Parliament tracks progress on Victoria Falls mega projects

Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]

THE Parliament Portfolio Committee on Tourism and Hospitality Industry on Thursday undertook a familiarisation visit to the Masuwe Special Economic Zone in Victoria Falls, as Government steps up efforts to position the resort city as a competitive international tourism and investment destination.

The visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry provided legislators with an opportunity to assess progress on the flagship national tourism infrastructure project and its potential contribution to the local and national economy.

The Masuwe project is expected to transform the tourism and investment landscape of Victoria Falls by complementing existing tourism infrastructure while unlocking new opportunities for investment, employment creation and tourism growth.

In an update, Parliament noted that during the visit, the Committee was briefed on the scope of the project, its planned developments and progress towards implementation.

“Members heard how the project is expected to complement existing tourism infrastructure while creating opportunities for investment, employment and tourism growth, and had an opportunity to appreciate first-hand its scale and strategic importance to positioning Victoria Falls as a competitive international tourism destination.”

The economic significance of the Masuwe SEZ lies in its potential to broaden Victoria Falls’ tourism offering beyond traditional leisure activities by creating an integrated investment and business environment capable of attracting domestic and international capital.

The development is also expected to stimulate demand for accommodation, conferencing, retail, transport, hospitality and other services, creating downstream opportunities for local businesses and communities.

Parliament added that following the initial briefing, the committee toured the cricket oval under construction, where members were taken through the various stages of development and informed that the facility is expected to be completed by December 2026.

The cricket oval is expected to strengthen Victoria Falls’ sports tourism offering, providing an additional attraction capable of drawing international sporting events, teams, spectators and associated business.

Sports tourism can also complement the resort city’s established wildlife, adventure and conference tourism products, increasing visitor numbers and length of stay while generating additional revenue for the hospitality industry.

The visit formed part of Parliament’s oversight role in assessing progress, engaging stakeholders and promoting accountability in the implementation of major national projects.