COULD BIRCHENOUGH BRIDGE BECOME A TOURISM DESTINATION INSTEAD OF JUST A CROSSING?

A thought-provoking idea is circulating on social media, proposing that Zimbabwe’s iconic Birchenough Bridge be transformed from a simple river crossing into a fully-fledged riverside tourism destination. The proposal was shared by Welcome Simango, writing from England, whose reflections on how European rivers are managed as community and tourism assets sparked the idea for a similar approach on the Save River.

Birchenough Bridge, completed in 1935 by the firm Dorman Long, spans the Save River in Manicaland Province and remains one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable engineering landmarks. At the time of its completion it ranked among the world’s longest single-arch suspension bridges, and its design closely resembles Sydney Harbour Bridge, both having been designed by engineer Ralph Freeman. Today, the bridge serves as a vital link between Chipinge and Buhera districts, connecting Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands with the Lowveld.

In his social media post, Simango explained that his years living in England have reshaped how he views rivers. There, he noted, many rivers running through towns and villages are carefully managed, becoming hubs for boating, fishing, walking, dining, and local commerce rather than simply channels for water to pass through.

Applying that thinking to Birchenough, Simango proposed a modest, targeted intervention rather than any large-scale alteration of the Save River. His suggestion centres on a single carefully managed stretch, perhaps one or two kilometres in length, where a low weir — distinct from a full dam — could stabilise water levels and create a calmer, more scenic riverside setting.

The potential benefits, according to the post, are wide-ranging. They include boat rides and canoeing, fishing tourism, riverfront cafés and restaurants, weekend markets for local traders, picnic parks and walking trails, camping and family getaways, and educational school trips focused on geography, ecology, and local history. The idea also points to potential support for nearby farming communities and improved environmental conditions along the riverbank, alongside new business and employment opportunities for local families.

Simango further suggested that such a development could complement other attractions in the area, including nearby hot springs, giving travellers more reasons to linger in the region rather than simply passing over the bridge en-route elsewhere.

The post, shared on his Facebook page under a segment focused on Mutare, poses the idea as an open question to the public: whether transforming a section of the Save River near Birchenough could help establish one of Zimbabwe’s most distinctive rural tourism destinations, or whether it remains simply an ambitious idea worth further debate.

While no formal proposal has yet been submitted to local or national authorities, the concept has begun generating discussion online about the untapped tourism potential of Zimbabwe’s rural waterways and historic infrastructure.

While no formal proposal has yet been submitted to local or national authorities, the concept has begun generating discussion online about the untapped tourism potential of Zimbabwe’s rural waterways and historic infrastructure.