By Sharon Chimenya
MASVINGO — Tourism facilities across the country have been strongly encouraged to register before the end of this month or face closure starting next month, authorities have announced.
Addressing the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbabwe preparatory meeting last week, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr. George Manyaya highlighted that, in a bid to promote the ease of doing business, the authority has also significantly reduced its rates.
He said that as Masvingo Province gears up to host the World Tourism Expo, tourism facilities should consider registering to ensure competitiveness and investor security.
“We are going to have international visitors in Masvingo, but you are also aware that most of our facilities are not registered. We only have 864 registered facilities, but we know there are more than 2,000 lodges, B&Bs, and restaurants. For national security, competitiveness, and the safety of our investors, can we allow our investors to sleep in unregistered facilities?” he said.
“What we have done through the government is introduce a statutory instrument that encourages all tourist facilities to register, and we want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe, through His Excellency, for walking the talk,” he said.
“The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) said, to promote the ease of doing business, let’s slash rates by 50 percent, and it has been done. So, what we need now is to implement it. If you heard the opening remarks of the Cabinet, he said the issue of slashing license fees should be resolved by the end of this quarter.”
He urged stakeholders to support the vision and encourage those with unregistered facilities to register.
The Authority has set February 28 as the closing date for the registration process, which means that by March 1, with the assistance of law enforcement agencies, they will begin enforcing the law.
“We are encouraging all tourist facilities to renew their licenses and register by the 28th of February. On the 1st of March, together with law enforcement agencies, we will be enforcing the law. It is not good to close facilities, but sometimes, what can we do? We have to follow the laws. There will be a national blitz,” he said.
“Imagine your popular restaurant being closed down. The impact on customer confidence could mean they may never return, even if you pay and reopen after a day. So, with this leeway until the 28th of February, please comply with the law so that by the time we come to Sanganai, everyone will be registered.
“If you visit restaurants, you will find a bottle of Glenfiddich 15-year-old going for about US$180, but the President is saying we have slashed the rates. Just pay US$150 a year to be compliant—the price of one bottle. Let us encourage people. Let us be compliant.”
Meanwhile, according to the circular, the ZTA, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will conduct nationwide inspections across all ten provinces to verify registration status, ensure adherence to regulatory standards, and take enforcement action against all non-compliant operators.
They have encouraged members of the public not to use unregistered tourism facilities and have urged them to report any facility operating without valid registration to the Authority.