Binga

Binga

Binga District is a district of Zimbabwe in southern Africa. It is located in Matabeleland North just south of Kariba Lake, across the lake from Zambia It lies along the southern Zambezi Escarpment. The Tonga people inhabit the area. Binga is a fishing, boating and cultural centre towards the western end of Lake Kariba's southern shore. It is reachable via a tar road which turns off the main Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road near Dete/Hwange. It is home to about 4,327 people and the population comprises of both sexes of different nationalities although the majority are local Zimbabweans.

Settlements

The town of Binga is the largest settlement. It lies on the southeastern shore of Lake Kariba. Most of it was constructed to rehouse the BaTonga people whose homeland was flooded by the creation of the Kariba reservoir in the late 1950s.The Chibwatatata Hot Springs lie near the town at what is known as Rest Camp area. It is a prime tourist area and was previously a shrine for local Tonga people under the leadership of one Maalila. Maalila was possessed by mpande (muzimu wamvula). He led rainmaking ceremonies at the hot springs. There are also settlements under the following areas and chiefs.

Economy and development

Binga District is a rural district that is significantly underdeveloped, with only gravel roads, which are car hostile, especially during the rainy season. It is also one of the most sparsely populated districts of the country.

Binga District is famous for its growing of cannabis, known locally as dagga or mbanje. The consumption of cannabis in the Binga District has been described as traditional since pre-colonial times, and is considered by people from without to be an integral part of the Tonga culture. However, it must be pointed out that consumption of cannabis is often considered a devious pursuit especially, since 1955, in light of federal laws to control the importation, exportation, production, possession, sale, distribution and use of dangerous drugs, despite its use as a traditional medicine. There is a wrong impression among people from the rest of Zimbabwe that people from Binga are legally entitled to plant, harvest, process and smoke cannabis freely.