Dahlia (Zimbabwe)

Dahlia is a small, desolate place at an altitude of 992 m in the middle of a deserted area in the province of Matabeleland North in Zimbabwe . The place is located in the valley of the Gwayi River, a touristic important elephant and buffalo hunting area, and near the Hwange National Park . There is a small airport nearby.

The Gwayi Valley is similar to the Lions Den area of one of the wildlife farms. Many of them were expropriated and now decimated by soldiers so that only 20 percent of the former antelope population is left. On the other hand, the big game reproduces beyond measure. The place Dahlia therefore stands for the wildlife and animal protection policy in Zimbabwe at the moment. Since the wildlife farms no longer exist in the Gwayital, the people there have been unemployed. No agriculture is possible in this otherwise dry area. The wild animals, for their part, have long since left the national park and the enclosures due to a lack of supplies and terrorize the villages in their search for water. The number of deaths is increasing.

There are rich clay pits around the place, which have been exploited for over 1,000 years. Although pottery such as iron casting is governed by strict rules and taboos, it has now been possible to set up ceramic workshops, introduce the potter's wheel and train 16 potters who now supply all of Zimbabwe with tea services and animal sculptures. Burning is done electrically and with wood. The market success is so remarkable that the Gwayi River Pottery has a good chance of becoming the second important line of business alongside wild animal breeding.

Coordinates: 18 ° 37 ′  S , 27 ° 10 ′  E