Zimbabwe revamps tourism board to ignite Victoria Falls boom

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi has appointed fresh boards for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company, effective immediately.

Farai Chimba takes ZTA chair with Lizzie Makwezva as deputy, while Phineas Makombe leads Mosi-oa-Tunya, supported by Sheila Hawa Sidambe.

These strategic lineups target infrastructure acceleration in Victoria Falls and national marketing overhauls to reclaim southern Africa’s tourism crown.

ZTA’s refreshed mandate sharpens regulatory streamlining, destination polishing, and global outreach, core to Vision 2030’s goal of 10 million annual visitors.

Mosi-oa-Tunya, steward of Victoria Falls’ gateway, gains impetus for hotel pipelines and investor lures amid 2025’s 15% occupancy rebound.

The firm oversees trails, lodges, and UNESCO buffer zones, where new boards eye mid-range chains to ease luxury bottlenecks, think 2,000 rooms by 2028 mirroring Zambia’s side.

Zimbabwe’s tourism, contributing 12% GDP pre-pandemic, lags peers like Botswana; these appointments signal catch-up via public-private pacts.

For hospitality investors, Victoria Falls beckons: illicit trade curbs and park upgrades could double Chinese and European inflows, spurring QSR clusters around the Zambezi Sun hub.

Quick-service outlets, envision KFC misting stations or Subway river-view kiosks, thrive on day-trippers, like game park models.

Board priorities align with AfCFTA, positioning Falls as a tri-nation nexus for Zambia, Zim, and Namibia adventure circuits.

Rwodzi’s moves follow 2025’s recovery arc: arrivals climbed 20% to 1.2 million, buoyed by low-cost carriers and Great Zimbabwe repackaging. ZTA’s regulatory edge targets illegal lodges, enforcing star ratings that lift guest trust and yields.

Mosi-oa-Tunya’s expansion roadmap includes devil’s pool extensions and aerial gondolas, channeling $500 million FDI into eco-luxury tents and conference wings.

QSR synergies abound: airport upgrades sync with board timelines, priming franchise zones for helicopter-tour pitstops.

As rivals like Dubai flood mid-tier supply, Zimbabwe’s raw allure, mist-shrouded falls, rhino safaris, demands polished F&B: think grab-and-go braai platters blending local biltong with global portability.

These boards inherit momentum from 2026’s UNWTO focus, poised to vault arrivals past 2 million via digital visas and influencer campaigns. For operators, it’s a clarion call: Victoria Falls’ infrastructure renaissance promises outsized returns in Africa’s fastest-reviving tourism gem.

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