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Masiyiwa uplifts local communities through her safari lodge group

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BY LONDIWE DLOMO

Twenty-eight-year-old Vimbai Masiyiwa is the executive director of Batoka Hospitality, the first black, female-owned safari lodge group in Africa.

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She co-founded the company with her mother Tsitsi Masiyiwa. Their project, Zambezi Sands River Lodge, a safari lodge nestled on the western end of the Zambezi National Park and about an hour from Victoria Falls, due to open in June, is a luxurious testament to community-led initiatives centred around women empowerment.

Batoka Hospitality is a luxury eco-tourism and community development group.

“At the moment, just about 40% of our staff are women… In the organisation we have paths to leadership and also, we support women-led projects. We’re working with a member of our staff, she leads a women-led initiative sewing club in Zimbabwe.

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“Our work with her is in looking for opportunities for women to sell their sewing products beyond Chisingwe village, beyond Victoria Falls and into retail and then we’re looking at [business] mentorship,” says Masiyiwa.

Masiyiwa and her mother decided to get more involved in the hospitality side of the family business portfolio. For those who might not know, Vimbai is the second-born daughter of Zimbabwean billionaire businessman Strive Masiyiwa.

She has worked with her father for some years, starting off as an intern at the age of 14, throughout her university years and working as a special assistant for him until almost two years ago, when she fully stepped into her role at Batoka.

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Her dad has always been open and generous with all he’s learnt in business; he would update his Facebook page with lessons for all to learn from. From those lessons Vimbai and her siblings were also able to ask follow-up questions. She says she’s learnt from her dad to be a great listener, and says her father always hears people out and then says his piece.

“I used to jump into saying what it is I wanted, being very straightforward but as I’ve grown over the last few years I’ve really mirrored exactly what I see him do. I’m sure if you put us in the same room and put a screen between us and had someone talk to us we would look identical, I mirror everything … from how he sits to how he responds just because I’ve seen him grow in business over the years and I’ve seen what has worked. I’m an observer and I learn by observing. I’m a bit of a copycat in that sense.”

Vimbai has lived in Zimbabwe, SA and the UK, and is based in the UK and US currently. She is no stranger to luxury as is testament in the décor of her lodge, which was started during the thick of the global coronavirus pandemic.

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She is also known for her love of African designers, her fashion sense has seen her, alongside Kate Middleton, voted as one of 2022’s Best Dressed Woman by the UK’s Tatler magazine. She laments the lack of funding for African designers as this costs them opportunities to distribute their products to a global consumer base.

“They get the design right, they get the story behind it right, one of my favourites at the moment, I have three favourites: Thebe, I absolutely love Thebe Magugu, Christie Brown [Ghana] and Moses by Moses in Rwanda and all of them tell a story… They get it right, they understand authenticity, there’s just a lack of global funding,” she adds.

She has worked with her father for some years, starting off as an intern at the age of 14, throughout her university years and working as a special assistant for him until almost two years ago, when she fully stepped into her role at Batoka.

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Her dad has always been open and generous with all he’s learnt in business; he would update his Facebook page with lessons for all to learn from. From those lessons Vimbai and her siblings were also able to ask follow-up questions. She says she’s learnt from her dad to be a great listener, and says her father always hears people out and then says his piece.

“I used to jump into saying what it is I wanted, being very straightforward but as I’ve grown over the last few years I’ve really mirrored exactly what I see him do. I’m sure if you put us in the same room and put a screen between us and had someone talk to us we would look identical, I mirror everything … from how he sits to how he responds just because I’ve seen him grow in business over the years and I’ve seen what has worked. I’m an observer and I learn by observing. I’m a bit of a copycat in that sense.”

Vimbai has lived in Zimbabwe, SA and the UK, and is based in the UK and US currently. She is no stranger to luxury as is testament in the décor of her lodge, which was started during the thick of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Advertisement

She is also known for her love of African designers, her fashion sense has seen her, alongside Kate Middleton, voted as one of 2022’s Best Dressed Woman by the UK’s Tatler magazine. She laments the lack of funding for African designers as this costs them opportunities to distribute their products to a global consumer base.

“They get the design right, they get the story behind it right, one of my favourites at the moment, I have three favourites: Thebe, I absolutely love Thebe Magugu, Christie Brown [Ghana] and Moses by Moses in Rwanda and all of them tell a story… They get it right, they understand authenticity, there’s just a lack of global funding,” she adds.

On top of her drive for women empowerment, Vimbai is also a mental health advocate. When she was 20 years old she was diagnosed with cancer and suffered a severe depression after receiving treatment.

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It was hard to fathom what she was going through as most African families struggle with mental health awareness and support. She has become an advocate for education about mental health issues as she had to educate friends and family about what she was going through at the time.

“I’m so interested in sharing my experience and supporting organisations that are busy with mental awareness, it’s because I felt so much shame myself and only when I began to talk about it did I realise that there’s so many other people that don’t need to feel this shame that probably end up in a worse situation than I did. It’s just totally unnecessary for people to get there.”

She celebrates that there are a lot of African people becoming mental health professionals. She is excited about the advancements in educating Africans on mental health but says there’s absolutely more work that needs to be done.

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“We need the older generations to participate in [the] conversation because they are the lawmakers, the financiers, and in order for us to see growth we need them to have a better understanding of mental wellbeing.”

Her lodge has 10 tented suites that have been redesigned by South African interior designer Yvonne O’Brien. Each of the suites has a private plunge pool and spectacular views of the Zambezi River. The group’s Tesse Fund is financed by 10% of the revenue made from each guest’s stay. The purpose of the fund is for staff members within the Batoka Hospitality family to come up with projects that benefit their local community.

 

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National

Malaria cases surge in Zimbabwe

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe is experiencing a dramatic surge in malaria cases, with 111 998 cases and 310 deaths reported as of epidemiological week 23 in 2025.

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This is a significant increase from the same period in 2024, which saw 29 031 cases and 49 deaths.

According to Dr Memory Mapfumo, an epidemiologist at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), “This surge is no coincidence. Prolonged rains have fueled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing, and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.”

The situation is worsened by the low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), leaving communities exposed and placing further strain on already stretched health systems. Across Zimbabwe, 115 out of 1 705 health facilities have been affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease on healthcare infrastructure.

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Mashonaland Central Province has accounted for 32% of all malaria cases, while Manicaland reported 25% of the malaria-related deaths. The interconnectedness of the countries in the region has also contributed to the spread of the disease.

Zimbabwe’s malaria outbreak is part of a broader regional trend. Other countries in southern Africa, including Botswana, eSwatini, and Namibia, are also experiencing significant increases in malaria cases.

In Botswana, 2 223 cases and 11 deaths have been reported, with Okavango being the hardest hit. eSwatini has recorded 187 cases, with children under 15 and farmers being particularly affected. Namibia has seen over 89 959 cases and 146 deaths, with the majority of cases being local transmissions.

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The Africa CDC emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and investment in malaria control. Governments must enhance their efforts to improve the use of ITNs, strengthen community engagement, and address environmental and social factors driving the outbreaks.

Dr Merawi Aragaw, head of Africa CDC’s Surveillance and Disease Intelligence, notes that “as climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions.”

According to Dr Aragaw, “sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring, and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria.”

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The regional surge underscores a broader global trend, with malaria cases worldwide climbing to 263 million in 2023, up from 252 million the previous year, and Africa accounting for 95% of all malaria-related deaths.

Despite these alarming figures, there have been significant successes: Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free in 2023, and Egypt is poised to achieve the same in 2024. Yet for many countries in southern Africa, the road to elimination remains steep, with outbreaks threatening to reverse years of progress.

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Victoria Falls receives prestigious Ramsar wetland city accreditation

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

The City of Victoria Falls has been recognized globally for its outstanding efforts in conserving and managing its wetlands. Recently, the city was among 31 world cities to receive the Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation at the ongoing Ramsar COP15.

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According to Ntombizami Ncube, Acting Spatial Planning Director, “Efforts that we put as a city, together with our stakeholders and communities, in conserving our property, especially the Victoria Falls, have been significant.” She highlighted the city’s collaborative work with the Forestry Commission, schools, and stakeholders to manage and conserve the property, which benefits the entire city.

The city’s conservation initiatives include participating in joint site management committee meetings with the Zambians to monitor developments and conservation status. They have also developed a tourism strategy and a joint integrated management plan. Additionally, the city has implemented various initiatives, such as collaborative waste management, regular clean-up campaigns, and development control.

Ncube emphasized the importance of preserving the wilderness value of Victoria Falls, stating, “Our community depends on Victoria Falls for livelihood, so preserving it is crucial.” The city ensures that buildings near the forest don’t exceed tree height or 11 meters and plants three indigenous trees for every tree cut.

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The Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation recognizes the city’s efforts in conserving and preserving its wetlands. Ncube expressed the city’s commitment to continuing its conservation work, stating, “We’ll continue working together to conserve and preserve our wetlands, ensuring wise use and remaining an accredited World Heritage city.”

The city is thrilled to receive this international recognition and looks forward to renewing its accreditation, valuing its importance and benefits to the city, stakeholders, and community.

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In the community

Domestic violence takes a deadly turn: Hwange woman’s violent outburst lands her in jail

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BY STAFF REPORTER

A 19-year-old woman from Makwika Village has been sentenced by the Hwange Magistrate’s Court for domestic violence and assault after a violent incident occurred on June 2, 2025.

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The court heard that the woman assaulted her husband after he confronted her over messages on her phone. She slapped him, grabbed his private parts, dragged him into the kitchen, and poured boiling water on his lower body, causing serious injuries.

A concerned neighbor who attempted to intervene was also burnt with boiling water on her chest and hospitalized.

The woman was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for domestic violence and 24 months imprisonment for assault. However, 12 months of the assault sentence were suspended for 5 years on condition of good behavior, and the remaining 24 months were suspended on condition of performing 630 hours of community service.

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The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has condemned the violent act, emphasizing that violence, whether in the home or community, is unacceptable.

“The law applies equally to all, and offenders will be held accountable,” said the NPAZ. “We encourage citizens to resolve disputes peacefully and report abuse immediately.”

 

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