President Mnangagwa is flanked by Vice President Kembo Mohadi (left) and Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi (right) during the launch of the Zimbabwe Tourism and Hospitality Industry Policy at State House yesterday.
By Dickson Bandera
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that the economic benefits of Zimbabwe’s growing tourism and hospitality industry must cascade to all citizens—especially vulnerable and marginalised communities—as he launched the new Zimbabwe Tourism and Hospitality Industry Policy on Monday.
Zimbabwe boasts an impressive array of tourism assets — from the world-renowned Victoria Falls and the wildlife-rich Hwange and Mana Pools national parks, to the ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo and the misty mountains of the Eastern Highlands. Iconic wildlife species such as elephants, lions, leopards, and black rhinos roam freely in protected reserves, drawing safari enthusiasts from across the globe.
The president emphasized that these assets should be enjoyed by all Zimbabweans.
“It is my singular honour and pleasure to officiate at this launch,” President Mnangagwa said. “The socio-economic benefits from the tourism sector should ultimately cascade to all Zimbabweans, including marginalised and vulnerable communities.”
The President highlighted that tourism has now become one of the country’s key economic drivers, contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s GDP, alongside agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
“This industry has played its part in increasing our GDP from US$16 billion in 2018 to over US$44 billion currently,” he said, describing the new policy as a vital step in consolidating this growth trajectory.
The Tourism and Hospitality Policy is part of a broader national strategy to modernise the sector, attract more visitors, and ensure that communities benefit from tourism-related development. The policy emphasises inclusivity, sustainability, innovation, infrastructure development, and environmental protection.
“I commend stakeholders for ensuring that the people and communities are central to this policy,” Mnangagwa said, referencing Section 13 of the Constitution and the Tourism Act. “Going forward, you are challenged to remain engaged with the people, making sure that their concerns are not only heard, but addressed.”
The President urged the tourism sector to adopt international best practices without compromising Zimbabwe’s cultural values and ecological integrity.
“Due attention must be given to protecting and preserving our flora and fauna,” he stressed. “The modernisation and development of new tourist products must not come at the expense of our natural habitats, cultural traditions, values and norms.”
The president also underscored the importance of collaboration. “As per the hallmark of my administration, it is my expectation that policy implementation will be anchored on the whole-of-government approach.”
The new policy is expected to guide the sector in accelerating growth, building human capital, strengthening legal frameworks, and improving both digital and physical infrastructure while promoting regional and international cooperation.
