By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
As Zimbabwe steps up its diplomatic and economic engagement on the world stage, the country is turning momentum into measurable growth by elevating its global brand. On the sidelines of the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, a high-level Zimbabwean delegation—led by His Excellency President Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa—is advancing the National Agenda of Branding and Positioning Zimbabwe under the National Development Strategy 2.
In a move set to redefine how the southern African nation is perceived globally, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon. Barbara Rwodzi and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer Dr. George Manyaya met with senior CNN executives. The high-level meeting included Phil Wilson, Vice President of CNN International, CNN Sales Director Zara Driss, and Regional Representative for Africa and Central Asia Imran Ahmad.
This strategic encounter marks a game-changing catalyst for Zimbabwe’s travel, tour, and hospitality sectors. By exploring a direct media partnership with CNN—a network commanding hundreds of millions of viewers across linear and digital platforms worldwide—Zimbabwe is positioning itself to dominate international travel conversations.
The timing could not be more opportune. Forbes Magazine recently named Zimbabwe the Number One Must-Visit Destination for 2025, validating the nation’s world-class travel offerings. Furthermore, the United States market has shown explosive growth, with American tourist arrivals climbing dramatically from 18,756 in 2021 to 109,959 in 2025. Leveraging CNN’s expansive global reach gives Zimbabwe the engine needed to convert high-profile acclaim into tangible results: increased arrival numbers, longer visitor stays, higher tourism spend, and expanded capital investment.
Beyond traditional leisure travel, the prospective partnership targets potential investors across the entire tourism value chain. Through targeted storytelling on CNN, Zimbabwe will showcase not only iconic wonders like Victoria Falls and vast wildlife sanctuaries, but also rich cultural heritage, vibrant gastronomy, and emerging adventure offerings.
By pitching directly to major global media leadership in New York, Zimbabwean officials have laid the groundwork to put the country firmly back on the international tourism map. This high-impact engagement signals a bold new chapter—one where Zimbabwe’s vast story, rich potential, and irresistible destinations are brought directly into millions of living rooms around the world.
