Zimbabwe: Border Re-Opening to Boost Tourism Sector

 Victoria Falls — THE re-opening of Zimbabwe borders has excited players in the tourism sector who say the move would allow free movement of tourists and boost their operations.

The tourism sector has been the hardest hit industry worldwide following imposition of travel restrictions as countries reacted to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Like many parts of the world Zimbabwe's border entry points remained closed to the public while prohibitive PCR test requirements and quarantine terms restricted tourists from travelling.

However, the Cabinet on Tuesday resolved that all borders be opened after the country successfully contained the fourth wave of Covid-19 that was fuelled by the Omicron variant.

In a post-Cabinet briefing, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said when Cabinet adjourned on December 14, 2021, the country was in the midst of the fourth wave with an average of 4 014 cases per day.

The new cases now average less than 1 000 daily.

This re-opening of national borders comes as Zimbabwe, as a destination, has been getting significant inquiries from tourists wishing to visit the country.

Airlines are also lining up to fly into Zimbabwe, especially to Victoria Falls, with Lufthansa's Eurowings Discover scheduled to make a maiden flight to the country's prime resort at the end of next month.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Matabeleland North chairperson, Anald Musonza, said the industry could now intensify marketing strategies.

"The re-opening of borders across the country is a huge boost to our tourism arrivals traffic as this encourages free movement of the fully vaccinated people," he said.

"As an industry, we hope to start aggressively marketing destination Zimbabwe and its various tourist attractions given the removal of all the major travel restrictions like quarantine and border closures."

Mr Musonza said the industry looked forward to removal of the PCR test requirement as it was a huge cost for clients.

Travellers into Zimbabwe are required to produce a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 48 hours. It costs between US$30 and US$75 to get a PCR test.

Victoria Falls, in Matabeleland North Province, is the country's tourism capital. The province also has numerous tourism activities along the Zambezi River while tourists can also enjoy viewing game animals in Hwange, Chamabondo and Zambezi national parks.

There are also sand beaches, fishing and boating in Binga, a district with a unique and rich culture, which on its own is an attraction to tourists.

Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, said the Cabinet decision would benefit tourism.

"We are more than happy as a province because the tourism sector will benefit. We were relying on local clients and now planes can start flying in and other tourists come by road through various borders. This is really encouraging going forwards," he said.

Zimbabwe will be on spotlight for leisure and business tourism especially after the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) through its Zimbabwe National Convention Bureau, made remarkable strides in promoting Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) by securing international membership with The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).

Zimbabwe joins other leading African countries on this picturesque global stage, namely Rwanda and South Africa, with the UFI accreditation for exhibitions, according to ZTA and reopening borders will encourage conference organisers to consider the country for meetings.

Source: Zimbabwe: Border Re-Opening to Boost Tourism Sector (18/02/22)

Unesco assesses Victoria Falls tourism destination

 STAKEHOLDERS in the tourism industry have vowed to keep the iconic Victoria Falls in its pristine state as a World Heritage Site to protect the destination’s status.

This comes as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has deployed a team to assess the state of the destination and its environment in the wake of massive human developments that have taken place since it was declared a World Heritage Site in December 1989.

The declaration was based on its unique geomorphologic formation and exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance of the falls.

The majestic Victoria Falls, classified as the largest waterfall and one of the Seven Wonders of the world, is shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, which are both signatories to the World Heritage Convention of 1972.

There have been massive infrastructure developments either side of the Zambezi River, which divides Victoria Falls and Livingstone cities, as well as electricity generation activities and proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme, which have raised concern about the future of the destination.

Because of pressure from the tourism industry stakeholders, Unesco dispatched a team to assess the heritage site both in Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

A report will be compiled and presented at the upcoming World Heritage Convention in June this year in Russia.

The assessment will determine whether Victoria Falls continues as a listed World Heritage site, gets downgraded or red-listing, or is totally removed from the list.

The team is led by Zambia National Commission for Unesco secretary-general, Mr Charles Ndakala and has been mandated to assess the effects of developments on the World Heritage site.

It will also assess whether the Batoka project will or will not affect the taita falcon bird and rafting activities due to backflow, benefits of the dam to poor communities and effects on tourism in general as well as whether environmental management agencies from both countries were involved in the Batoka Environmental Impact Assessment process.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy director (natural resources) Mr Tanyaradzwa Mundoga, who represented the ministry, said the industry is committed to balancing between development and conservation.

Victoria Falls’ economy is solely dependent on tourism.

“The team was sent to assess the potential impact of the threats since there are certain parameters to be followed in terms of the need to preserve tourism and value of the product,” he said.

“The major issue on the table was the Batoka project and new resort on the Zambian side near the river.

They are going to write a report to be presented at the Unesco World Heritage Convention.

“We assured the team that we are going to balance development and conservation and will not allow anything that will jeopardise the pristine nature of the heritage site.”

Zambezi River Authority officials also assured that rafting activities will not be affected by the Batoka project.

Conservationist Mr Trever Lane said the engagements have been an eye opener to the industry and conservationists.

He said any developments should ensure they stick to guidelines and not disturb the natural habitat while balancing between tourism and conservation.

Source: Unesco assesses Victoria Falls tourism destination (16/02/2022)

Victoria Falls’s Mkhosana residents left counting losses following heavy rains

Over 60 Mkhosana residents in Victoria Falls had their properties and houses destroyed by heavy rains that have battered the resort city in the past few weeks.  

According to ward 11 councillor Goshen Zhou who visited the affected families, property such as sofas, television sets, doors and kitchen appliances were destroyed.

“In my records, I managed to document over 60 households with families of four or so and all have been affected,” Zhou said.

The persistent rains that began in January, although have not claimed any life in the resort city, affected even those who live in makeshift homes in the Mfelandawonye area.

Among the affected is 56-year-old Nevanji Mudimba who lost most of his property.

“We were sitting in the lounge when my son saw rainwater getting in through the door and because of its sheer force it soon flooded the house and destroyed my property,” Mudimba narrated.

Zhou added that the local authority was not in a position to assist the affected families and appealed to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to intervene.

“Council is not able to assist the people, so we hope that the government will and the Civil Protection Unit department has also been notified.”

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) press release of January 21, heavy rainfall has been affecting southern Zambia and neighbouring northern Zimbabwe over the last week, causing river overflow, in particular, the Kafue River and floods that have resulted in casualties and damage.

“In Zambia, media reported, as of 21 January, around 15 000 affected people across the Namwala District (Southern Province),” OCHA said.

“In addition, media also reported around 110 displaced people and 500 affected families across the Choma District in the same and in Zimbabwe, a number of destroyed and damaged houses, some damaged roads and a damaged bridge in Victoria Falls City (Matabeleland North Province).”

Source: Victoria Falls’s Mkhosana residents left counting losses following heavy rainsVictoria Falls’s Mkhosana residents left counting losses following heavy rains (31st Jan 2022)

Refurbished 5-star River Lodge near Victoria Falls Reopens

 - Batoka Hospitality Zimbabwe has been busy during the pandemic, acquiring three lodges around Victoria Falls from Imvelo Safari Lodges.

- The refurbished Zambezi Sands River Lodge will be the first of the new acquisitions to be unveiled in March, followed by Batoka Gorges, and Little Lodge later in 2022.

- The 24-bed lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River, one hour away from the Victoria Falls, has been redesigned by renowned South African interior designer Yvonne O'Brien.

- The refurbished river lodge features a spa and fitness centre, while each suite has its own private plunge pool and a view of the Zambezi River. 

- A 5-star luxury safari lodge on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, just one hour's drive away from the iconic Victoria Falls, will reopen to the public in March after undergoing an extensive refurbishment.

 

Batoka Hospitality Zimbabwe (BHZ) has made major inroads into the tourism sector around Victoria Falls during the pandemic, acquiring three properties from Imvelo Safari Lodges and embarking on renovations led by renowned South African interior designer Yvonne O'Brien.

The 24-bed Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge, and its sister attraction, the Gorges Lodge, was acquired in 2020. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, O'Brien's contemporary furniture and décor firm, Private House Company, was enlisted to reconceptualise 11 suites.

The work completed on the lodge in the heart of the Zambezi National Park adds to Private House Company's portfolio of redesigned luxury lodges at Londolozi, Lapalala, and Simbithi, as well as high-end homes and residences in Steyn City, Hyde Park, Dainfern, and Clifton.

The Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge will be the first to reopen to the public in March with the 4-star Batoka Gorges, and Little Lodge expected to welcome visitors later in 2022.

"Our vision is to become a leading luxury safari company on the African continent, but we also want to create opportunities for economic growth in the communities we build in. We are empowering the African dream of success through ecotourism and hospitality," said Batoka executive director, Vimbai Masiyiwa, the daughter of Zimbabwean philanthropist and founder of technology giant Econet Global, Strive Masiyiwa.

"As much as we enrich the lives of our guests through a truly authentic African experience, we are building self-sustaining communities across Africa through our brand."

The refurbished river lodge features a spa and fitness centre. Each suite has its own private plunge pool and a view of the Zambezi River. Ghanaian brand R&R Luxury provides complimentary items like toiletries in each of the suites. 

A two-bedroom suite, fit with private swimming pool, lounge, dining room and deck – for those desiring more privacy and opulent "home away from home" – is expected to be unveiled later in the year.

Source: Refurbished 5-star River Lodge near Victoria Falls Reopens  (15/01/22)

Special Economic Zone status for Vic Falls

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has designated the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone as an international financial services centre.

The declaration is contained in Statutory Instrument 4 of 2022 cited as Banking (Declaration of the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone as an International Financial Services Centre) Notice, 2022.

An international financial services Centre caters for customers outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy.

Such centres deal with flows of finance, financial products and services across borders.

Last year President Mnangagwa launched the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), the country’s second stock exchange that exclusively trades in US dollars.

VFEX was established in October 2020 as a subsidiary of the Harare-based Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE).

It is aimed at providing a global platform for the trading of stocks in foreign currency in a way that promotes foreign investment into the country and the southern African region.

The exchange is also one of the many initiatives being implemented by the Zimbabwean government to stabilize the economy and attract foreign direct investment.

Meanwhile, Government has set new passport fees with immediate effect.

The new fees are US$100 for an ordinary passport and US$200 for an emergency one.

The new fees were gazetted by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe in Statutory Instrument 3 of 2022 cited as Citizenship (Passport Fees) Regulations of 2022.

The new SI repeals SI273 of 2022 that required payment of an additional US$20 processing fee through CBZ Bank.

Last year Government launched the new electronic passport in partnership with Lithuanian company, Garsu Pasaulis.

The development will see the eradication of the passport backlog and production of other primary identity documents.

Source: Special Economic Zone status for Vic Falls (08/01/22)

Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge To Launch In Zimbabwe In March 2022

 The Batoka Hospitality Group opens revamped five-star destination as part of its vision to boost African tourism and uplift local communities

A new dawn is beckoning at Zimbabwe’s magnificent Victoria Falls. 

In March 2022, the Batoka Hospitality Group will unveil the beautifully-refurbished Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River, the first major milestone on the ecotourism group’s journey to empower local communities and boost the African tourism market.

Located in the western part of the Zambezi National Park and only an hour’s drive from the world-famous Victoria Falls, the Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge offers guests the chance to luxuriate in the glorious African bush where they can take in the exquisite waters of the mighty Zambezi or marvel at elephant, buffalo, lion, hippo and abundant birdlife.  

Having previously partnered with Imvelo Safari Lodges, in 2020 Batoka Hospitality acquired 100% ownership of the former Zambezi Sands River Camp and its sister attraction, the Gorges Lodge.

The move has paved the way for the company’s spirited executive director, Vimbai Masiyiwa, to execute her vision for creating uniquely-African luxury destinations that are deeply connected to their communities.

As a daughter of Strive Masiyiwa, the Zimbabwean philanthropist and founder of technology giant Econet Global, Masiyiwa is determined to follow in her father’s footsteps by empowering Africans through sustainable projects that will provide partnership and employment opportunities for generations to come. 

She is driven to grow the hospitality sector for Africans, by Africans.

Particularly in light of the economic hardships brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Masiyiwa is aiming to rejuvenate the African sector by appealing to African tourists from countries like Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda and Tanzania – all the while improving the lives of the local Zimbabwean community. 

“We put people first – the people in our communities, the people in our teams, and our guests. We choose to learn from each other and consistently look for a better way to do what we do.  We create opportunities for our societies to thrive,” Masiyiwa says. 

The five-star Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge that will welcome its first guests in March is the picture of luxury in an African setting.  

The 11 suites have been reconceptualized by contemporary furniture and décor firm The Private House Company, under the astute eye of renowned South African interior designer Yvonne O’Brien.  

Known for creating rooms that are understated, personal and quietly refined, the Private House Company boasts an incredible portfolio, having designed and furnished luxury lodges at Londolozi, Lapalala and Simbithi, as well as high-end homes and residences in Steyn City, Hyde Park, Dainfern and Clifton in South Africa.

The natural materials and tones O’Brien and her team have brought to the Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge blend seamlessly into the Victoria Falls landscape, where breathtaking vistas greet guests from every suite.  

The 24-bed lodge comprises 10 standard suites, each with a private plunge pool and spectacular views of the Zambezi River. 

Later in 2022, a two-bedroom suite, complete with private swimming pool, lounge and dining room and deck for those desiring more privacy and opulent “home away from home” experience will be added to the lodge’s offering. 

Rest and relaxation, pampering and health are high on the agenda, and accordingly a spa and fitness centre facilities are included among the amenities on offer.

Ghanaian brand R&R Luxury has also partnered with the group to provide items like toiletries in each of the suites. 

A big part of Batoka Hospitality’s vision is sustainability, not only for local communities, but the environment as well. 

Masiyiwa and her team have gone to great lengths to instill a culture of knowledge and responsibility for the land, and have emphasised the importance of preserving Victoria Falls’ fauna and flora. 

Equally, they have made sure to extol the virtues of local customs and traditions. 

Over and above her role as director, Masiyiwa is a mental health activist who has spent a lot of time seeking to understand human suffering and initiating programmes for people to bring change to their lives. 

It is something that is close to her heart, and these values are reflected in Batoka Hospitality’s offerings.

“Our vision is to become a leading luxury safari company on the African continent, but we also want to create opportunities for economic growth in the communities we build in. We are empowering the African dream of success through ecotourism and hospitality,” she says. 

“As much as we enrich the lives of our guests through a truly authentic African experience, we are building self-sustaining communities across Africa through our brand.”

Later in 2022, Batoka will unveil its second major project of the year, the four-star Batoka Gorges and Little Lodge.

The 30-bed lodge comprises 10 tented suites and five stone chalets overlooking one of Zimbabwe’s most captivating attractions, the Batoka Gorge

This offering, which is targeting the younger adventure traveller, will boast many of the same amenities found at the Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge, and once again, be imbued with the African spirit of caring, hospitality and hope.

“For us, it’s all about becoming completely immersed in the local culture,”  Masiyiwa says.

Source: Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge To Launch In Zimbabwe In March 2022 (13/12/21)

Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone concept under scrutiny

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

VARIOUS stakeholders from Government and private sector are meeting in Victoria Falls to interrogate the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone (SEZ) feasibility study as efforts to operationalise the tourism corridor intensify.

Last year Government started crafting a blueprint to guide operationalization of the greater Victoria Falls SEZ and Cabinet approved the Integrated Development Programme/Conceptual Development Framework for the Victoria Falls-Hwange-Binga SEZ whose idea is to integrate economic activities, catapult growth and improve livelihoods in the province.

The SEZ will help create a tourism corridor stretching from Kazungula west of Victoria Falls, to Hwange, Binga, Sijalila and Kariba, including areas around Lake Gwayi-Shangani in Hwange.

Government wants to make Victoria Falls its tourism capital and the Second Republic has deliberately focused its priorities to the resort city and developments especially in the tourism sector, including plans to come up with Masue and Batoka cities are testimony to that.

Government established and appointed Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company to spearhead tourism infrastructure development in the SEZ, including Masue City, about 10km outside the existing city centre and the company has been conducting a feasibility study with assistance of Old Mutual.

Mosi-oa-Tunya company is under the Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry, which organized the SEZ feasibility study validation workshop.

In her keynote address, Tourism Minister deputy Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the SEZ is one of the key projects that President Mnangagwa has given priority as it will also unlock potential of tourism towards Vision 2030.

“Government envisions the Victoria Falls SEZ to become a competitive tourism destination and as Ministry we have now to move to mortar and brick stage in 2022,” she said.

Source: Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone concept under scrutiny (13/12/21)