Zimbabwe’s marine tourism especially along the Zambezi River has been upscaled as Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga recently commissioned a luxurious boat called the African Dream in Kariba.
The boat was reportedly built at a whopping $2,5 million dollars. Another luxury boat is set to be assembled in Zimbabwe beginning in October by engineering firm, GDI who manufactured the inaugurated African Dream. GDI has built most of the luxury boats in Kariba.
GDI is renowned for having built the African Queen in Namibia and it is set to increase its presence in this country in line with President Mnangagwa’s famous mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business.”
The luxury cruise boat, inaugurated in Kariba, one of many projects in Africa by the Schimitter family, which owns 54 other boats across the world.
Vice President Chiwenga said the Zimbabwean government will not stand in the way of investors and challenged stakeholders in the economy to ensure there is ease of doing business and efficiency at border posts.
Retired General Chiwenga added that the coming on board of the French family in the local tourism sector is testimony that Zimbabwe is open for business.
He however bemoaned the dearth of Kariba as a tourist attraction but expressed the hope the resort town can turn into a regional tourism hub, a feat that can be achieved by making it accessible through international flights.
A representative of the investor, Lucas Schimitter said the project clearly shows that Zimbabwe is a well deserving investment destination.
The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Hospitality Industry, Senator Prisca Mupfumira said the ministry is in the process of engaging provinces in its review of tourism standards, according to World Tourism Organisation (WTO) recommendations.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister, Ms Mary Mliswa described the launch of the African Dream as testimony of the strides being made by the government in rebuilding the economy and the role of tourism in the economic matrix.