Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has allocated an initial ZWD500 million (€1.3m) stimulus package to the country’s tourism sector, one of the hardest hit in the country.

The initial amount is to mitigate the major impact of COVID-19 on the industry and help it to recover, with a commitment to further support the sector in an attempt to save jobs.

Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, said the government acknowledged the challenges experienced by tourism businesses and was happy to give support to the industry.

“We hope the support offered through this stimulus package will ensure the continued survival of tourism businesses beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. We are very grateful to the President and Cabinet for recognising tourism as a critical sector in the economy of this country,” said Ndlovu.

The Zimbabwean government has yet to release details of the application process for the funds.