ZITF, Tourism and the Indigenization Programme

As the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grinds to a halt in Bulawayo, it is a fitting moment to reflect on one of our most vital sectors: Tourism. The journey to transform this industry into a genuine engine for black economic empowerment is a story of real progress, tangible successes, and practical lessons for the road ahead.

I write this as someone who spent 11 years inside ZTDC (now RTG), the government?owned hotel group that proved what state?led empowerment can achieve. I watched derelict hotels rise to world?class standards and black professionals move from the margins to management. That experience taught me that transformation is not only possible, but it happens when government commits resources, patience, and genuine engagement with it's people.

What has been Achieved: A Foundation of Success

Let us first acknowledge the solid ground we stand on. National and Global Recognition. Government efforts have placed Zimbabwe firmly on the world map. At ITB Berlin 2026, Zimbabwe was crowned Destination of the Year – Natural Wonders, and Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Tourism Minister of the Year – Africa. Forbes Magazine named our nation the World's Best Country to Visit for 2025, with officials noting that Zimbabwe is recognized as a "safe, peaceful, war?free tourist destination". This global nod is powerful validation.

Policy as a Catalyst. These accolades are no accident. The Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act has created a framework for change that is the envy of the region. The 2025 Cabinet decision to slash licensing fees by 25–50% and scrap duplicate charges came directly from stakeholder engagement, proving that dialogue between government and operators yields tangible results. A five?star hotel registration dropped from US$5,250 to US$2,000; external tour operators from US$3,000 to US$1,500. We have a listening leadership indeed.

Institutional Powerhouse – ZTDC/RTG. The government did not just talk; it acted, buying and rehabilitating hotels and placing black Zimbabweans in charge. This is empowerment as it should be: patient, well?capitalized, and professionally managed. Moreso the achievements of NDS1 doesn't come as a surprise too, as it attest to the commitment being shown by the government to turn the economy around.

Indigenous Champions who Inspire

No policy document can match the power of real stories. Consider these home?grown successes as a road map from the First Republic to the Second:

Mrs. Tatenda Vatema Gunda – A former freedom fighter who entered tourism when the industry was dominated by white?owned enterprises. She started Tatenda Safaris in 1993 with just three second?hand vehicles purchased from a local auction, despite banks having "little confidence in black women because we did not have collateral". Today, her company, headquartered in Victoria Falls with branches in Bulawayo and Harare, boasts a fleet of over 50 vehicles, including four 60?seater buses, and two 30?roomed Lodges, one in Victoria Falls low density suburbs and the other in the surrounding reserves of Victoria Falls in Monde. She has won numerous accolades from regulators and stands as a bona-fide responsible citizen who built an economic tower from the most fragile of beginnings.

Vimbai Masiyiwa – She launched Batoka Africa in 2020 with her mother, becoming the first Black African female owner?operators of a safari lodge chain. Her entry at the height of the pandemic showed courage and proved that indigenous entrepreneurs can create world?class offerings even under pressure, as long as the government creates a conducive atmosphere for such progress.

Dr. Matifadza Nyazema – She created Mbano Manor Hotel Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe's first luxury boutique hotel owned by a Black female entrepreneur. TIME Magazine recognized it among the World's Greatest Places 2025. Her achievement demonstrates that with the right support and vision, indigenous operators can compete at the highest global level. Zimbabwe is surely open for business.

These women are not exceptions; they are evidence. They prove that when barriers are lowered, indigenous Zimbabweans can compete and win. They're so many such success stories in almost all our provinces in MINING and FARMING too. These 3 are the key movers of our Zimbabwean economy.

The "However": Refining the Engine for All

But, as ZITF teaches us, we must always look forward. These successes have not yet created a perfectly frictionless environment for every new operator.

1. Finance. Mrs. Gunda succeeded by bootstrapping her business, but this should not be the only path. Many black operators still find the financial ecosystem challenging. Loans from institutions like SEDCO often require collateral new entrants do not have, with repayment schedules that begin before a tourism business can find its footing.

2. Inflexible Incentives. Our duty?free import scheme for safari vehicles has been extended to 2027, a positive step. But it applies mainly to brand new vehicles, which remain out of reach for start?ups. Most turn to the second?hand market and pay full duties, placing them at an immediate disadvantage. A policy meant to help ends up favouring those with established capital.

3. Complexity and Costs. The spirit of the recent fee cuts was right, but the labyrinth of compliance remains. Overlapping local and national regulations, and the high bar set by industry associations formed decades ago, can deter agile newcomers.

4. The COVID?19 Lesson. When borders closed and revenues vanished, Parks and Wildlife continued to demand permit fees from operators earning nothing. For small indigenous businesses, this was a heavy burden. A more flexible crisis?response mechanism would recognize the reality on the ground.

5. Distribution Gaps. In agriculture, the Presidential Inputs Scheme was well?intentioned, but inconsistencies and occasional corruption meant some intended beneficiaries did not receive what was promised. The policy is sound; the delivery system needs strengthening, a lesson for tourism value chains as well.

Action Speaking Loudest

These mantras from His Excellency the President, "Zimbabwe is open for business" and "Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe liyakiwa labanikazi balo" (the nation is built by its owners) are not mere slogans. They are a call to practical action, but let us be clear about something deeper. We are Zimbabweans. We do things not to please an individual but ourselves. Our efforts in tourism indigenization are not about winning approval from any outside quarter. They are about building livelihoods, communities, and a prosperous nation on our own terms. And where we partner with others, we partner only with those who respect our cause, who see our entrepreneurs as equals, not as junior partners to be bought out when convenient.

Mrs. Tatenda Gunda answered that call. Vimbai Masiyiwa and Dr. Matifadza Nyazema answered it. These are not people who waited for perfect conditions. They found a way because the government had opened the door through permits, policy, and institutions like ZTDC/RTG that proved black Zimbabweans could lead and be successful.

The President's words are about action, not speeches. The licensing fee cuts of 2025 were action. The consultative forum in Victoria Falls was action. The global awards and the Forbes recognition are results of that action.

Now the next actions must follow as flexible financing, second?hand equipment incentives, streamlined compliance, and crisis?aware rules. Not because the government has failed, but because the work of building a nation by ourselves, for ourselves, is never finished.

Recognition Beyond Our Borders

The past year's our ZITF has been graced by almost all of our neighboring heads of state, a powerful testament to how formidable our policies have become and the attention they are attracting across the region. And this year President Boko of Botswana graced the occasion as our Guest of Honour, and his words carried weight. He applauded Zimbabwe for having a "visible meaning of work in each and every corner of the country" a direct acknowledgment that the transformation we are building is not confined to our cities but reaches into every community. When our neighbours see what we are achieving and choose to honour it, it confirms that the path we are on, the path of indigenization, empowerment, and home-grown development, is not only right but is being noticed.

Conclusion

Zimbabwe is open for business. And that business must be built by its owners, not to please any individual, but to please ourselves. We will partner with those who respect our cause, and we will stand apart from those who do not.

The indigenisation programme in tourism has already produced champions, policies, and global recognition. Let ZITF 2026 be the moment we commit to the final mile, ensuring that every indigenous operator, from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo to Harare, has the tools to build their own piece of Zimbabwe.

Action speaks loudest. Let us act and make our nation proud.