court area close to Lupane State University is up for grabs and suitable for a business complex investment.-ebusinessweekly