By ZBC Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched the second phase of the National Covid-19 vaccination programme in the resort City of Victoria Falls.
During this launch the President also took his first jab of the Sinopharm vaccine.
He said tourists will be encouraged to come in their numbers when they realise that the entire town has been vaccinated
Meanwhile, the Victoria Falls Community has expressed gratitude to the Second Republic under the visionary leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the special attention and priority which has been given to the tourism capital, amid optimism the mass Covid-19 vaccination will kick-start the recovery of the sector.
Efforts by the Second Republic to transform and position Victoria Falls into a globally competitive tourism destination have not gone unnoticed and the residents of the border city say they feel highly honoured.
Designated as a Special Economic Zone a few years ago, the premier tourism destination which recently graduated into a city is celebrating being the first city in Africa to have its entire population vaccinated against Covid-19.
“The second administration has done a lot for our city and we feel honoured as residents of this area. Never before have we received such attention.”
The tourism sector has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the mass vaccination campaign and tourism players are bullish the initiative will mark the beginning of the road to recovery.
“We are grateful for the support that we continue to get from central government as the tourism industry and we hope that this will mark the resumption of tourism activities following the devasting impact of Covid-19 on our sector,” Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe President Winnie Muchanyuka said.
As a payback to the Second Republic for the special attention that Victoria Falls continues to get, the tourism community has pledged to double their efforts and ensure the sector contributes more towards attainment of Vision2030.
“The only way that we can pay back for the special attention that we continue to get is by maintaining this destination as a safe and hospitable resort city. But most importantly we need to increase tourism contribution to the economy,” said Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting CEO Mr Givemore Chidzidzi.
With the majority of its population inoculated, the country’s tourism capital stands ready to welcome back international visitors to the beautiful city which has been voted among the safest destinations to visit post Covid-19.