Rhodwins

From Great North Road

Rhodwins - the story.

Rhodwins.

Rhodwins was exactly 12 miles from Mufulira on the Kitwe Road. The turn-off was just after the railway crossing and before the Kafue Bridge. The property was acquired by my father in the late 40's as a recreational plot. The only building on it was an old Rondawel house which overlooked the Kafue. The dam was non-existent then.

Rhodwins.

In 1953 or so, the Slimes dam at Mufulira burst and the sludge and slime came down the Kafue for miles. The house was washed away, and the pigs and poultry which had been added in the early years were also lost to that disaster. Shortly after that my father dammed off a stream, I think the Kafironda stream, which ran through the property. That first dam wall burst as it had not been cored properly. A second dam was constructed. I know there was no earthmoving equipment, it was all done with manual labour and a Willy's Jeep.

Rhodwins.

The dam was stocked with bream and in late 1956 the fishing out there became worthwhile. One of my father's angling friends suggested charging an entry fee and the rest, as the saying goes, is history .......

Rhodwins.

The Pleasure Resort - Rhodwins (Rhodesia/Winter) opened to the public in 1957. As many of you remember there were braai and picnic areas; the famous foofie slide, a raft in the centre of the dam and tubes and kayaks for hire. There was a childrens' playground, donkey rides and bird aviaries with some wonderful imported birds.

The ape mentioned by Linda was my personal pet. It's mother had died in a bushfire and I rescued and bottle-fed it when it was really tiny. Refreshments were sold at the Tea Room. My mother was always amused that the bikers who came on the Sunday breakfast run always drank Coke with their hamburgers. That must have been a modern fancy then!

In the mid seventies Rhodwins was sold, and a chapter of our lives ended. I'm sure many recall happy times spent there from that era of our lives.

Melanie Bousfield

Chingola, Zambia - Sunday, March 11, 2001

The Famed Rhodwins Donkey..led into the winners enclosure by my Grandpa, with my sister the jockey.