Declared the best country in the world to visit in 2025 by Forbes Magazine, and recently featured on IShowSpeed’s YouTube channel (the biggest streamer in the world), Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has had a bright spotlight on it. Not only in terms of its resorts but the cultural offering, and an injection of new blood into Zimbabwe Tourism Authority looks set to take advantage of this.
The minister of tourism and hospitality, Barbara Rwodzi, recently announced the appointed of a new board for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), effective December 31, 2025.
Heralded for their wealth of experience and expertise, the new board is expected to enhance destination marketing for Zimbabwe, while improving service delivery across the tourism sector.
The board will be chaired by seasoned hotelier, Farai Chimba, with experienced hospitality executive, Lizzie Makwezwa serving as deputy chairperson. Among its ranks will be National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) chief executive officer, Napoleon Nyanhi.
His distinguished career in the arts, culture and media sectors places at a confluence of disciplines that desperately need to collaborate as much possible. The executive is conscious of this and is looking forward to bridging the gap between sectors.
“Art and tourism are an inevitable synergy. We work together to transform a visit from a purely scenic experience into a cultural dialogue,” he stated in an interview with The Herald.
“IShowSpeed’s visit to Zimbabwe is a good example of how tourism and art can be linked, considering how the narrative of his visit was pushed by local creatives. Such an experience leaves us with a good challenge to come up with local creative initiatives that give our visitors an unforgettable experience, while marketing the brand Zimbabwe to the world.”
Nyanhi’s perspective will also be added to by Charles Munganasa, Charity Magutorima, Jeffreys Manjengwa, Gamuchirai Mangundu, Millicent Sibongile Mombeshora, Godfrey Pasipanodya, and Tarirai Musonza, who’ve al been named to the ZTA’s new board.
