By Dickson Bandera
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe’s drive to position itself as a leading tourism and investment destination gained fresh momentum with the arrival of a 35-member delegation of senior business executives from Romania at Victoria Falls International Airport.
The delegation was officially welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon. Tongai Mnangagwa, who led a meet-and-greet reception at the airport, reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships in tourism, trade and investment.
Headed by Mr Sorin Vornic, Vice President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the delegation comprises executives from sectors including manufacturing, construction, energy, logistics and tourism. During their stay, the group will tour the iconic Victoria Falls and engage Zimbabwean business leaders and policymakers to explore investment opportunities.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector continues to rebound strongly, with international tourist arrivals exceeding 2 million visitors in 2023, according to official figures. Tourism contributes an estimated 10–12 percent of national GDP, making it one of the country’s key economic pillars. Zimbabwe was ranked by Forbes Magazine among the world’s top travel destinations, reinforcing its global appeal.
The visit comes amid growing diplomatic and people-to-people ties between Zimbabwe and Romania. The Romanian Embassy in Harare plays a central role in strengthening bilateral relations, facilitating trade, investment, cultural exchange and cooperation in education and sport. The embassy has been instrumental in supporting business linkages and fostering closer engagement between Romanian and Zimbabwean institutions.
Sporting cooperation has also emerged as a visible symbol of the deepening relationship. Zimbabwe’s senior men’s national football team, the Warriors, is currently coached by Romanian national Marian “Mario” Marinică, a UEFA Pro Licence holder with more than two decades of international coaching experience. His appointment reflects Zimbabwe’s openness to international expertise and highlights Romania’s growing footprint in Zimbabwe beyond traditional diplomacy.
Officials say the presence of the Romanian business delegation underscores renewed international confidence in Zimbabwe’s reform agenda and its strategic location as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market of over 300 million people.
The visit is expected to culminate in business-to-business engagements and high-level discussions aimed at translating goodwill into tangible investments, particularly in tourism infrastructure, value addition and joint ventures.
