Victoria Falls' Innovation and Path to Sustainable Growth by 2030

His Worship, Councillor, Prince, Thuso Moyo, Mayor of City of Victoria Falls, outlines the city's post-2020 infrastructure upgrades, community-driven tourism recovery strategies, robust digital platforms for transparent service delivery, and promising opportunities for partnerships to build a smart, green city by 2030.

The city, upgraded from town status in 2020, has launched a US$15 million WASH project—raising US$4.5 million through stands sales—to construct 5 million and 750,000-liter water reservoirs, improving supply despite infrastructure lags.

Tourism, employing 90% of residents, suffered severe COVID-19 setbacks with business closures, prompting strategies like small business stands in areas like Kishasa, youth skills training to curb substance abuse, and support for vulnerable groups.

Digital transformation is central to enhancing transparency, efficiency, and global accessibility: leveraging platforms like Facebook (for live-streaming updates), WhatsApp, Twitter, TikTok, a chatbot, and website for resident engagement; enabling seamless online payments via EcoCash and internet banking; and allowing remote applications for housing, tenders, and licenses - even for diaspora residents. A dedicated new planning department and submitted master plan further embed initiatives like digital signages, positioning the city as a tech-forward hub to attract international investors and streamline operations toward sustainability goals.

Partnerships with NGOs like PRI for city cleaning and MOUs with community leaders advance the 2030 vision of a smart green city - the cleanest by then -fostering investments like four to five new hotels.

Challenges include bureaucratic delays in ministry approvals, but no major political instability; the peaceful environment attracts global tourists and funds, prioritising tourism as one of Africa's seven wonders.