Maximising the use of thermal springs for local economic development in rural Zambia: a case study of Chinyunyu thermal springs, Rufunsa district

Abstract

Zambia is rich in natural, environmental, cultural and heritage resources. However, full optimisation of these resources to the benefit of the local communities that host them remains a challenge. A case in point is the thermal springs that are dotted around the country, mostly in rural areas, that have not been fully and sustainably utilised to the benefit of the local communities. Of particular interest is the Chinyunyu thermal springs, a critical resource, but under-utilised. As a result, the locals in Chinyunyu Village have remained unfairly “trapped” in a vicious cycle of high poverty. The main aim of this study was to explore the use of Chinyunyu thermal springs as an economic input to assist the cause of local economic development. Resting on the pragmatic, interpretivist, and constructivist research paradigms, this study employed a mixed methods convergent research design triangulated with multiple data sources. A sample size of 139 (n=139) individuals was purposively selected from the local authorities and community actors. A survey, key informant interviews, and two focus group discussions were conducted to collect data. Data collected was statistically and thematically analysed. The study concluded that the local authority in Chinyunyu Village has failed to sustainably exploit the exciting heritage and natural resources within its locality, the Chinyunyu thermal springs. Results from the study revealed that the Chinyunyu thermal springs have remained underdeveloped and underutilised as such, failed to significantly contribute to the well-being of the community members in Chinyunyu Village. Evidence from this study revealed a positive and significant association of local community participation in decision making, decentralisation of power and authority, infrastructure, and exploitation of local natural resources to local economic development of the Chinyunyu Village. The study proposes to commercialise and develop the Chinyunyu thermal springs into a community-based tourism resort as an ideal local economic development strategy. A sustainable commercial model that could be adopted by the thermal springs was therefore developed. Furthermore, the study proposes to decentralise

the management of the Chinyunyu thermal springs, enhance local participation in decision making, provide basic infrastructure and formulate a local economic development policy framework for the municipal council.

Dziko la Zambia lili ndi chuma chambiri cha chilengedwe, cha chikhalidwe ndi cholowa. Komabe, kugwiritsa ntchito mokwanira izi kuti zithandizire madera amene zipezekamo kumakhalabe kovuta. Chitsanzo chabwino ndi akasupe amadzi otentha amene amapezeka kuzungulira dziko lonseli makamaka kumidzi amene sanagwiritsidwe ntchito mokwanira kuti athandize anthu am'deralo. Chimene chititsa chidwi kwambiri, ndi akasupe a madzi otentha a Chinyunyu, gwero lalikulu, limene silikugwiritsidwa ntchito. Zotsatira zake, anthu am'mudzi wa Chinyunyu adatsalira "otsekerezedwa" mu umphawi wowopsa. Cholinga chachikulu cha phunziro ili chinali, kufufuza ndikuwunika mwamene akasupe amadzi otentha a Chinyunyu angagwiritsire ntchito ngati chuma chothandizira pakukweza chuma cha dziko la Zambia mdera la Chinyunyu. Kutengera mafotokozedwe a zochitika, machitidwe ofufuza za ntchito ndi kufufuza kwa zinthu, fufuzo ili lidagwiritsa ntchito njira zosakanikirana ndi anthu 139 (n=139) amene amasonkhanitsidwa mwadala kuchokera mu anthu ammidzimo, oyang'anira maboma, mabungwe azipembedzo, magulu azaboma ndi mabungwe aboma. Kufufuza, zoyankhulana komanso zokambirana zamagulu awiri (2) zidachitika kuti zisonkhanitse zambiri zokhudza izi. Zambiri zomwe zasonkhanitsidwa zidasanthulidwa mwa ziwerengero ndi m'njira imene imakhudzana mithu ya phunziro ili. Pafupifupi, kufufuza uku kudatsimikiza kuti oyang'anira dera m'mudzi wa Chinyunyu alephera kugwiritsa ntchito mwayi wawo kugwiritsa ntchito molimbika cholowa ndi zinthu zachilengedwe mdera lawo, akasupe amadzi otentha a Chinyunyu. Zotsatira za kufufuza uku zawonetsa kuti akasupe amadzi otentha a Chinyunyu akhalabe opanda chitukuko komanso osagwiritsidwa ntchito. Kuphatikiza apo, zachilengedwe zam'derali zalephera kuthandiza kwambiri anthu ammudzi wa Chinyunyu. Umboni wofufuzawu udawulula mgwirizano wabwino komanso wopindulitsa wa anthu ammudzi pakupanga zisankho, kugawa mphamvu ndi ulamuliro, zomangamanga ndikugwiritsa ntchito zachilengedwe za m’derali pakukula kwachuma mdera la Chinyunyu.

Fufuzo ili likufuna kutsatsa ndi kupanga akasupe amadzi otentha a Chinyunyu kupita kumalo opitilira zokopa alendo ngati njira yabwino yopititsira patsogolo chuma. Kuphatikiza apo, kufufza uku kuwonetsa kuti kasamalidwe ka akasupe amadzi otentha a Chinyunyu apititsa patsogolo, kulimbikitsanso kutenga nawo mbali kwa amene akugwira tchito popanga zisankho, kupereka zida zoyambira ndikukhazikitsa mfundo zachitukuko chamaboma am'deralo.

Icalo ca Zambia calikwata sana ubunonshi mu filengwa-na-Lesa, intambi ne fishilano. Nangu cibe ifyo imibomfeshe ya ifi fintu ukufikapo pakuti fingaleta ubunonshi ku bekala muli ishi ncende caliba ubwafya ubwakulisha. Umulandu umo untu twingaloleshapo tumfukumfuku twa menshi ayakaba nangu utupiisha utwashinguluka icalo ca Zambia makamaka muncende shamu mishi uto utushabomfiwa ukufikapo mukuleta ubunonshi ku bekala calo. Akapisha kamo pali utu, ni ako akaku Chinyunyu, akashabomfiwa ukufika ilelo. Napamulandu wa ici, abekala calo baku Chinyunyu bacilli “balikatwa” mubupina ubwabipisha. Umulimo uukalamba uwa ili isambililo, kufwailisha nokumona ifyo akapisha kaku Chinyunyu kengabomfiwa nge ntuntuko ya bunonshi bwa calo ca Zambia nobuyantanshi ubwingacitika mu mushi wa Chinyunyu. Ukushintilila pa bulondoloshi bwa ficitwa, imibombele ne mifwilishishe ya fintu, uku kufwailisha kwabomfeshe inshila yamifwilishishe iyakusankanya umwasangilwe abantu abali 139 (n=139) abasalilwe ukufuma mu bekala calo abakuli iyi ncende, intungulushi sha cikaya, ifilonganino fya mapepo, utubungwe twa bekala calo elyo fiputulwa fya buteeko. Ukufwailisha, ukwipushanya pamo na mabumba yakulanshanya yabili yalicitilwe pakukolonganika ifishinka. Ifishinka ifyakolongashiwe fyalipitulwikwemo mu fipendo namu fikomo. Pali fyonse, uku kufwailisha kwasondolwele ukutila abekala calo bamu mushi wa Chinyunyu balifilwa ukubomfya ubusuma bwa fintu ifisangwa mu ncende yabo, utumfukumfuku twa menshi ayakaba. Ifyasangilwe muli uku kufwailisha fyasokolwele ukutila utumfukumfuku twa menshi twaikalafye ukwabula ubuyantanshi kabili ukwabula ukubomfiwa. Mukulundapo, ici cilengwa-na-Lesa califilwa ukulundako ubunonshi no buyantanshi bwa bekalacalo bamu mushi wa Chinyunyu. Ifishinka ukufuma kuli uku kufwailisha fyalisokolola ukuti paliko ubwampano bumo pakati ka kuibimbamo kwa bekala calo mu kupanga kwa masalo, ukupelwa amaka elyo no butungulushi, ifikulwa nokubomfya kwa filengwa-na Lesa pakuleta ubuyantanshi bwamu mushi wa Chinyunyu.

Uku kufwailisha kulefwaya ukuti kwingaba ukwalula utumfukumfuku twa menshi ayakaba ayaku Chinyunyu ukuti tube twabunonshi ubwakulaletako abatandashi bakutamba ifilengwa-na-Lesa ico icingawamya ubwikalo bwa iyi ncende. Mukulunapo, uku kufwailisha kuletontonkanya ukupeela abekala calo amaka yabutungulushi bwa utu tumfukumfuku twaku Chinyunyu, ukubimbamo abekala calo mukupanga amasalo, ukukulako ifikuulwa elyo nokupanga ifikomo fyabuyantanshi ifya buteeko bwa cikaya.