Livingstone, Zambia – Tourism officials from Zambia and Zimbabwe have renewed efforts to ease cross border travel as the two neighbours move toward creating a seamless tourism corridor along the Victoria Falls gateway.
The meeting took place this week in Livingstone where Zimbabwe was represented by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Tongai Mnangagwa, while Zambia was led by Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba. The talks were guided by the shared position of Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Hakainde Hichilema, who want citizens, traders and visitors to move freely between the two countries.
Officials said the engagement follows resolutions from the recent Bi National Commission which endorsed the decision to keep the Victoria Falls Border Post open for twenty four hours. That move is expected to increase tourist traffic and strengthen the Kavango Zambezi Tourism Region, which attracts thousands of visitors from across Southern Africa, including travellers from Eswatini who often transit through the region during regional tours.
The session brought together agencies responsible for tourism, immigration, customs, transport and security to refine systems that support efficient travel. Backed by the World Bank, the meeting centred on recommendations from the 2024 corridor assessment, which identified gaps in border operations, infrastructure and visitor handling.
Delegates agreed to produce a time bound action plan designed to ensure smoother movement across the border, strengthen the competitiveness of the two countries’ tourism hubs and protect the shared natural attractions that anchor economic growth on both sides of the Zambezi River.
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