In the community

‘Victoria Falls tourism firms have survived Covid-19 lockdowns’

Published

5 years ago

September 2, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) says no businesses in the tourism sector have been forced to shut down in Victoria Falls since national lockdowns to control the spread of Covid-19 came into force last year.

Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has been hit hard by the global curbs in travel due to the pandemic and Victoria Falls as the prime destination is home to many companies that were badly affected by the dip in tourist arrivals.

Godfrey Koti, ZTA spokesperson, said businesses in the resort city had stayed afloat during the pandemic.

“We are lucky at the moment because we haven’t seen any operator folding in Victoria Falls,” Koti told VicFallsLive.

“In other tourist places, for example, restaurants have shut down

“In Victoria Falls where they have remained open, the challenges that we have been hearing from them, especially the smaller players are that they want the registration fees and parks fees to be reduced.

“They also want some revenue payment plans to be put forward and looked at so that they can save jobs because that’s one thing that has been lost in a quite remarkable manner within the sector.”

Koti said the information on the number of job losses in the industry was not yet available, but he believes about 80 percent of the employees lost their jobs during the lockdowns in Victoria Falls.

“I don’t have the percentage for that region, but they are the leading city,” he said.

“Tourism employs plus or minus 120 000 people in the country, so we are not sure where we are exactly right now, but we are hoping that we haven’t gone above 20 percent job losses.”

According to findings of a recent study by We Are Victoria Falls, a local hospitality industry initiative, the Covid-19 lockdowns have affected 94 percent of the people employed in the sector.

It says 49 percent of workers in the tourism sector were forced to work reduced hours and to take pay cuts because of the lockdown that was imposed in March last year.

At least 18 percent of the workforce was forced to go on unpaid leave.

Koti said some jobs were saved by the ZTA domestic tourism campaign dubbed ZimBho, Vakatsha that was meant to encourage Zimbabweans to rediscover the country’s tourist attractions.

“Most of these jobs that remained were mainly because of the domestic drive that we had,” he added.

“So that sort of helped most players to stay afloat because there was a slow business that came their way.”

To promote Victoria Falls as a safe destination, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government made vaccines available to all eligible residents and an estimated 90 percent of the targeted 25 000 people have been vaccinated.

Binga

Binga MP proposes split of Binga district amid service strain

Published

24 hours ago

April 8, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Member of Parliament Fanuel Cumanzala has formally challenged the government to explain why the Binga District, which now has a population exceeding 160 000 people, has not been divided into two separate administrative zones .

In a series of questions submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday, the legislator argued that the current geographical boundaries, established during the colonial era, are hindering modern governance.

Cumanzala stated that his inquiry “seeks to understand the rationale behind the decision, especially considering the need to enhance administration, improve governance, resource allocation, and service delivery by creating smaller, more manageable units,” particularly as the area sees an influx of migrants from Gokwe and Lupane.

The MP also raised alarms over the “dire” state of local healthcare infrastructure. He specifically pressed the Minister of Health and Child Care for concrete plans to “permanently resolve the challenges faced by Binga District, particularly regarding the mortuary, which has not been fully operational for a long time”.

Further queries from Cumanzala addressed the economic transparency of the region, demanding to know “how much revenue is being generated from mining operations in Binga District”and how those funds are being reinvested into the Zambezi Valley.

He also sought updates on whether the government still intends to rehabilitate the district hospital to facilitate the establishment of a nursing school.

Hwange

Hwange man sentenced to 18 years for rape of 12-year-old niece

Published

2 days ago

April 7, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A Hwange court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 18 years in prison for the rape of his 12-year-old niece following a New Year’s Eve assault, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said.

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence after hearing how the man lured the child to his residence in Dingani Village, Dete, on the 31st of December, last year.

The court heard that at approximately 12:00 hours, the offender used a false pretext to get the victim into his room, instructing her to bring her mother’s mobile phone to help him with a WhatsApp application. Once inside, he forcibly pushed the girl onto a bed and raped her.

Following the assault, the man ordered the child into silence, but the crime was discovered immediately when the girl returned home in tears and narrated the ordeal to her mother. The victim’s family confronted the man and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.

In a statement regarding the conviction, the NPAZ described the case as a profound betrayal of trust within a family unit.

The authority noted that the 18-year term was intended to send a clear message that the law would serve as a shield for our children, particularly against those responsible for their protection [1]. Prosecutors also commended the family for their swift action in reporting the crime to authorities.

Binga

ZPCS reports 104 HIV-positive inmates across Matabeleland North prisons

Published

2 days ago

April 7, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A total of 104 inmates are living with HIV across eight correctional facilities in Matabeleland North, according to data from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

The figures, which were first reported by the Chronicle, were presented by ZPCS Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Godknows Ncube during a National Aids Council stakeholder meeting in Bulawayo.

Of the inmates recorded as positive, 98 are aged 25 and older, while six are under the age of 25. The affected facilities include Victoria Falls Prison, Hwange Prison, Ntabazinduna Satellite Prison, Anju Farm Prison, Tsholotsho Prison, Lupane Prison, and Binga Prison .

During the most recent quarter, 144 inmates underwent testing for HIV, resulting in one positive diagnosis .

While correctional facilities received 900 male condoms, officials reported that no female condoms were provided. Ncube noted the need to address this gender bias and ensure that female protectors are available for inmates.

The prison service is also facing challenges with medication adherence. Ncube emphasized that there is a high number of defaulters, particularly among younger inmates who were aware of their HIV status before entering the system.

He called for the integration of HIV services with other health programs and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring and reporting within the prisons. Currently, some facilities in the region are not yet accredited to provide antiretroviral therapy services, highlighting a need for further staff training and equipment