Maravi

Sata invites Indians to invest in Zambia's hotel industry

Sata invites Indians to invest in Zambia's hotel industry
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 27 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has invited investors running a chain of hotels in India to invest in Zambia. President Sata said this when he held an investment promotion meeting with the chairman and managing director of UMEID Group of Hotels in Ahmedabad, Ummeid Champawat.

According to a statement issued from India by President Sata's special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah, the meeting was in the President's continued efforts to woo investors into the country. President Sata said the government was ready to facilitate investment in the hotel industry.

"President Sata assured Mr Champawat of his administration's readiness to work with investors who would contribute to the development of tourism in the country," stated Chellah.

Chellah stated that President Sata was flanked during the meeting by Zambia's High Commissioner to India Susan Sikaneta and first secretary for press and tourism Bwalya Nondo.

And Champawat, who was accompanied by The Gateway Hotel general manager Darius Merchant, said his company was eager to invest in Zambia.

"It is the President's desire to ensure that Zambia maximises on economic benefits from the forthcoming World Tourism Assembly (WTA) to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe," stated Chellah.

"To this end, construction of hotels prior to the event scheduled for next year will go a long way in enhancing tourism development in the country."

President Sata had travelled to India last week.

There has been speculation about President Sata's health in the country and on Indian internet media.

However on Sunday, President Sata said speculation about him dying was wishful thinking. In a telephone conversation with Post editor Fred M'membe, President Sata assured that he was fine.

"I spoke to the President and first lady about 15:00 today (Sunday). His voice sounded very strong and he joked about all sorts of things. And we got to discuss some serious business about poverty and how impressed he was about how India is looking after the poor and how we should learn from their experience in looking after the poor," M'membe disclosed.

"Reducing poverty in Zambia seems to be something really troubling his mind. He seems to be in a hurry about addressing this problem and looking for inspiration and solutions everywhere he goes."

He said President Sata told him that the town he is in had the same population as Zambia's and that he was impressed with how clean it was and how the poor were being looked after there.

"He said that speculations about him dying are wishful thinking. He said he can't understand why there is so much speculation about his health," said M'membe.

The Times of India had reported that President Sata had undergone laser procedure for a urological disorder at Samved Urology Hospital.

Yesterday, DeshGujarat News which had reported on Saturday that President Sata was in India for treatment, posted on its site that President Sata had been discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment.

But Vice-President Dr Guy Scott denied the Indian media reports.

According to the Voice of America, Vice-President Dr Scott said it was normal for the President to go on a private visit and undergo a medical checkup.

"He went to India for a personal visit and, whenever I make a personal visit, I have a checkup, and maybe he is having a checkup too. It was planned for quite long time ago. There have been many times that he President Sata has been pronounced dead. So, we are a bit used to it here," he told VOA.

Vice-President Dr Scott accused UPND members of jubilating over Sata's supposed health problems.

"There is no good reason to suppose our boss is sick. He might have gone for a checkup. You expect to have a checkup, and I would certainly have a checkup because, when you passed 50, it's best to watch the gauge on the dashboard," he told VOA.

Labels: FDI, GEORGE CHELLAH, INDIA, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 7:04 PM