Mnangagwa says Victoria Falls belongs 'exclusively' to Zimbabwe

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that Mosi-oa-Tunya, popularly known as Victoria Falls, belongs exclusively to Zimbabwe, rejecting the widely held view that the world-famous tourist attraction is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Mnangagwa made the remarks yesterday while addressing local and international visitors at the official opening of the ongoing Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbabwe World Tourism Expo at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre in Masvingo.

He argued that the geographical orientation of the falls meant that they belonged to Zimbabwe, using an analogy of courtship to emphasise his point.

"In Zimbabwe, we have a lot of beautiful places, to an extent that we cannot mention them one by one, that could attract tourists to visit our destination. God loved our nation. Mosi-oa-Tunya Victoria Falls, some say it is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but that is not true. If you are proposing love to a girl, you do not court her from behind but from the front. Victoria Falls faces Zimbabwe and has its back to Zambia," he said.

The declaration could potentially raise diplomatic sensitivities between Zimbabwe and Zambia, given that Victoria Falls is geographically and commercially associated with both countries. The Zambezi River forms part of the border between the two countries, with the falls straddling the frontier and accessible from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides.

Victoria Falls, whose original name is Mosi-oa-Tunya - meaning "The Smoke That Thunders" - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most renowned tourist attractions.

Mnangagwa's remarks come amid broader efforts by his administration to position Zimbabwe as a leading tourism destination and attract increased investment into the sector.

Tourism investment rose by 229 percent to US$132.3 million during the first half of 2026, up from US$40 million recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Domestic tourism has also recorded significant growth, with the number of Zimbabwean visitors increasing from five million in the first half of 2025 to 6.4 million during the same period this year.

Mnangagwa said the growth of tourism was also benefiting the country's creative and cultural industries, which contributed 8.8 percent to gross domestic product in 2025.

"It is commendable that growth in the tourism sector has had trickle-down effects on the creative and cultural industries, which contributed 8.8 percent to our GDP in 2025. The tourism sector is demonstrating growth, diversity and resilience. Models for tourism development must therefore continue on this transformative trajectory," he said.

While the President's comments were made in the context of promoting Zimbabwe's tourism attractions, assertions concerning the ownership of a major transboundary landmark such as Victoria Falls could attract regional attention, particularly given the long-standing cooperation between Zimbabwe and Zambia over tourism and management of the Zambezi River system.