Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa Claims Exclusive Ownership of Victoria Falls, Prompting Zambian Rebuttal

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that Victoria Falls belongs solely to Zimbabwe, rejecting the long-standing understanding that the world-famous waterfall is shared with neighbouring Zambia.

Speaking on 9 September 2026 at the official opening of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo, Mnangagwa told local and international delegates that claims of joint ownership are incorrect. Using a colourful analogy, he said: “If you are proposing love to a girl, you do not court her from behind but from the front. Victoria Falls faces Zimbabwe and has its back to Zambia.”

He added that Mosi-oa-Tunya (the indigenous name meaning “The Smoke That Thunders”) is not a shared asset. “Some say it is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but that is not true,” Mnangagwa stated while promoting Zimbabwe’s tourism attractions.

Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, straddles the Zambezi River on the border between the two countries. Both Zimbabwe and Zambia operate national parks and tourism facilities on their respective sides, and visitors commonly cross the Victoria Falls Bridge to experience different viewpoints.
The president’s remarks have drawn a firm response from Zambia. Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga rejected the claim, stating that the larger portion of the falls lies on the Zambian side. According to Muhanga, the waterfall measures approximately 1.7 kilometres in width, with about 1.2 kilometres on Zambia’s territory and 500 metres on Zimbabwe’s. He also noted that popular attractions such as Devil’s Pool and Angel’s Pool are located on the Zambian side.

The president’s remarks have drawn a firm response from Zambia. Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga rejected the claim, stating that the larger portion of the falls lies on the Zambian side. According to Muhanga, the waterfall measures approximately 1.7 kilometres in width, with about 1.2 kilometres on Zambia’s territory and 500 metres on Zimbabwe’s. He also noted that popular attractions such as Devil’s Pool and Angel’s Pool are located on the Zambian side.
Mnangagwa made the comments while highlighting growth in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. He pointed to a sharp rise in tourism investment, which increased by 229 percent to US$132.3 million in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period the previous year.