Story by Yolanda Moyo
COMMUNITIES surrounding Victoria Falls are increasingly diversifying their livelihoods beyond tourism, embracing sustainable income-generating projects in response to lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shift is being supported by conservation authorities, who view stronger local economies as essential to both community resilience and environmental protection.
For more than two decades, Lupinyo village resident Thabani Mkandla relied solely on selling handcrafted curios to international tourists. That changed when global travel restrictions during the pandemic brought tourism to a standstill.
Today, his family depends on poultry production, vegetable farming and other small-scale enterprises, providing a more stable source of income.
“For over twenty years I depended entirely on tourists buying our carvings and curios. Some days were very good, and I could pay school fees, buy food and support my family, but when COVID-19 came, everything stopped overnight. There were no visitors, no markets and no income.
“That experience taught me that depending on one source of livelihood is risky. I started with a few chickens and a small vegetable garden. Gradually, I expanded into poultry production and growing different crops. Now, even when tourist numbers fluctuate, my family still has food on the table and we continue earning an income. Tourism is still important to us; I am still selling wares here,” he said.
Traditional leaders say the pandemic exposed the need to build more resilient local economies through diversified community enterprises.
Chief Whange said communities are now being encouraged to invest in poultry production, horticulture, beekeeping and livestock farming to strengthen food security, create employment and reduce pressure on natural resources.
“COVID-19 was a wake-up call for our communities because it showed us how quickly livelihoods can disappear when visitors stop coming. As traditional leaders, we are encouraging our people to establish projects such as poultry, horticulture, beekeeping and livestock production so that households have several sources of income.
“These projects improve food security, create employment for young people and reduce poverty. When people have stable livelihoods, they are also less likely to exploit natural resources in unsustainable ways because they have alternative means of supporting their families.”
Chief Mvuthu said communities are also being encouraged to establish Village Business Units that support cooperative ventures in poultry, beekeeping, goat production, fisheries, crop farming and value addition.
“We realised that depending entirely on tourism leaves families vulnerable whenever there are global crises beyond our control. That is why we are encouraging our people to establish Village Business Units where households work together in poultry, beekeeping, goat production, crop farming, fisheries and value addition projects. These enterprises create jobs for young people and women while ensuring that benefits remain within the community. Sustainable development begins with strong village economies.”
According to the World Tourism Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented collapse in international tourism, exposing the vulnerability of communities that relied almost exclusively on visitor arrivals. The experience has prompted governments and development partners to promote diversified rural livelihoods to improve resilience against future economic shocks.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) Director of Scientific Services Professor Never Mboko said sustainable livelihoods are now central to conservation efforts.
“As ZimParks, we recognise that successful conservation cannot be achieved without communities benefiting from the natural resources that surround them. That is why we are promoting sustainable livelihood programmes alongside conservation initiatives. These include climate-smart agriculture, beekeeping, fisheries, community-based tourism, value addition and other enterprises that improve household incomes while reducing pressure on protected areas.”
The approach reflects a growing global conservation model that recognises local communities as key partners in protecting biodiversity while advancing inclusive economic development.