Rupiah complains against white safari operators

Rupiah complains against white safari operators
Written by Chibaula Silwamba in Nsumbu, Lake Tanganyika
Monday, January 12, 2009 6:29:35 AM

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda last week complained that some white safari operators in Mfuwe were blocking Zambians from opening lodges “as if the wild animals there were theirs.”

And President Banda instructed Northern Province chairman Grievers Sikasote and Chimbamilonga MMD parliamentarian Brian Sikazwe to give the money he had left to all MMD cadres who had gone to welcome him at Kasaba Bay.

After finishing his tour of the government-owned but rundown Kasaba Bay last Thursday, President Banda was heard complaining, while talking to tourism minister Catherine Namugala, that some white safari operators in Mfuwe were blocking Zambians from opening lodges.

President Banda, Namugala and Sikasote engaged in deep conversation on how some white safari operators in Mfuwe in Eastern Province were trying to block Zambian entrepreneurs from investing in the tourism industry.

President Banda remarked: "There are a lot of young Zambians in Europe who want to build lodges there [Mfuwe] but they say, 'No! It's enough!'"

In response, Namugala said some white safari operators said Zambians lacked capacity.

Just before Namugala could finish talking, President Banda chipped in agreeing with her that he also heard the operators saying Zambians lack capacity to run safari companies.

"Capacity, yes, you heard them also?" President Banda asked Namugala as she responded: "Yes I did."

Namugala narrated a scenario she encountered during her and President Banda's holiday in Mfuwe during the Christmas/New Year period, where some safari operators were saying there were a lot of vehicles and the game park was crowded.

"They said animals want space," Namugala said.

At this point President Banda sharply responded, "Nizanu nyama? [Are those animals theirs?]"

Sikasote told President Banda and Namugala that Zambians had enough experience to run lodges in the tourism industry.

"As Zambians, we have enough experience," said Sikasote.

The trio was speaking after they finished touring Kasaba Bay and part of the shore of Lake Tanganyika, on their way to the conference room to meet white Zimbabwean investors that want to take over Kasaba Bay on lease.

And President Banda later asked Sikasote and Sikazwe if the cadres had eaten.

But Sikazwe told him that the cadres had not eaten because the food was in the truck, which had been involved in an accident, in which some party members were injured.

President Banda instructed his aides to give K5 million to the party leaders to distribute to the cadres.

"Mr Mulimba, give them something," President Banda ordered.

He told Sikasote and Sikazwe to make sure that everyone got part of the money and that no one should be left out.

"Everyone should be given something," President Banda said.

Later, Sikasote and Sikazwe went to the cadres to brief them about the money President Banda had left for them.

The cadres were overjoyed and sang praise songs for President Banda, as Sikasote addressed them in their local language.