Agroecology gives birth to ecotourism

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

THE practice of Agroecology has given birth to ecotourism in Chimanimani. This has been proved by a self-help organisation named Participatory Organic Research, Extension & Training (PORET) which is benefitting from an arrangement by Zimbabwe German Society to bring tourists from abroad to Chimanimani.

Recently, some tourists from Germany visited PORET Training Centre in Chimanimani. The group was led by a German couple that was appointed as Zimbabwe’s tourism ambassadors, Dr Reignold Hemker and his wife Rev Kerstin Hemker.

Speaking during the tour, Rev Kerstin said that Chimanimani is a tourist destination of choice.

“As Zimbabwe German Society, we always convince people to come to Zimbabwe. They might also like South Africa or Namibia but we always say Zimbabwe is better. So we promote tourism from Germany to Zimbabwe. We bring tourist to Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Masvingo but we will always pass through Chimanimani before we complete our tours,” she said.

PORET Training Centre is home of Agroecology in Chimanimani West where the institution conserves the environment and also offer cultural tourism.