Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter

President Mnangagwa has directed that restaurants in the key resort town of Victoria Falls operate for extended hours under more relaxed regulations.

This follows an announcement by Cabinet this week, of the opening of Kazungula and Livingstone border posts to allow tourism activities to resume after the majority of the people in Victoria Falls were vaccinated against Covid-19, leading to the attainment of herd immunity.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa yesterday confirmed the decision by President Mnangagwa to allow restaurant operators to open. 

“In line with the decision taken by Cabinet this last Tuesday July 27 to open Kazungula and Livingstone Border posts in Victoria Falls to tourists who are fully vaccinated, HE President ED Mnangagwa has further directed that this decision be extended to restaurants in Victoria Falls. 

“Let it be noted that the standing curfew regulations remain in place. The move  is being taken cognisant of the fact that Vic Falls has since achieved herd immunity. 

“This is courtesy of the pilot vaccination programme carried out by our Government in this premier tourist destination,” said Minister Mutsvangwa

She added: “I would like to emphasise that the usual Covid-19 health protocols as enunciated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, in consent  with WHO (World Health Organisation) that is wearing (face) masks, maintaining social distance, sanitising hands and others all stand to be maintained.”

Victoria Falls and Kazungula border posts have opened for fully vaccinated tourists in a move aimed at reviving the tourism sector, which has been hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic since last year.

The development comes as Zimbabwe is expecting 1,5 million more Sinovac vaccine doses from China on Friday to augment the national vaccination roll-out, which has largely been successful.

As of July 26, 22 226 people out of a possible 27 000 people eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, had received their first dose while 17 391 had been fully vaccinated in Victoria Falls.

This means 64,4 percent of the targeted population in the resort city had been fully vaccinated.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the decision to reopen Victoria Falls was in response to the call by tourism players to allow normal activity to resume under strict health protocols.

“Cabinet acceded to a request by the tourism industry to open the Victoria Falls and Kazungula border posts to tourists who are fully vaccinated. 

“This is in view of the realisation that over 60 percent of the population in Victoria Falls has been vaccinated,” she said.

Players in the tourism sector have welcomed the re-opening of tourism activities in Victoria Falls saying this will boost arrivals and profitability.

Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe president Mr Wengayi Nhau said: “We welcome the gesture by the Government to reopen the two borders to vaccinated tourists as this will help boost our tourism arrivals.

“Victoria Falls was suffering a very slow and painful death because of its geographical location as it is the farthest to travel to by road from main cities in the country where commerce and industry are located.”

Although domestic tourism had partially kept the industry going, it had been unable to ensure profitability, under a situation where intercity travel is banned and land borders closed.

Despite the reopening of activities in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe remains under Level Four lockdown throughout the country as a way of slowing down the surge in new Covid-19 cases.

Last week, the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe urged Government to allow industry to operate under strict health protocols allowing vaccinated citizens to travel and the authorities duly obliged.

Reopening travel for vaccinated travellers has become the common trend globally as countries begin to reopen.

Morocco was the first African country to reopen travel last month and is already enjoying a tourism boom. Egypt has also eased restrictions to draw tourists.

Other countries that are slowly opening up include Botswana and Kenya.  

Victoria Falls, Kariba and Chiredzi have recorded the highest coverage in terms of administration of the first dose in the vaccine roll-out.

Zimbabwe aims to vaccinate 10 million people to achieve herd immunity and Treasury has already paid for 6,5 million more doses while another 1,5 million is expected to be received under the Covax facility.

This will take the total number of vaccine doses purchased to over 12 million.