National

Zimbabwe tourism industry suffers major blow amid new restrictions for visitors

Published

3 years ago

December 1, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe’s tourism industry is facing a bleak festive after the government on Tuesday introduced new tough measures to prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, which include mandatory 10-day quarantine for all visitors.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa said visitors and returning residents will required to take PCR tests on arrival before quarantining at their own expense.

The detection of the new variant in Botswana and South Africa led to a ban on flights from southern Africa by several countries, including those in Africa.

“What raises our concern, and adds to our anxieties, is the outbreak of a new strain – Omicron – detected and reported in neighbouring countries only a few days ago” Mnangagwa said.

“We face a new, added risk, which compounds the burden we already face and shoulder from known variants we have been grappling since the outbreak of the pandemic (so) is in view of this new, ominous development that government has decided on new, enhanced measures to strengthen our national response, and to protect our nation from impact of a likely fourth wave, which the new variant, Omicron will most certainly aggravate,

“With immediate effect, all returning residents and visitors have to undergo PCR testing, and will be quarantined, at own cost, for days recommended by the World Health Organisation even if they present a negative PCR test result from elsewhere,”

Resort areas like Victoria Falls have been, since last year, charging a minimum fee of US$ 60 per night and per individual for quarantining at their facilities certified by health officials.

The tourism industry, which was beginning to show signs of recovery, will be the hardest hit by the measures as they are likely to lead to cancellation of bookings even by tourists from the region.

Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has borne the brunt of travel bans that were first imposed early last year following the outbreak of Covid-19 that began in China.

Mnangagwa also announced that the daily curfew would now be between 9PM to 6AM.

“Only essential services categories announced in previous gazettes stand exempt,” he revealed.

Shops will open for business from 7AM and close at 7PM.

On gatherings, Mnangagwa said citizens must observe and comply with WHO protocols such as masking, social distancing and sanitising.

“All Covid-19 related funerals will strictly be supervised by Ministry of Health and Child Care Environmental Health Officers and Technicians,” he said.

“No liquor will be consumed at bottle stores, which consequently cease to be drinking premises until further notice”.

Night clubs and bars will admit vaccinated clients only while restaurants are now required to close at 7PM.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.

National

Retailers send Mnangagwa SOS as shops continue shutting down over operational woes

Published

2 months ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY ZIMLIVE

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and save the sector which has seen various formal retail and wholesale businesses closing shop countrywide due to operational challenges.

In a statement on Sunday, CZR president Denford Mutashu said the continued closure of formal retail and wholesale businesses is a direct consequence of the tough economic environment that has consistently failed to support formalised sector players who face stiff competition from informal businesses and vendors the majority of whom have no tax obligations to deal with.

Mutashu said his association was concerned that authorities continue to downplay the crisis.

“The recent closure of several outlets under the N. Richards Group, coupled with Spar Zimbabwe’s painful decision to shut down Queensdale Spar, Choppies Zimbabwe’s exit from the market, and Mahommed Mussa’s significant reduction of shop space by 60%, highlights the growing crisis.

“As the representative association for these and other brands, CZR is alarmed that while formal businesses face enormous challenges, the authorities continue to present a different picture of the operating environment,” he said.

Given the situation, Mutashu said, only President Mnangagwa can rescue the troubled sector.

“CZR therefore calls for urgent intervention from His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to rescue what remains of the formalized retail and wholesale sector,” said Mutashu.

He said the sector was in urgent need of rescue.

“While CZR acknowledges the continued support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is clear that the root causes of these challenges are fiscal and monetary in nature. These require urgent and decisive action to ensure the survival of formal businesses.

“CZR therefore appeals to the Presidium to prioritize interventions aimed at saving jobs and mitigating the ongoing wave of shop closures and retrenchments,” he said.