Kariba’s once-vibrant eastern shoreline is rapidly turning into a ghost town, as tourism investors flee, amid collapsing visitor numbers and deteriorating infrastructure, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.
This marks the second major exodus from the region since 2000, when violent land seizures and the murder of white commercial farmers triggered global outrage and a sharp downturn in international arrivals.
Now, two decades later, a new wave of upheaval is sweeping across what was once the jewel of Zimbabwe’s tourism crown, this time driven by logistical nightmares and a dramatic fall in domestic arrivals.
“Key resorts such as Kariba, which rely heavily on road access, are having a tough time attracting weekend visitors and conferencing business,” said Farai Chimba, vice-president of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe, in an exclusive interview this week.
“This has had a ripple effect on occupancies, and several properties are on the market as operators exit the destination,” he added.
Latest data from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) reveals a sharp 18% drop in domestic arrivals in the first quarter, falling to 1,6 million from almost two million over the same period last year. Occupancy rates in Mashonaland West, where Kariba is a key destination, dropped by six percentage points to 27%, the ZTA said.
In a move seen as a bellwether for investor sentiment, Victoria Falls Stock Exchange-listed African Sun Limited (ASL) last week announced plans to sell its Kariba-based Caribbea Bay Resort, along with Harare’s Monomotapa Hotel.
“Further to the ongoing cautionary statements, shareholders and the investing public are advised that negotiations for the disposal of a selection of hospitality assets are still underway,” ASL said in a shareholder update.
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“If successful, these transactions will constitute a Category 1 transaction, and shareholder approval will be sought at an extraordinary general meeting,” the company added.
As operators quietly shift their focus to more stable destinations such as Victoria Falls, industry experts warn that Zimbabwe’s tourism ambitions could be derailed.
“To achieve the ambitious target of US$5 billion in tourism revenue, Zimbabwe must undergo a significant paradigm shift in its market sourcing strategy,” said Charles Chakanya, CEO of Kalai Safaris.
“Right now, we focus almost exclusively on overseas travellers, with minimal emphasis on African markets. A broader, more inclusive approach could unlock the full potential of attractions such as Victoria Falls,” he said.
Economist Trust Chikohora — former president of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce — added that global economic instability is also feeding into the local downturn.
“Inflation is affecting even first-world countries. People are losing jobs globally. Combine that with Zimbabwe’s internal problems, and you find that if tourism is down globally, it’s even worse here,” he said.
As investors retreat and travel slows, Kariba’s future as a premium tourism hub hangs in the balance — undermining not just local livelihoods, but also Zimbabwe’s broader economic recovery hopes.
