Developing cultural heritage villages to boost tourism – VP Mohadi

VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi has announced that Government is developing comprehensive plans to establish tourism cultural and heritage villages across the country, targeting key resort areas as part of efforts to enhance Zimbabwe’s tourism offerings.

VP Mohadi said this following a tour of the Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village in Lesotho last week. The village, a renowned national monument, captures the history of Lesotho since its founding in 1824 by King Moshoeshoe I.

Thaba Bosiu, meaning “mountain at night,” is said to have mystical powers, growing taller at night to protect King Moshoeshoe’s people from enemies during wars. The site now features restaurants, a museum, a cultural village, and an amphitheatre, contributing significantly to Lesotho’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Inspired by the concept, VP Mohadi indicated that Zimbabwe is exploring similar projects as it aims to achieve Vision 2030.

“It is something we, as Zimbabweans, can learn from them. We don’t have such a cultural village in Zimbabwe, but we can still do it through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural working together with the Tourism Ministry and other line Government agencies,” he said.

He proposed creating a Zimbabwean cultural village in key tourist areas such as Victoria Falls, allowing visitors to experience Zimbabwean culture.

“They can come and learn a lot here. It will be good to have such a cultural village which is Zimbabwean, especially in places of tourist attraction like Victoria Falls where people can also sample the Zimbabwean culture,” said VP Mohadi.

The Vice President was in Lesotho on behalf of President Mnangagwa to attend the country’s bicentenary celebrations, which coincided with its 58th Independence Day. His three-day visit also provided the opportunity to engage with Zimbabweans living in Lesotho, addressing issues such as bilateral relations and nation-building.

VP Mohadi emphasised the significance of his interactions with the Zimbabwean diaspora, which includes professionals from various fields such as business, medicine, academia, and engineering.

He assured the community that concerns over delays and high costs in permit processing were being addressed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa.

Additionally, he highlighted Zimbabwe’s strong bilateral relations with Lesotho, noting the two countries’ Joint Permanent Commission, which has facilitated military training programmes at the Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) for Basotho personnel.

The Vice President also encouraged investment from Basotho in Zimbabwe, assuring them of the safety of their investments.

While reflecting on the progress made by the Second Republic, VP Mohadi acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change and illegal sanctions from Western nations, which continue to hinder Zimbabwe’s path to full transformation.