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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
VICTORIA Falls has become the first tourism destination to embrace the inclusive tourism concept in the region following installation of braille plaques at the airport and Rainforest for visually impaired visitors.

The Braille for Tourism is one of the first products towards an all-inclusive tourism offering people with disabilities a chance to experience different tourism sites and attractions in Zimbabwe.

Mobi Tech Smith Zimbabwe came up with the initiative in partnership with the Braille for Africa.

Locally, Mobi Tech Smith Zimbabwe partnered Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ), Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in promoting the unique inclusive tourism product.

Mobi Tech Smith first installed braille material at Wild Horizon’s Lookout Café in Victoria Falls last year and has expanded the product to the Victoria Falls International Airport and Rainforest for visually impaired tourists.

The initiative dovetails with the Second Republic’s policy of leaving no one or no place behind and is in line with the country’s aspirations for an upper middle-income society by 2030.

People living with disabilities make 10 percent of the population.

Tourism Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu officially launched the Braille Tourism, Inclusive Tourism product last Friday.

The occasion started with a tour of the giant airport where braille plaques have been put at the information desk, security check point and immigration desks. At the Rainforest the signposts have been put near David Livingstone statue and along the footpath followed by tourists while touring the magnificent falls.

Visually impaired Mr Masimba Kuchera and Ms Edith Masongo from Centre for Disability helped read the braille material.

Minister Ndlovu said the initiative is a milestone for tourism recovery and transformation as the sector recovers from the impact of Covid-19.

He said persons with disabilities must get equal access and services from tourism products and services, which the Government must actively provide as enshrined in the constitution.

“We are gathered here today to launch the first phase of a key novel project called The Braille Tourism, Inclusive Tourism product in Zimbabwe.

This is a culmination of our efforts, as the Second Republic to align the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1 2021-2025) through mainstreaming disability in all our planning and activities,” said the minister.

“President Mnangagwa has guided us that as he develops this great nation, he is ‘leaving no one and no place behind’.

This is yet another demonstration where we seek to provide our citizens unfettered equal rights to enjoy of our tourism products and services that is central to the Second Republic.

“The Braille for Tourism, is a means through which we seek to afford all citizens equal opportunities to the top-class services that includes our tourism sector.”

Minister Ndlovu said the initiative had to be launched in Victoria Falls because it is the prime tourist resort and to show clear intent and commitment to uplifting citizens.

He commended tourism partnership with the private sector.

“This milestone will make Victoria Falls the first ever inclusive city in Zimbabwe and Africa, allowing the visually impaired to travel for purposes of tourism in confidence,” he said.

“We thank Mobi Tech Smith Zimbabwe and Braille for Africa for this great initiative.

The visually impaired deserve a chance to access our facilities.”

President Mnangagwa recently launched the National Disability Policy to empower people with disabilities towards the national agenda of inclusive development and growth and called for an end to marginalization and exclusion.

“This is one of the key reasons why I am here today, assigned by the President to support fully The Braille for Tourism.

This project must be taken seriously in our sector,” said Minister Ndlovu.

The initiative is also in line with the country’s Education 5.0 and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) thrust of promoting accessible tourism initiatives and towards the achievement of the Universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mobi Tech Zimbabwe director, Mr Enock Mawema, said the idea was to make Victoria Falls an inclusive tourism city.

“We are looking at making the whole country inclusive and at no point leave people with disability behind.

We want all road signs here to have braille plaques and we will spread to the whole of Africa,” said Mr Mawema. – @ncubeleon.