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Zimba cites role of heritage in national development

Zimba cites role of heritage in national development
By Edwin Mbulo and Mutale Kapekele in Livingstone
Wednesday May 21, 2008 [04:00]

AFRICA’S poverty levels, unemployment and HIV/AIDS have been addressed at the expense of the continent’s heritage resources, Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources permanent secretary Mukuka Zimba has said. Opening the 25th Africa 2009 steering committee meeting at Wasawange Lodge on Monday, Zimba said it was however gratifying that many governments had now recognized the vital role heritage played in national development.

“Africa is today grappling with a number of issues, poverty, pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, unemployment and in general low standard of living of its people,” she said.
Zimba noted that most developmental projects had been undertaken without due regard to Africa’s priceless heritage.

“There are several ways in which heritage preservation contributes to national development. Firstly, heritage preservation is essential because it contributes towards tourism diversification thus increasing the range of tourism attractions which is the basis for sustainable tourism industry,” she said.

Zimba indicated that heritage played a vital role in creating employment through a host of leisure resorts that developed around heritage sites.

And Africa 2009 steering committee chairperson Emeline Raharimanana said the committee wanted to widen the heritage expression as a pride of social economic development.

Raharimanana said heritage resources gave value to the pride of Livingstone town and that Africa received value, knowledge, competence and assistance in partnerships.
“The Zambian government should be commended for reinforcing and assisting the National Heritage Conservation Commission and the Africa 2009 programme,” said Raharimanana.

The steering committee meeting draws its members from chief executives of heritage institutions in Africa and is under the Africa 2009 programme on capacity building launched in Abidjan in 1998.

Labels: GOVERNANCE

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