The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a project that will see three of Zimbabwe’s key tourist destinations transformed into a tourism hub, namely Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba.
Emphasis was placed on Vic Falls by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism, Prisca Mupfumira, speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg on February 28. She said she wanted to see the area transformed into a tourism hub. “We want Victoria Falls to be the main centre of attraction for the continent.”
The government has already spent $150 million towards the modernisation and extension of Victoria Falls International Airport, in anticipation of a tourism boom.
Mupfumira said the government was looking at transforming the earmarked SEZ into a virtual city, from world-class artificial beaches, conference facilities, hotels and marinas, to name a few.
“The Special Economic Zone will come with benefits in the areas of taxation and special concessions,” said the Minister. She invited investors to take up this opportunity while it was still available. “It’s a first come, first served or winner takes all.”
The development hopes to see the growth and construction of medical tourism, sports tourism, conferencing (MICE), hotels, lodges, and possibly even a hospitality school.
Mupfumira said President Emmerson Mnangagwa, when briefing her on his expectations from the tourism sector “did not mince his words”. "He has also stated that Zimbabwe has been lagging behind in many areas as a result of isolation for the past 18 years. Now we are saying to the world, ‘Zimbabwe is now open for business and business includes tourism’.”
She continued: “And to do so, he said there was need 'to look at all the legislation that has been constraining business coming into Zimbabwe to improve the ease of doing business’.”
Mupfumira said she assumed the task willingly, given the political change, the way things were being done and the enthusiasm and excitement that Zimbabwe was receiving from all major source markets following the new political dispensation, which saw Zimbabwe undergo a peaceful transition.
