The City of Victoria Falls is currently hosting a high-level delegation from Phalaborwa Municipality in South Africa, marking a significant step forward in regional cooperation under the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative (TLSDI). The visit, aimed at exploring a formal twinning arrangement between the two municipalities, reflects renewed efforts to deepen cross-border collaboration more than two decades after Zimbabwe and South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2001 to promote shared regional development.
The engagement brings together municipal leaders, planners, and development experts from both sides of the border to explore practical ways of fostering economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development. The TLSDI, a framework designed to coordinate development along the Limpopo corridor, provides an institutional platform for municipalities, businesses, and civil society actors to work together across national boundaries.
During the visit, officials from Phalaborwa and Victoria Falls are engaging in technical discussions, site visits, and policy dialogues aimed at identifying priority areas for collaboration. The twinning arrangement is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, joint planning, and coordinated implementation of projects in sectors such as tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and environmental management.
“The essence of the TLSDI is to ensure that municipalities do not operate in isolation,” said a senior official from Victoria Falls Municipality. “Cross-border collaboration allows us to leverage resources, share best practices, and jointly address challenges that transcend national boundaries. Our engagement with Phalaborwa is a concrete step towards implementing the objectives outlined in the 2001 MoU and translating regional cooperation into tangible local development outcomes.”
The initiative has particular relevance given the economic and tourism potential of the Victoria Falls–Phalaborwa corridor. Victoria Falls, a globally renowned destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Phalaborwa, known for its mining and eco-tourism attractions, can benefit from integrated tourism promotion, infrastructure linkages, and coordinated marketing strategies. By formalizing a municipal twinning arrangement, the two local authorities aim to create synergies that enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people connections.
Victoria Falls Hosts South African Delegation to Strengthen Cross-Border Development Ties
Officials from Phalaborwa Municipality expressed optimism that the partnership will strengthen the capacity of both municipalities to plan strategically and manage growth sustainably. “We see immense value in exchanging technical expertise, learning from each other’s experiences, and collaborating on projects that can boost local economies,” said a member of the South African delegation. “Twinning with Victoria Falls opens up opportunities for joint initiatives in areas such as waste management, renewable energy, and community development, which are vital for sustainable growth in both regions.”
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has thrown its weight behind the initiative, underscoring the strategic importance of sub-national cooperation in achieving inclusive development. By facilitating interactions between municipal leaders and development practitioners, the Ministry aims to ensure that cross-border partnerships translate into practical interventions that improve the livelihoods of communities.
Experts note that twinning arrangements between municipalities can accelerate development by fostering institutional learning, enabling access to funding, and promoting shared innovation. Such collaborations often lead to improvements in service delivery, enhanced disaster preparedness, and coordinated responses to regional challenges such as climate change, water management, and infrastructure development.
For Victoria Falls, the engagement with Phalaborwa represents more than just a diplomatic exercise; it is an opportunity to position the city as a hub for regional collaboration and sustainable tourism development. Joint initiatives could include cross-border festivals, cultural exchange programs, skills development workshops, and co-branded tourism campaigns, all of which can stimulate economic activity while strengthening social cohesion across the Limpopo corridor.
The discussions also have a forward-looking dimension, with both municipalities exploring mechanisms for long-term cooperation, monitoring, and evaluation of joint projects. By formalizing roles, responsibilities, and governance structures, the twinning arrangement is expected to institutionalize collaboration and ensure continuity beyond the current delegation visit.
As the dialogue continues, stakeholders are hopeful that this partnership will serve as a model for other municipalities along the Zimbabwe–South Africa border. By demonstrating the benefits of coordinated planning, shared resources, and mutual support, the Victoria Falls–Phalaborwa collaboration underscores the transformative potential of sub-national diplomacy in advancing regional development objectives.
In essence, the TLSDI engagement is a tangible manifestation of the vision set out in the 2001 MoU, bringing to life the promise of cross-border development through municipal action. For Victoria Falls and Phalaborwa, the initiative is an opportunity to harness their unique strengths, stimulate local economies, and build enduring ties that contribute to a more integrated, resilient, and prosperous Southern African region.
Source- ZBC
