by BERNARD CHIKETO
KATHY Kathewela, a representative of the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents, was elected president of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) at the industry body’s annual general meeting last Thursday, becoming the first agent to hold the post and its youngest leader to date.
The election, held at the Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, drew more than 30 representatives of corporate members, the 18 sectoral associations under the TBCZ umbrella, secretariat staff, and guests from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Airports Company of Zimbabwe.
Kathewela, previously vice president of the activities cluster, succeeds Clive Chinwada, a hotelier who served a two-year term. The council also elected three vice presidents: Emmah Kativu (accommodation cluster), Gideon Chaoraya (access cluster) and Lovemore Machipisa (activities cluster). Former access vice president Isabel Sachiti retired alongside Chinwada.
The TBCZ is the umbrella body for all travel and tourism operators, organised into sub-sector member associations spanning retail travel agencies, safari and hunting operators, car rentals and activities companies.
It lobbies government on industry matters; under Chinwada, the council urged a 12-month delay on a new 15.5% VAT on tourism activities, warning that 70% of tourism receipts are foreign-derived and that the tax threatened international bookings contracted up to two years in advance.
The leadership change comes as Zimbabwe’s tourism sector targets US$1.56bn in revenue for 2026, with international arrivals up 11% year-on-year in the first quarter and domestic trips rising to 2.62m. The government is pursuing a US$5bn annual tourism receipts target by 2030.
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