Tourism: Mashonaland Central heralds ZimBho success story

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Writes Ronnie Chisamba

Bindura – The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), successfully launched the ZimBho domestic tourism campaign for Mashonaland Central Province last weekend.

Dubbed ‘Holiday in Zimbabwe, Holiday at Home’, ZimBho is meant to spearhead and promote the growth of domestic tourism during the forthcoming festive season.

In a speech read by Dr. Takaruza Munyanyiwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, on behalf of the Minister, Honourable Barbara Rwodzi, elaborated: “Our positioning statement is ‘Holiday in Zimbabwe, Holiday at Home’ a powerful statement that reminds us of the joy and experience that awaits us right within our own country.

“Furthermore, our tagline,’ Every journey Leads You Home’ encapsulates the idea that each exploration and adventure undertaken within Zimbabwe will lead us back to the heart and soul of our nation.”

ZimBho is a domestic tourism campaign for the festive season. Chief among its aims is to ensure that the tourism and hospitality industry plays an instrumental part in His Excellency, President E.D.Mnangagwa’s vision of making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income country by 2030.

“The overall goal of the Festive Season Campaign – the ZIMBHO is to drive economic growth through encouraging locals and the diaspora community to travel within our own borders this festive season, as they partake in the various festivities. The Festive Season Campaign – ZIMBHO feeds into the target of the U.S $5 billion economy by 2025 as set in the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy,” said Honourable Barbara Rwodzi in her speech.

The often tranquil Bindura Central Business District was momentarily brought to life by the event as artistes from various genres took turns to perform, to the ululation and rounds of applause of the audience.

Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa (the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry), Ms. Winnie Muchanyuka (the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive), Mr. Reason Machigere (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority executive director of special projects, overseeing domestic tourism and strategic research) and Mrs Petty Kateketa (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s Head of Domestic Tourism) were among the dignitaries who graced the event.