The toll of COVID-19 on restaurant business and the future in Zimbabwe: Case of Manicaland province

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc throughout the world across economies and social strati as evident from literature. Numerous employees lost their jobs industries hardest hit industry is tourism hospitality industry. Restaurant business a bigger component of many restaurants’ workers were left job less due to COVID-19. This study sought investigate toll on restaurants business. The country strategising towards attaining an upper middle income economy status by year 2030 (Vision 2030) using National Development Strategy 1 (NDS) noted concerns restaurant restaurateur Vision 2030. Recommendations keep in line with dictates NDS are given study. followed case approach Manicaland province used representative sample for whole Zimbabwe. Only Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) registered players considered this Data was collected questionnaires SPSS version 21 conjunction R software data analysis. researchers gathered restaurateurs, key stakeholders including ZTA, Hospitality Association (HAZ) (ROAZ). research results reflected that had impacted negatively Zimbabwe; worker retrenchments restaurateurs’ bankruptcy. For sustainable future, paper recommended restaurateurs join operators association engagement government.