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Victoria Falls now open for the vaccinated

Published

4 years ago

July 30, 2021

Zimbabwe is opening popular tourism destination Victoria Falls to visitors who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, in a move welcomed by the country’s suffering tourism industry.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters that the government had resolved to lift a lid on Victoria Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world and the country’s top tourism destination.

“[The] Cabinet acceded to a request by the tourism industry to open the Victoria Falls and Kazungula Border posts to tourists who are fully vaccinated,” Mutsvangwa said.

“This is in view of the realization that over 60% of the population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated.

“The lockdown measures, however, are being enforced throughout the country in order to curtail a surge under the third wave of Covid-19.

Godfrey Koti, spokesman for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, said the pandemic had brought the tourism industry worldwide to its knees.

He said it was time for Zimbabwe to begin the long climb back with the opening up of Victoria Falls, within the confines and guidelines of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“And from a regional perspective, the tourism traffic will grow and this will send a very strong message to our source markets. This is a definite way of showing, of a benefit being shown from [the] government’s drive of vaccinating the entire city of Victoria Falls and subsequently Victoria Falls reaching herd immunity.

“So, we are very excited to see this happening and it can only show that we are definitely moving in the right direction,” Koti said.

About 1.5 million Zimbabweans out of a population of 14 million have received their first vaccination shot, and nearly 695,000 have received their second inoculation.

Clement Mukwasi, a spokesman for Shearwater, one of the tourism operators in Victoria Falls, sounded an optimistic tone.

“It is the industry’s hope that towards the end of the pandemic – which we think we are in – there shall be some credit lines extended to the industry for the industry to recover,” he said.

“ We applaud the government for taking our call to open the borders of Zambia and Botswana because Victoria Falls has reached its herd immunity.

“We are hoping that in addition to opening the borders, they are also going to set up a policy on how people should flow across all three countries.”

Mukwasi said those who are vaccinated should be allowed to move across the country without any problem, while those who are not vaccinated should produce results showing they have tested negative for the coronavirus, which causes the Covid-19.

Zimbabwe currently has 101,711 confirmed coronavirus infections and 3,280 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the global outbreak.

The government says the vaccination program will intensify after the arrival of more doses from China in the coming days.

The number of cases has been rising, as the delta variant becomes more widespread. – VOA

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ZimParks to host first-ever International Wildlife Conservation symposium

Published

1 week ago

October 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will hold its inaugural International Wildlife Conservation Symposium under the theme “Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

The two-day event, scheduled for October 22 to 23, next week, will take place at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare. It will bring together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss key issues around wildlife protection and sustainable development.

The symposium will focus on eight sub-themes, namely Wildlife Conservation and Transboundary Management, Freshwater, Fisheries and Aquatic Management, Sustainable Tourism and Socio-Economic Development, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Environmental Health and Safety, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, and Natural Resource Policy and Governance.

ZimParks says the symposium will provide a platform to exchange ideas and deepen understanding of the link between wildlife conservation and sustainable development. Members of the public, students, and professionals are encouraged to attend.

National

CCC legislators in road accident, Nkulumane MP dies

Published

2 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

One Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator has died while four others were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred early Friday morning near Shangani along Bulawayo-Harare highway.

CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi confirmed the accident, saying it happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the vehicle carrying the members collided with an elephant.

“The vehicle hit an elephant along the Shangani area, and unfortunately Honourable Desire Moyo, the Member of Parliament for Ngulumane, died on the scene,” Nkwananzi said.

He added that the other occupants — Honourable Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Honourable Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda — sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Bulawayo.

Nkwananzi said he was deeply shocked by Moyo’s death, as he had met him just yesterday in Harare.

“I had seen Moyo yesterday and we spent about an hour chatting outside Jamieson Hotel about the party and our future plans for national development,” he said. “I’m gutted by his passing. It’s a huge loss for the party.”

He conveyed his condolences to the Moyo family and wished a speedy recovery and strength to the families of the other CCC members who remain in critical condition.

He said further details, including the name of the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment, would be released once confirmed.

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National

Doctors slam delays in using sugar tax funds for cancer treatment equipment

Published

3 weeks ago

October 8, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) has expressed concern over the government’s continued delays in disbursing funds from the Sugar Tax meant for the procurement of cancer treatment equipment.

In a statement released yesterday , ZADHR said it was deeply worried by the slow pace of progress, two years after the introduction of the levy that was expected to finance the purchase of essential medical equipment for cancer patients across the country.

According to the association, by November last year, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had confirmed collecting US$30.8 million through the sugar tax — a surcharge imposed on sugary drinks and beverages. However, no disbursement had yet been made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the intended purpose.

“This delay undermines the purpose of the Sugar Tax, which was intended to improve public health outcomes through targeted investment in non-communicable disease management, including cancer prevention and treatment,” ZADHR said.

Zimbabwe currently bears one of the highest cancer burdens in Southern Africa, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 208 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 144 per 100,000, according to Globocan 2022 data. These figures surpass those of neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana.

The association warned that the government’s inaction continues to worsen the plight of thousands of patients who face long waiting lists and limited access to treatment.

“The country records over 17,700 new cases and nearly 12,000 deaths annually, largely due to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment capacity,” read the statement. “This growing burden strains Zimbabwe’s fragile health system, escalates household health expenditures, and undermines productivity.”

ZADHR called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently release the collected funds and for the Health Ministry to ensure transparent procurement and installation processes once funds are received.

The association also urged the Ministry of Health to build technical capacity among staff to maintain and effectively utilise the new equipment once installed.

“Equitable access must be at the centre of this rollout. Beyond the main Central Hospitals, provincial and district centres should also benefit to ensure no patient is left behind,” ZADHR added.