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

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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.

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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.

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“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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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In the community

Population Services Zimbabwe to offer free family planning services in Nkayi

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 BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ) is set to provide free family planning services in Nkayi District from next week

The initiative which will run from 15-18, aims to enhance access to comprehensive reproductive health care and empower individuals and couples to make informed choices regarding family planning.

The outreach will kick off on Monday, September 15, at the Sivalo Rural Health Centre (RHC) and its outreach site. This will be followed by activities at various locations each day:

Tuesday, September 16:
Jabulisa at 9:00 AM
Ngabayide at 2:00 PM
Wednesday, September 17:
Sebhumane at 9:00 AM
Nesigwe RHC at 10:00 AM
Thursday, September 18:
Mateme RHC at 9:00 AM
Sembeule at 10:00 AM

The services offered during this campaign include:

Loop insertion and removal
Implant insertion and removal
Depo Provera injections
Secure and control pills
Emergency contraceptive pills
Counselling on reproductive health issues

 

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Hwange driver convicted for negligent driving

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 24-year-old Hwange man has been convicted for negligent driving following an incident that left a pedestrian severely injured.

The hearing took place at the Hwange Magistrates’ Courts, where the National Prosecuting Authority laid out the details of the case against Ndabezinhle Moyo.

On 21 November last year, Moyo was driving a Toyota Hilux along an unnamed road in Phase 4, when he collided with a pedestrian.

According to the prosecution, the vehicle struck the pedestrian with its left view mirror, resulting in a fractured lower limb. The victim was promptly taken to St. Patrick’s Hospital for medical treatment.

The state presented its case against Moyo, highlighting two key points of negligence. First, they argued that Moyo failed to maintain proper control of his vehicle, a crucial aspect of safe driving. Second, they contended that Moyo did not take reasonable action to prevent the accident when it became apparent that a collision was imminent.

During the proceedings, Moyo was found guilty as charged. The magistrate imposed a fine of US$600, emphasizing the importance of road safety and the consequences of negligent driving. Alternatively, if Moyo fails to pay the fine, he faces a six-month imprisonment sentence.

Additionally, he was ordered to surrender his driver’s license for endorsement, a decision meant to underscore the gravity of his actions and to encourage safer driving practices in the future.

 

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In the community

Woman connives with boyfriend to kill step mother

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

A chilling murder case has unfolded in Tsholotsho, where a 34-year-old woman, Linnar Muzimela, and her boyfriend, Nkosi, are being sought by police for allegedly killing Muzimela’s 58-year-old step mother, Jenifer Dube.

According to the police, the brutal murder occurred in Magotsha Line in May 2025. The suspects allegedly buried Dube’s body in a shallow grave in the garden, where it was later retrieved by police on Tuesday, this week.

Police are now appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of Muzimela and Nkosi. The motive behind the murder is still unclear, but the police are working tirelessly to piece together the events surrounding Dube’s tragic death.

 

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