Rutendo Nyeve in Victoria Falls
A 29-year-old Victoria Falls-born entrepreneur has taken her sustainability management venture, Beyond Impact, to the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, where she is not only flying Zimbabwe’s flag high but also helping tourism businesses make sustainability measurable, provable, and a real competitive advantage.
Ms Tafadzwa Samantha Mazvaravana’s presence at the prestigious global tourism gathering comes just weeks after she and her husband, Mr Thamsanqa Mhlanga, launched Beyond Impact at an elegant ceremony in Victoria Falls.
Speaking from London on Tuesday, an excited Ms Mazvaravana said she was thrilled to represent Zimbabwe at one of the world’s largest tourism trade events.
“I am the founder and CEO of Beyond Impact, a sustainability management company helping tourism businesses make sustainability measurable, provable, and a real advantage,” she said.
“Today we are at the World Travel Market here in London, and honestly, I am so excited. We are here to connect with industry leaders, meet potential partners, explore exciting opportunities, and share what Beyond Impact is building. Our bigger vision is to help tourism businesses across Africa take meaningful steps towards sustainability.
“So at the WTM, we expect a little business, lots of networking, new discoveries and hopefully some exciting opportunities along the way,” she said.
The World Travel Market, held annually in the British capital, brings together tens of thousands of travel and tourism professionals from across the globe, making it a prime platform for emerging businesses seeking international exposure.
Ms Mazvaravana’s journey reflects a growing global shift towards sustainable tourism.
As travellers increasingly demand eco-friendly experiences, tourism operators worldwide are under pressure to adopt green practices and robust Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks.
Going green is no longer merely a marketing buzzword but a business imperative, with investors, regulators and consumers alike scrutinising the environmental and social footprints of travel companies.
For destinations like Zimbabwe, home to the iconic Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sustainability is both an opportunity and a responsibility.
Responsible tourism practices help protect fragile ecosystems, empower local communities and ensure that the benefits of travel are shared equitably, while also unlocking access to international markets that prioritise ESG compliance.
Beyond Impact, which Ms Mazvaravana leads as founder and CEO, is positioned at the heart of this transition.
The venture assists tourism businesses in designing, implementing and demonstrating credible sustainability strategies, turning good intentions into measurable results that can be proven to partners, investors and guests.
Her husband, Mr Mhlanga, is a co-founder of the venture, and the couple’s recent launch event in Victoria Falls drew praise from local tourism stakeholders who see Beyond Impact as a timely addition to the sector.
Ms Mazvaravana’s appearance at WTM London marks a significant milestone for a young Zimbabwean enterprise on the global stage, signaling the growing confidence of local entrepreneurs in competing internationally.
As the world’s tourism leaders gather in London this week, Zimbabwe’s flag is flying high, carried by a young woman determined to make sustainability not just a promise, but a measurable advantage for Africa’s tourism industry.
