BY WAKUMA KUDAMA
Prime Minister Abiy launched the “Dine for Ethiopia” fundraising program last August to raise 3 billion Birr to fund tourism projects in Gorgora, Koysha and Wenchi. It’s believed that the projects will result in high value of ecological and environmental protection besides improving Ethiopia’s influence in global tourism.
Implementing these eco-tourism projects helps the nation to progress in sustainable ecological development. When they are executed, they can benefit local communities, protect the environment, and be economically viable.
Gorgora is located in the Amhara Regional State; Wenchi in the Oromia Regional State; and Koysha in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State.
Visiting the site of one of the projects, Wenchi Crater Lake, The Ethiopian Herald approached Waquma Ango, the administrator of Wenchi Kebele. Waquma discusses the community’s response to the project and the unique features of the lake. Excerpts:
Would you describe Wenchi Lake?
The lake was created as a result of volcanic eruptions; it has hot springs, rivers and waterfalls. We believe it’s a paradise on earth. There are plenty of aquatic birds and plants, eucalyptus tree, olea Africana, variety of birds such as dusky turtle dove, red cheeked cordon blue, pied crow, thick billed raven, vultures, marabou stork, starling, ducks and endemic Hygenia Abyssinia (Kosso) besides the wild animals – including bushbuck, colobus monkeys and others.
What would you like to tell any potential tourist about Wenchi Lake?
It is found about 150 km away from Addis Ababa. You can come to Wenchi two ways from Addis Ababa either passing through Woliso or Ambo. Arriving at Haro Wenchi town, about 20 km away from the lake, you will see the fantastic beauty of the lake.
You will enjoy watching unique shaped and crystal clear water lying in a deep basin and circular slops covered with greenery alpine vegetation that gives astonishing attractiveness. It is an ideal site that is endowed with hot springs, the waterfall gushing out just from the foot of the hill and many other eye-catching scenes.
We would like visitors to come and enjoy the unique features of the lake. We hope that they would appreciate a pretty appeal to tourist activities and recreations like hiking, boating, canoeing, horse riding, forest exploring and the like.
What do you expect from the ‘Dine for Ethiopia’ project and what is the response of your community?
The community is so optimistic about the project initiated by Prime Minister Abiy. Every member of the community is ready to contribute their share for the successful implementation of the project.
Premier’s visit has brought unprecedented hope and motivation for our community. As the community was waiting for such investment, the project is a solution for our quest for developing our natural resources. For years, the area was forgotten though it is endowed with extraordinary natural resources. Over the three decades, some local and international investors have been promising us to invest in Wonchi Crater Lake; but could not make any progress so far except insignificant beginnings.
Now, the appointed time has come for our people. We believe when the project is fully implemented it will bring a lot of changes in the livelihood of our community. We have several youths who are seeking jobs; we have also high potential natural resources that ought to be cultivated for the benefits of our society.
What message would you like to convey?
We want to see the project completed per its plan. The community became so optimistic when Dr. Abiy held discussion with them and gave us several hopes. We hope we shall see the fulfillment of all the promises.
In connection to this, the project ought to be environment friendly; it must not violate the ecosystem we inherited from our forefathers and fathers. We have carefully preserved its ecological legacy.
Above all, we want to be sure that our community will fully benefit from the project; the implementation should be consistent with our culture, norms and circumstances.
The Ethiopian Herald January 24/2021
