Zimbabwe Tourism Industry Faces Challenges From Political And Infrastructure Issues

Published on August 26, 2025

In caller years, Zimbabwe has faced governmental turmoil that has impacted not only its home affairs but besides its tourism industry. The country, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has knowledgeable important challenges, from quality authorities concerns to a volatile system and an unreliable infrastructure. Mnangagwa, now 82 years old, has been successful powerfulness since 2017, pursuing nan subject coup that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe. However, his norm has been marked by a harsh governmental situation wherever dissent is often silenced. Mnangagwa, presently serving his last term, faces expanding unit from guidance figures, notably erstwhile Tourism Minister Dr. Walter Mzembi.

Dr. Walter Mzembi’s Return to Zimbabwe

Dr. Walter Mzembi, erstwhile a cardinal fig successful Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, was invited by President Mnangagwa successful June 2024 to return to nan state aft a seven-year exile. Mzembi, a highly respected tourism professional, was instrumental successful promoting Zimbabwe arsenic a premier tourer destination during his tenure arsenic nan Minister of Tourism. He moreover played a pivotal domiciled successful positioning Zimbabwe arsenic a campaigner to big nan UNWTO Secretary-General station successful 2017. His activity had importantly raised nan floor plan of nan country’s tourism, peculiarly pinch nan improvement of nan Victoria Falls Peace Park and collaboration pinch neighboring Zambia.

However, upon his return, Mzembi was arrested successful August 2024 while successful Harare. The charges against him stay unclear, and his detainment has raised alarm, peculiarly arsenic it comes amidst rising tensions and fears of governmental retribution. His apprehension has been a important rustle to Zimbabwe’s image, arsenic nan country’s activity continues to ace down connected dissent. Mzembi, who has struggled pinch superior wellness issues, has been subjected to harsh conditions successful prison, moreover reportedly chained to a infirmary furniture astatine 1 point. Despite galore requests for bail, Mzembi remains incarcerated, pinch his business drafting world criticism, including from quality authorities organizations for illustration Amnesty International.

Political Repression and Its Effect connected Public Sentiment

The governmental ambiance successful Zimbabwe has grown progressively dispute nether Mnangagwa’s rule. Those who situation to speak retired against nan regime, whether done protests aliases societal media, are often met pinch terrible consequences. For example, a Czech tourist, Lukáš Slavík, was arrested successful August 2024 for filming a video discussing nan country’s economical crises, including h2o and energy shortages. This reflects nan grade to which nan Zimbabwean authorities has cracked down connected state of look and its determination to power nan communicative surrounding nan country’s struggles.

In summation to nan crackdown connected governmental dissent, Zimbabweans person expressed their frustrations done quieter forms of protest. In April 2024, a group of citizens shouted “Enough is Enough” arsenic a motion of their discontent, only to find themselves down bars. Similarly, successful July 2024, Faith Zaba, nan editor of nan Zimbabwe Independent, faced akin threats, showcasing nan lengths to which nan authorities will spell to soundlessness captious voices.

The Struggles of Zimbabwe’s Tourism Industry

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, erstwhile a agleam spot successful nan country’s economy, is besides suffering from nan governmental repression and infrastructural failures that person plagued nan nation. Tourists are advised by nan UK Foreign Office to beryllium cautious erstwhile walking to Zimbabwe, noting nan unpredictability of governmental demonstrations that often move violent. Travel advisories impulse visitors to debar governmental gatherings aliases immoderate activity that could beryllium seen arsenic politically motivated, including online discussions. The threat of arrest, particularly for those engaging successful immoderate shape of journalism, is ever-present.

The state is besides grappling pinch important infrastructural issues, peculiarly successful nan areas of energy and h2o supply. Power outages are predominant and tin past for hours, disrupting regular life and making recreation little predictable. This has created further challenges for nan tourism sector, peculiarly successful accommodation accommodation wherever h2o rationing has go common. Visitors to awesome tourer destinations specified arsenic Victoria Falls aliases Hwange National Park whitethorn find themselves struggling pinch basal services that are often taken for granted successful different parts of nan world.

Moreover, nan emergence successful crime, particularly successful municipality centers for illustration Harare, poses different consequence for tourists. Mugging, pickpocketing, and thoroughfare robberies are common, peculiarly successful poorly lit areas. Tourists are advised to stay vigilant, debar carrying ample amounts of cash, and return precautions erstwhile utilizing ATMs.

Collaboration pinch Regional Neighbours: A Bright Spot successful Zimbabwe’s Tourism Outlook

Despite these challenges, Zimbabwe’s tourism assemblage has not wholly collapsed. The authorities continues to attraction connected preserving its nationalist parks, specified arsenic Hwange and Mana Pools, which are important sources of overseas speech income. Regional practice has besides played a important domiciled successful maintaining stableness successful nan tourism industry. The Zambian and Zimbabwean governments proceed to activity together to beforehand nan Victoria Falls area arsenic a shared destination for tourists, emphasizing nan value of bid and practice successful preserving this iconic earthy wonder. Additionally, practice pinch neighboring Botswana and Zambia successful nan guidance of Hwange and Mana Pools further ensures nan information and sustainability of these captious tourism assets.

While nan governmental business successful Zimbabwe remains volatile, nan government’s efforts to protect its nationalist parks and collaborate pinch neighboring countries person helped prolong tourism, albeit astatine a reduced level.

Navigating Zimbabwe’s Complex Landscape

For travelers considering Zimbabwe arsenic a destination, it is important to enactment informed astir nan existent governmental and economical landscape. The tourism sector, erstwhile a root of dream for Zimbabwe’s economical recovery, is facing immense challenges, from nan ongoing governmental repression to infrastructural problems and information concerns. However, nan country’s earthy beauty, particularly its nationalist parks and iconic landmarks for illustration Victoria Falls, continues to tie those seeking unsocial recreation experiences successful Southern Africa.

Despite nan challenges, Zimbabwe’s committedness to preserving its tourer destinations and fostering location practice offers a glimmer of dream for nan future. As nan state navigates its turbulent governmental environment, nan resilience of its group and nan enduring allure of its landscapes whitethorn still connection a way toward revitalizing Zimbabwe’s tourism assemblage successful nan coming years.