Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Leonard Ncube, leonard.ncube@chronicle.co.zw
JADEL Football Academy (JFA) from China visited the resort city of Victoria Falls earlier this week, engaging in a variety of tourism activities, which will contribute to the growth of the sector.
Founded by former Motor Action Football Club player Walter Musanhu, the Beijing-based JFA team arrived in Zimbabwe last Thursday as part of a Southern Africa tour that includes visits to Zambia, Botswana and Namibia to explore cultural diversity.
The team visited Victoria Falls on Saturday and departed on Tuesday, boosting visitor arrivals during what is typically the low season for the resort city, which runs from January to March.
JFA is a thriving initiative that brings together children from various nationalities to focus on sports development. The academy is set to participate in the annual JFA Under-12 tournament in Harare, featuring 10 teams.
The team was hosted by Wild Africa Travel, a tour operator and travel agent with offices in Victoria Falls, Harare and China. During their visit, they took part in activities such as game drives, a boat cruise on the Zambezi River, a tour of the Victoria Falls, rhino tracking, a visit to the Big Tree, exploring the open market and sampling traditional and international cuisine at local eateries.
Wild Africa Travel’s operations manager, Ms Yvonne Luphahla, highlighted the visit’s cultural and economic significance.
“The purpose of the visit was to enhance cultural experiences and exchanges by exposing the visitors to different ways of life, enriching their understanding and appreciation of Zimbabwe,” she said.
“Through the visit, they learn more about wildlife and conservation, which also promotes team building ahead of the tournament. Victoria Falls, as Zimbabwe’s tourist hub, benefits by attracting visitors during the low season, which helps to boost arrivals and revenue. Some of these junior players travel with their families, increasing group numbers.”
Ms Luphahla added that more groups are scheduled to visit Victoria Falls for various activities, including the Harare Forum 2025 and the China-Zimbabwe Cultural Exchange, planned for August. These initiatives aim to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries through hosting cultural and business events.
Wild Africa Travel, which specialises in bespoke tours across Zimbabwe and Africa, collaborates with the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre to promote attractions and cultural experiences in both countries. The Exchange Centre, which organises the Harare Forum for Africa and China Civilisation Dialogue, expanded its activities to Matabeleland North last year, hosting events in Victoria Falls to showcase the region’s cultural richness and promote Zimbabwe as a top destination for tourism and investment.
The China-Zimbabwe Exchange Centre has worked with stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, tour operators and journalism students from Tsinghua University in China. These cultural exchanges present opportunities for Zimbabwe to benefit from China’s vibrant cultural heritage, including its Wu Opera and colour culture, while developing local cultural tourism.
The Government is advancing a heritage tourism agenda that highlights gastronomy, culture, religion and sport as emerging tourism products requiring aggressive marketing.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry is also implementing a “meet and greet” initiative, with ministry officials engaging with visitors at resorts during the festive season to enhance their experience.
