(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) Essence of the Zimbabwean story
Sunday, 13 October 2013 01:39
Excerpts of a Presentation by the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo, to the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair 2013 Buyers and Media Cocktail held on Friday 11, October 2013, in Harare.
It is pleasing to note that the 2013 edition of the now industry-acclaimed Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair has brought together international buyers and media from Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America including the USA.
The inclusion of the USA reminds me of a proverbial incident involving Sarah Palin - the gaffe-prone vice-presidential candidate of John McCain’s 2008 losing bid for the White House.
Among many of her hilarious media-moments, Palin is famed for claiming that part of her international experience to qualify her for the number two job at the White House, was that she could see Russia and monitor events there from a window of her house in Alaska. But in a not-as-much-publicised related incident, Sarah Palin was asked by an interviewer which country alphabetically comes after the USA.
The question puzzled Palin and after lapsing into what appeared to be a trance, she came alive with a thunderous response delivered with the emphasis of a tea-party authority: “oh yes, the country which comes after the USA is the USB”, she told the bemused interviewer.
Well, I am sure we do not have with us at this 2013 Sanganai/Hlanganani Fair, international buyers or media from the USB. When everything is said and done, there’s a very important symbiotic relationship between tourism and the hospitality industry, on the one hand; and information, media and broadcasting on the other.
To understand that relationship, it is important to first appreciate that the main aim or critical purpose of the information, media and broadcasting sector in Zimbabwe is to tell the true and therefore authentic Zimbabwean story.
But in telling that story, there’s a twin challenge. First, not everyone has the same understanding of what the Zimbabwean story is or what the sources of that story are. Second, it is not self-evident or obvious to the information, media and broadcasting practitioners how the true Zimbabwean story is best told or what the best platform for telling that story is. We therefore must unravel this twin challenge.
To many, the Zimbabwean story is about events and incidents that happen in our country, specially the bad ones that grab the attention of the purveyors of headline news. From this perspective whose narrative is commonplace in and outside Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean story is headline news on the country as reported everyday by the local and international media.
While what is reported everyday as news is very important from the point of view of current affairs, it does not constitute the Zimbabwean story. This is because the Zimbabwean story is not about headline news but about the narration and projection of our God-given social, economic, cultural and natural heritage that makes us unique, different and thus unique as a people who constitute a world of wonders.
In this connection, the Zimbabwean story is about how our heritage has expressed itself in history, how it is expressing itself today and about how it is likely to express itself in the future in the light of its past and present expressions.
Against this backdrop, our heritage as the embodiment of the true Zimbabwean story is to be found in, among other things, our history; our geography; our institutions; our food; our culture and traditions; our arts; our sports; our monuments; our music; our wildlife; our leading biographies and our social, economic and cultural struggles in defence of our humanity.
These are but examples of our enduring sources of the true Zimbabwean story. One of the key questions we should interrogate as part of the 2013 edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani Fair is: How is the Zimbabwean story best told?
I have already indicated that telling the Zimbabwean story from the point of view of headline news is very limited and often misleading and thus not the best as that approach does not capture or convey our God-given social, economic, cultural and natural heritage.
The Zimbabwean story is best told through the platform of tourism and the hospitality industry. This is because, as a human endeavour, tourism is the convergence area or convergence zone of our heritage as a total package. Tourism mobilises the domestic and international consumers of our heritage in ways that tell the true Zimbabwean story.
In this context, tourism is the meeting point, the centrepiece or the engine of the Zimbabwean story. Although the Zimbabwean story is not to be found in headline news, it should be acknowledged that the negative onslaught against our country’s sovereignty, by those Anglo-Saxon countries that have imposed illegal sanctions and sought regime change through all sorts of foul means to the detriment of the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans across the political divide, has ironically benefited the telling of our true story by attracting unprecedented global interest in our country.
Because any news is good as far as brand recognition is concerned, our country has gotten a lot of free publicity from negative headline news. I don’t think there’s any rational living person or safari operator anywhere in the world who does not know that there’s a country called Zimbabwe and who is not interested in visiting or marketing our country for one reason or another.
The headline news of the last 14 years during which Zimbabwe has stood firm in defence of its sovereignty and God-given resources has made our country famous. However, as will be confirmed by your own experiences since your arrival for this Fair, travellers who visit Zimbabwe are pleasantly surprised to find Zimbabwe’s rich and exciting heritage which tells an engaging Zimbabwean story with nothing to do with headline news about fleeting events and incidents some if not many of which are either exaggerated beyond rationality or are in fact manufactured for negative political purposes.
As a result, the world is now keen to “meet” Zimbabwe in order to have the true and authentic Zimbabwean story not contaminated by negative or exaggerated headline news. It is for this reason that this World Travel and Tourism Fair is branded most appropriately as “Sanganai/Hlanganani”.
Through this Fair, you can “meet” Zimbabwe by feeling, experiencing, understanding and enjoying the country’s heritage which is the embodiment of the true and authentic Zimbabwean story.
What all this means is that whether you are here as a buyer or you are part of the media, you are essentially at the centre of the Zimbabwean story. We therefore welcome you and see you all as most cherished partners in telling our true story and look forward to continued interaction with you and your constituencies or markets beyond the Fair.
Labels: JONATHAN MOYO, TOURISM
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DEC nabs German tour guide over cannabis
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 14 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
COMMENT - Legalize it. What an assault on civil liberties, and what a waste of police time. - MrK
THE Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested a 42 year-old German tour guide for trafficking in cannabis.
DEC public relations officer Theresa Katongo stated on Tuesday that Albert M. Helmut, a German Tour Guide, had been arrested for trafficking in 200 grammes of cannabis concealed in a clear lunch box. Katongo stated that the suspect was apprehended at a weigh bridge in Livingstone.
In another development, Katongo stated that the commission has also arrested a 16-year-old pupil of Shishibeti village of Nchelenge in Luapula Province for being in possession of 0.02 grammes of cannabis.
She stated that others arrested in Luapula included Chama Musonda, 25, a carpenter of Mutuna village in Kawambwa for trafficking in 1.32 kilogrammes of cannabis, Douglas Chola, 22, a fisherman of Shinjoni village in Nchelenge for trafficking in 1.2 kilogrammes of cannabis and Francis Bwalya, 19, of Kawambwa for trafficking in 1.032 kilogrammes of loose cannabis.
And Katongo stated that on the Copperbelt, the commission had arrested Mike Zulu, 32, of Chifubu, Ndola, for trafficking in 20 tablets of diazepam and 7.4 mls of liquid diazepam.
She stated all suspects would appear in court soon.
Labels: CANNABIS, TOURISM
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Interview: Zim keen to mend UK ties, Mzembi
06/11/2013 00:00:00
by
FRESH from a comprehensive victory in the July 31 elections but confronted with an economy in serious trouble the Zanu PF government is looking at ways of mending ties with western countries - Britain in particular - which imposed sanctions the party blames for bringing Zimbabwe's economy to its knees.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi, who is in London attending the World Travel Market, made this clear in an interview with the BBC. Mzembi said despite the animosity of the last decade or so, there remained an “undeniable” link between Zimbabwe and Britain which could form the basis of a new relationship – as long as the UK dispensed with its master-servant approach and recognised that the former colony was now an independent and equal partner.
Mzembi spoke to the BBC’s James Coomarasamy ...
Jamie Coomarasamy (JC): You are particularly keen on - and you are not alone by any means - in trying to encourage Chinese visitors …
Walter Mzembi (WM): Absolutely because they are the biggest spenders now in the world; at US$140 billion they have surpassed Germany. But more importantly China is in that unique position where they are raising a whole new middle class – 300 million people have just entered the middle class in that country and we seek, obviously, to leverage on that critical mass in order to grow our tourism. If you are a tourism policy planner and you are just sitting not thinking China, you are not thinking Brazil, Russian and India then you should be fired because that is where the growth strategy is going.
JC: How successful have you been in getting Chinese visitors?
WM: Well, we were the first country … well there are many now that are now turning to the East, but we were the among the first to recognise that we had to adopt a Look East policy and it was obviously borne out of all the animosity that the Western world was exercising towards us; it made us turn immediately to the East and we adopted a Look East policy and by 2006 we had crafted and penned signatures on a preferred destination status agreement (with China).
JC: Your economy is has turned around in the last few years. Today, I see your government predicting 6 percent GDP growth for next year. How important is re-electing President Robert Mugabe to your country’s growth?
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WM: Well, President Mugabe is obviously a symbol of our nationhood. But having said that, he is obviously now in a position where he is able to raise a new generation going forward - I wouldn’t be here as part of leadership … at 50 I sit in the same Cabinet with President Mugabe at 89 and I can tell you there is no greater joy than obviously reading from that script because you can’t substitute that experience for anything, and you can’t shop it over the counter. But he is raising a generation to take over and that generation has got to write its own legacy.
JC: Are you thinking about … it sounds to me as though you’re already thinking about the post Mugabe era?
WM: Well, it’s inevitable that it will come when it will come …
JC: Will it be different to the Mugabe era?
WM: Well, it will be an era built on his legacy of total empowerment and liberation of the African and I can tell you there is no country like Zimbabwe where black people now own their full means of production in the land that has been bequeathed to them by him (Mugabe); that inheritance is obviously unparalleled - you can only read about it in the Bible.
JC: Isn’t one of the things you inherit though … very strained relations with the West?
WM: We will fix that (interrupted) ... that’s why I’m here. We have already started fixing that. The mere coming of the entire world to Zimbabwe (for the World Tourism Congress) and it was declared, not by me, but by the UNWTO themselves, as the best ever attended general assembly in the history of general assemblies … (interrupted)
JC: There was a lot of criticism about it (tourism congress) happening there though, do you still feel out in the cold?
WM: Unfortunately it was criticism coming from a country like the UK where I’m today … people that don’t belong, as it were.
JC: Are you trying to mend … bridges, fences?
WM: Yes, yes … we have an undeniable link with the British … a hundred years of investment relationships between each other. But times have changed; when a country assumes independence it assumes also the role of master and you must treat it equally and defer and submit to its own authority …
JC: Do the British treat you fairly?
WM: I think they still treat us unfairly …
JC: Still master and servant?
WM: I think that is the feeling back home - that it’s master and servant, and I think the sooner we begin to treat each other as equals the more and better for our relations going forward. I don’t think there is any country in Africa where the British have a higher incidence of investment than there is in Zimbabwe. And I don’t there is any other country also where the British are best disposed to maintain a foothold in investment in African than is the case in Zimbabwe.
JC: What do you say to British people though who might want to visit Zimbabwe but can’t get beyond the images of years ago of white farmers being chased off their farms? Is it a place that we should really feel safe going back to with Mugabe still in charge?
WM: Yeah, that is the unfortunate thing about global mainstream media. It continues to recycle images that are already in the past, that are virtually history. And it is the mischief of Africa’s inability to establish its own BBC, raise its own African CNN where it actually runs current fresh messages which are actually relevant …
JC: What’s the fresh message?
WM: The fresh message is that Zimbabwe is one of the most peaceful and stable democracies in Southern Africa and if you compare us to what is happening up north, the happenings in Kenya, more recently, in Egypt – you’d marvel at how much of a peace haven Zimbabwe has become; how much of a secure destination we’re to the extent that our crime rates are obviously the lowest in the region and everyone is free to move as they wish. The investment laws have been relaxed substantially, to the extent that you can get an investment licence in less than three days – in the past it would be 90 days. The currency regime multiple currency, we don’t even use our own Zimbabwean dollar at this juncture and we just reassured investors and the entire global village that we will be linked and riding on multiple currencies – that includes the US Dollar, British Pound and the South African Rand in the main for the next five years. So there is no exchange rate at all, we have eliminated it – and I think we are possibly and probably one of the most attractive investment destinations in southern Africa.
Labels: TOURISM, WALTER MZEMBI
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(NEWZIMBABWE) Tourism to bring in US$1.5bln: Kaseke
19/09/2013 00:00:00
by New Ziana
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has said the country can expect to earn US$1.5 billion from tourism by 2015 after successful hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference in August.
Zimbabwe and Zambia co-hosted the 20th UNWTO general assembly in Livingstone and Victoria falls towns respectively from August 24 to 29, Zimbabwean news agency New Ziana reported.
The conference was declared as having the highest attendance in the organisation's history, with 900 delegates from the media fraternity, 121 delegates from member states and 140 from all over the world, and 49 foreign ministers and 750 other delegates.
ZTA chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke said the benefits of hosting the conference were "incalculable".
"On average it takes between one to two years to see the positive benefits of hosting such a big event, however the biggest benefit is the endorsement of Zimbabwe as a safe destination.
"We expect to see the fruits of this endorsement in 2015 when we anticipate to receive three million international tourist arrivals translated to US$1.5 billion in terms of tourism receipts," he said.
Kaseke said the UNWTO general assembly had not left the tourism sector in the country dead but "livened it up instead".
"Tourism has not died after the conference but was left more alive in the sense that the impacts of tourism are going to be positive for a long time.
"When we were bidding we looked at the costs versus the benefits not financial. Zimbabwe has now been acknowledged by the UNWTO as a safe destination meaning any conference of any sort can be held here," he added.
The UNWTO general assembly was held for the first time in southern Africa and the second time on the African continent after it was hosted by Senegal in 2007.
Labels: KARIKOGA KASEKE, TOURISM, UNWTO, ZTA
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(NEWZIMBABWE) UK, US drive spike in overseas visitors
06/09/2013 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo
ZIMBABWE recorded a 12 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2013, with 859,995 visitors coming into the country compared to 767,393 during the same period last year.
According to figures released by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) on Thursday, the ever increasing regional trade and commerce also contributed immensely to this growth in arrivals, through the activities of business tourists, cross border traders and transiting tourists, mostly drawn from DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
“The second quarter of 2013 marked the build up to the harmonised elections. Tourist arrivals usually tend to decline towards, during and after an election. Surprisingly, the elections had little effect on tourist arrivals with a few exceptions such as Botswana, Argentina, USA, Singapore, Germany, Italy and Israel whose arrivals rose in the first quarter, but, suddenly declined in the second quarter,” said ZTA.
The market share for the overseas arrivals into Zimbabwe stood at 13 percent, compared to the market share for African arrivals, at 87 percent. This share went up one percentage point this year from 12 percent in 2012.
The combined arrivals from all overseas markets rose by 20 percent this year compared to last year, on the backdrop of exceptional increases from Europe (26 percent) and Asia (60 percent) with UK, France and China specifically registering outstanding performances.
Although registering a six percent decline, the United States registered the most overseas visitors with 19,681, down from 20,860 during the same period last year.
The United Kingdom saw a 72 percent jump in visitors from 10,499 in the first half of 2012 to 18,007 this year.
The first half of this year, average hotel room occupancy levels rose by two percentage points to stand at 41percent, from 39 percent in 2012. On the other hand, the average hotel bed occupancy levels, contracted by five percentage points from 37 percent in 2012 to 32 percent this year.
According to ZTA, Harare and Masvingo recorded significant decline in occupancies and research has shown that this was largely due to reduced conferencing activities during the first half of 2013 as compared to 2012 whose whole length had constitution making activities which had spilled over from 2011.
Notable increases were recorded in Victoria Falls and Midlands along with Hwange, Nyanga and Bulawayo which had modest increases.
"Increases in Victoria Falls during the first half of the year were to a certain extent caused by the clients rescheduling their intended bookings to earlier in the year, so as to avoid the hustle and bustle connected with the UNWTO General Assembly in the second half of the year,” the ZTA noted.
Labels: TOURISM, ZTA
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Hospitality body hails UNWTO indaba
September 2, 2013 Shingirai Huni Business
The Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe last week expressed satisfaction about the brisk business recorded during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly as hotels in Victoria Falls recording above 90 percent occupancy. Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the biennial global tourism event in Victoria Falls and Livingstone ahead of rich nations like Jordan and Russia that had also submitted their bids.
The 20th session of the general assembly saw the highest number of participants in the history of the UNWTO with 121 of the 154 member states attending together with 145 other countries, 750 delegates, 900 participants from the media and private sector and 49 ministers.
HAZ president Mr Tich Hwingwiri commended the Government for hosting such a big event, which saw the resort town and the country at large benefiting.
Mr Hwingwiri said it was a good period for everyone mainly in the hospitality industry.
“The event went on very well and all the hotels as well as lodges around Victoria Falls benefited during the course of the congress,” he said.
“Hotels were hovering above 90 percent occupancy and all the lodges also recorded brisk business. Some residents also benefited as they turned their homes into boarding houses,” he added.
He said the end of the general assembly did not mean business would fall as it had reached its peak season.
“Here in Victoria Falls we are already in our traditionally peak season, the season normally starts from June to December. So our normal business is actually on the climax, that is our position at the moment,” he added.
Meanwhile, co-hosting of the general assembly by Zimbabwe and Zambia has been described as a success not only for the two countries, but for the continent and the world at large. – New Ziana
Labels: TOURISM, UNWTO
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Low salaries for workers in tourist areas sadden Yeta
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Fri 30 Aug. 2013, 14:00 CAT
SENIOR Chief Inyambo Yeta of the Barotse Royal Establishment in Mwandi says the atmosphere where locals in tourist areas only have low-earning jobs like gardening and room attendants is perpetuating poverty.
Speaking at the Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area-UNWTO luncheon at Livingstone's Zambezi Sun Hotel yesterday, chief Yeta said locals were the owners of the region's natural assets, especially in the area of nature-based tourism but they had been to a large extent marginalised.
"Communities bore and continue to bear the cost of co-existing with
wildlife. Unfortunately, local communities have not benefited much economically from these resources, as they have been marginalised to a large existent," chief Yeta said.
"The only benefits accruing to communities, with exception of a few cases, are employment opportunities and mostly for low-earning jobs such as gardening, laundry, bar and room attendants."
He said support to community projects by some of the tourist operators was mostly out of their good hearts.
"This atmosphere has perpetuated poverty among the rural communities whilst enriching the private sector," chief Yeta said.
"It is against this background that as communities, we appreciate the development agenda of KAZA-TFCA where emphasis is placed on empowering local communities."
Chief Yeta said within the KAZA-TFCA context, tourism was a highly sustainable industry.
"We are of the considered view that for communities to effectively participate in regional tourism as economic players, there is an urgent need to have a paradigm shift among communities to realise that the communities are the resource owners," he said.
"As community, our next step should be to use our resources to engage the private sector to form joint ventures anchored on strong business principles without necessarily bequeathing our resources to them."
Chief Yeta said this could only be tenable if the government and civil societies assist locals in tourist areas to strengthen business skills and provide them with affordable capital to build tourism infrastructure.
Labels: CHIEF INYAMBO YETA, SALARIES, TOURISM
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Scott calls for aggressive tourism marketing
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Wed 21 Aug. 2013, 14:01 CAT
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says Zambia needs to aggressively market its tourist attractions if it is to be competitive in the region. And VIce-President Scott has advised investors not to listen to gossip making rounds at the Polo and Golf Club.
Speaking during the third Zambia International Investment Forum (ZIIF), Vice-President Scott urged the delegates to be honest and brutally frank about the difficulties of doing business in Zambia.
"One of the things that we have to learn to do is to make noise about ourselves and not to be content with being number two or three all the time," he said.
He said Zambia had a lot of wildlife protected areas surpassing combined wildlife areas of Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
"But yet our income from those areas is a fraction; it is 5 per cent of what these neighbouring countries are getting because they are serious. We in Zambia we are not serious, we wait for the price of copper to go up, import Japanese vehicles, we have a good time. The price of copper goes down, we regret, unemployment, poverty. Do we want HIPC? And then we go back again in the next cycle. We are not being serious in making an industry out of tourism," Vice-President Scott said.
He said the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly was important for Zambia to extensively market itself.
"We need to make noise about ourselves and make sure that the rich people from China, India and the Far East know that the Victoria Falls are in Zambia; Luangwa Valley is in Zambia," he said.
Vice-President Scott said the PF wanted to add value to all business transactions so that they benefit the local poor people.
"We want ordinary Zambians to be involved, we want ordinary people to participate in this; the whole benefit is not for somebody who is very rich and somebody who owns expensive capital assets while many poor Zambians remain cut outside the system," Vice-President Scott said.
He said the taxation structures as they evolve would benefit the people who create a lot of jobs.
VIce-President Scott advised the over 50 investors who include 25 foreigners to contact his office if in doubt on what the PF priorities were.
"I know that it is very difficult here in this country because of gossiping classes. The people we meet at the Polo club and the golf club do talk a lot of nonsense. I was reliably informed yesterday Monday at the Lusaka golf club that only half of the beds in Livingstone have been booked, because it UNWTO is 100 or 110 per cent in Zimbabwe. Checking it is completely untrue, so don't listen to gossip, come and see me or the Minister of Tourism if you have any doubt about what our policies are, what our priorities are," he said.
And according to a ZDA presentation, over 20 development sites in national parks countrywide have been listed for tourism concessions.
Labels: GUY SCOTT, TOURISM, ZIIF
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Siavonga cops arrest tourist for shooting at fishing rig
By Snike Mzulah in Siavonga
Thu 13 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
POLICE in Siavonga have arrested a tourist for allegedly firing shots at a fishing rig on Lake Kariba.
Dan Benani, a Lebanese tourist from Lusaka, was arrested on Monday at Kariba store checkpoint.
Siavonga district commissioner Brave Mweetwa confirmed the development and said the incident occurred on Saturday around 21:00 hours.
"I can confirm that on Saturday night around 21:00 hours, there was a kapenta fishing rig near the house where this man was lodging. He was not comfortable with a presence of the rig. So he used his boat to go and approach the fishermen on a rig to move a bit further because it was making noise for the children who wanted to sleep. So the rig couldn't move because the engine had a problem and needed to be pulled. But the fishermen continued fishing," said Mweetwa.
He said that after sometime, Benani who was angry went back driving his boat carrying a pistol and shot at a rig's lighting system although no one was injured among the fishermen.
Mweetwa, however, said he was impressed with the police for the action they took after the matter was reported to them.
Meanwhile, Mweetwa said it was sad that the matter was latter withdrawn by the complainant, the owner of the rig.
He said the police worked hard over the matter but the problem was the complainant who allegedly claimed money so that the case could be withdrawn.
"I cannot confirm whether the firearm was confiscated or not because I don't have that information yet," said Mweetwa.
Benani, who spent about five minutes in police cells, was released after Chalwe withdrew the case.
The fishing rig which had four men on board was a few metres away from the coast when it was shot at by Benani.
Labels: TOURISM
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Masebo justifies firing of ZAWA director
By Henry Sinyangwe
Thu 03 Jan. 2013, 15:00 CAT
TOURISM minister Sylvia Masebo says Zambia's wild animals were being airlifted out of the country without the knowledge of the state. Justifying the dismissal of Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) director Edwin Matokwani and four others, Masebo yesterday said she would ensure she takes the best action so that the country is protected from plunder.
"My actions were not only precipitated because of this issue. There have been many, many issues.
There are many wrong things that have been going on in ZAWA. Just from yesterday and today, I have received over 300 text messages, over 200 calls from all over Zambia… about what is happening in ZAWA and all these people have said this decision was long overdue and a lot of information is coming on how this country is being plundered. Our natural resources are being plundered.
How planes are flying into this country in all the air strips that are dotted all over some of these game parks and flying out without being detected by anybody.
So do you think that if I have powers to do something about it, I will be waiting for a long process? I would use the shortest process. It's just that I don't have that power. But there are many wrong things and when you know, your heart would bleed. You would feel sorry for yourself as a Zambian. And you say Zambia is poor and you are unemployed when other people come here to plunder your resources and you even start protecting criminals to your own detriment?'' she asked.
"In fact, I kept them too long. They should have gone the same day I came here if I knew what they were doing. But I didn't know but I am learning with time and many will go. You should be angry as Zambians that you are not in control of your natural resources and you are sitting there just busy politicking from the day of elections instead of looking at some of these issues."
Masebo said a combined team of security wings had moved to ZAWA headquarters to get the relevant files pertaining to some of the issues that were raised by her ministry so that they could do their investigations.
She said there were a lot of wrong things going on in the country which went unchecked at the expense of the majority poor Zambians.
Masebo said people did a lot of wrong things in the country but went unpunished.
"One thing happening in this country is that people that have been involved in corruption; the government has ended up having even to pay them.
After they have messed us up, after they have plundered, the government has ended up losing double and so the people have ended up being the losers. So you've got to be very, very careful on how issues like these are handled. Secondly, I want you to appreciate that if I did not take the steps I took, maybe at the end of the day, we would not get anything out of this case," she said.
Masebo said in terms of management, she had since put in place an interim management team for administrative purposes and the names would be announced once they received the letters.
"Maybe he Matokwani is right that we unlawfully dismissed him. But let me say this to you; it is always good to give somebody a fair hearing. I think it is important, it is necessary. But sometimes you need to appreciate the nature of the problem and sometimes you are forced to make decisions, action, in order that you don't get dribbled yourself," she said.
Masebo said there was need to use shorter processes when dealing with national issues such as plunder.
"For example, people get deported and I have heard people complain that there are too many deportations. Sometimes you should ask yourself the question, why should we spend so much money as a country on somebody that you all know has been doing things that are illegal in the country and you want to waste time to use a long process when the law allows you to use a shorter process. And why should we do that?
And from our past history as a country, that is what we have been doing. The state has been losing money, they go to court… sometimes files end up missing, witnesses are tampered with, and people get away scot-free,'' Masebo said.
Matokwani on Monday described the corruption allegations raised against him by Masebo as unfounded and untrue.
Matokwani, who was fired by Masebo on Sunday for alleged irregularities in the awarding of safari hunting licences, said in an interview that he was clean and ready to be probed by the ACC.
And Masebo said the ministry had lined up a number of construction programmes, starting this month, in preparation for the UNWTO general assembly.
She said the old Zimbabwe market had been demolished and marketeers relocated to other places.
The toilets will be constructed at Mukuni Park Trust, old bus stop and Livingstone City Council premises. The tender for the same will be awarded on January 4, 2013, she said.
Masebo said the Immigration Department had procured and would instal equipment at new facilities at the border posts. She urged artists to be creative and come up with songs that would help market the country.
Labels: SYLVIA MASEBO, TOURISM, ZAWA
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Neighbour from hell
Sunday, 21 October 2012 00:19
Emilia Zindi recently in Mola, Siyakobvu
Villagers of Siyakobvu in Mashonaland West are living in fear of a safari operator who allegedly instructs his workers to assault anyone they see near his premises.
In what appears to be a growing trend of safari operators refusing to accept the Government’s indigenisation programme, a Mr Steve Edwards, who runs Musango Safari Camp, has vowed to raze his lodges if forced to get into partnerships with locals. He is also accused of encroaching onto the territories of local chiefs.
One of the local leaders, Chief Mola, spoke of how the people in his area are living in fear of Mr Edwards and his workers.
He alleged that several people, accused of illegally fishing in what Mr Edwards calls his territory along the Zambezi River, have had their equipment that include fishing rods, axes, or hoes confiscated by Mr Edwards’ workers.
“We are living in fear of this Edwards who has continued to attack my people and yet he is the one encroaching onto my area,” said Chief Mola.
He added that efforts to have the dispute resolved through the local authority, Nyami Nyami Rural District Council, have not yielded results. The council’s chief executive officer, Mr Daniel McKenzie, disclosed that a meeting meant to resolve the dispute with Mr Edwards ended acrimoniously.
“He threatened to burn down the chalets on the island where he runs lodges if anyone tried to force him to partner with locals under the indigenisation and empowerment programme,” said Mr McKenzie.
A visit to the lodges situated on an island revealed a heaven-on-earth set-up, with chalets neatly tucked in the bushes. Visitors to that island are ferried by speed boats, in sharp contrast to Mr Edwards’ workers who have to use home-made canoes. Although Mr Edwards was not present, one of his tour guides who preferred to be called Mr Adams disclosed that the safari had lots of wildlife and attracts visitors from Europe and the United States of America.
“They book from their respective countries and do the payments there before coming to Zimbabwe. They also inform us of the means of transport they will be using to this island so that we ferry them to the island, which is only accessed by means of our speed boat,’’ said Mr Adams.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Edwards were fruitless as he was unreachable on mobile phone.
Mr Adams refused to comment on the disputes with chiefs, saying it was only Mr Edwards who could do so. Some workers spoken to said they were also being unfairly treated by their employer who has refused to make them permanent workers despite having worked for him for more than 10 years.
“All he does is to make us renew our one-year contracts. The contract forms he makes us sign are different from those of the rest of the industry as he produces his own. He knows we cannot report anywhere as we live on an island where visitors only come on appointment as they have to be fetched by his speed boats,’’ said one of the workers who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.
Mr Adams, however, denied this news crew access to the workers’ compound where a health hazard is reportedly looming as the employees live in deplorable conditions. The workers alleged that the refusal was a ploy to hide the squalid conditions they live under.
Labels: INDIGENIZATION AND EMPOWERMENT ACT (ZIMBABWE), RHODESIANS, TOURISM, WILDLIFE
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We'll use Victoria Falls to develop Zambia - Sata
By Joan Chirwa-Ngoma in Seoul, South Korea
Thu 18 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
GOD in His own wisdom gave Zambia the Victoria Falls which we have to use to develop the country, said President Sata amid applause from delegates of the third Korea-Africa Forum being held at Seoul's Grand Hyatt Hotel.
President Sata, in his meetings with business executives and government officials, has ridden on Zambia's vast natural resources and abundant land to attract Korean investors whose country has made great strides in economic development.
"I am extending an invitation to businessmen and everyone in here to come to Zambia. God in His own wisdom gave us the Victoria Falls and He gave us land…They have already been given to Zambia and they won't be taken away," he said when delivering a keynote speech to the third Korea-Africa Forum yesterday.
President Sata said South Korea was a very poor country 48 years ago and that Zambia could learn from its economic achievements.
"…Korea was undeveloped. We have to learn from them…We have admired strides and progress made by Korea to transform its economy from a less developed country in the 1960s to its current status today amongst the leading economies of the world," he said, adding, "Korea now stands as a role model for developing countries.
I know that the achievement did not come by chance but through hard work, commitment, sacrifice, government support and deliberate measures."
President Sata said Zambia has a wide spectrum of minerals, abundant energy resources and proven potential for oil and gas.
"We also have abundant fertile land for agriculture. I wish to take advantage of this platform to invite Korean businessmen to invest in Zambia's mining, energy and agriculture sectors. Zambia could become Korea's partner in mineral exploration. In turn, Korea could transfer state of the art technology to Zambia," he said.
Another important international issue, according to President Sata, is the ongoing debate regarding the call for reform of the United Nations.
"The African continent is of the firm belief that the reform of the United Nations and its structures is crucial in ensuring fair representation, accountability, transparency and effectiveness," he said, underscoring Zambia's desire to use South Korea to ensure that African concerns are adequately addressed in the G20 summit.
"We continue to urge all our co-operating partners, including Korea, to support the Ezulwini Consensus for greater African representation in the United Nations system."
President Sata also called on African countries and Korea to explore ways of mitigating risks and uncertainties on African markets by providing incentives to Korean companies to invest in Africa.
Before addressing the forum, President Sata met Korea's Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik where he asked that Korean Air introduces direct flights between Lusaka and Seoul.
"We also have the land…we can give land to your investors to invest in Zambia. What we need is development," President Sata told Prime Minister Kim before officially opening the Korea-Africa forum. He later held private bilateral talks with Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak.
African Union Commission deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha said Africa is aware that global and mutual challenges call for global and mutual solutions.
"…Africa currently faces serious food shortages yet the continent is capable of producing for itself adequate food," said Mwencha. "We are therefore here to consolidate the foundation laid down in 2006 between AU and Korea. Korea has developed through hard work, technology transfer and infrastructure development."
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, TOURISM, VICTORIA FALLS
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UK firm reintroduces Zimbabwe package tours
This article was written by Our reporter on 16 July, at 01 : 30 AM
A United Kingdom-based luxury travel company, Cox & Kings, is to reintroduce package tours to Zimbabwe after a 10 year absence. The tours will begin this summer.
The company announced this week the return to Zimbabwe after quitting the country 10 years ago when Britain and her allies imposed sanctions and issued travel warnings to its citizens visiting the country, resulting in a nose dive in arrivals.
According to a British paper, the Telegraph, Cox & Kings joins other tour operators such as Expert Africa, Africa Travel and Cazenove & Lloyd, who have also started featuring the country in their brochures.
The airline Emirates recently launched direct flights to Harare and announced it would increase its frequency to daily flights beginning 1 October.
Tour operators started returning to Zimbabwe this March after a revision of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice.
From April 2008 routes were being diverted into neighbouring Zambia while the FCO advised against all but essential travel to the country.
“Zimbabwe offers one of the most comprehensive and varied African safari experiences on the continent,” said Cox & Kings’ Africa Product Manager, Louise Stanion.
“We have chosen to work with partners who help their local communities and ensure that the vast majority of the money earned from tourism goes into the hands of the people who really need it.
“The local Zimbabweans are thrilled to see tourists back in their country. Expect to be welcomed with genuine smiles and hospitality.”
Cox & Kings are offering an 11-day/8-night fly-safari that begins in Bulawayo and includes safari drives in Matobo Hills National Park and Hwange National Park culminating at the Victoria Falls.
Alternatively, visitors can go on a “Grand Tour of Zimbabwe”, a 13-day/11-night private journey, with a personal driver/guide accompanying throughout.
Mr Ben Tesa, the managing director at Khanondo Safaris, said the coming back of international operators into the country was a welcome development which he said should be warmly welcomed by the Government and the sector at large.
“It’s good news indeed and a welcome development, this is what we have been waiting for, now we will see the British joining other tourists from Europe, America and the East visiting the country and it is a plus for the coming ahead of UNWTO general assembly,” he said.
However, getting to Victoria Falls from Harare and Bulawayo has become rather difficult for tourists since Air Zimbabwe suspended daily flights to the resort town early this year.
Tourists say chartered light aircraft flights are expensive.
Labels: TOURISM
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UNWTO speaks against sanctions
Thursday, 31 May 2012 00:00
Sydney Kawadza recently in VICTORIA FALLS
THE 20th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Authority set for Victoria Falls in August next year will provide the final ammunition in the war against negative propaganda against Zimbabwe.
Speaking during the signing of the Trilateral Host Country and Golden Book on Tourism on Tuesday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said there was need for aggressive marketing of the event to the intended delegates.
“The success of any conference, mega-event, and or exhibition, is a function of delegate turnout and participation. An absolute turnout will be a global endorsement of our destination with far wider implications on our geo-politics, international relations and diplomacy, notwithstanding the economic benefits.
“Equally a 75 percent turnout will be very good, 50 percent fair and 30 percent an indictment! So both governments should invest in a major outreach, promotion and marketing of the event, and continuously benchmark against previous hosts.”
He said Zimbabwe had over the years suffered negative Western publicity.
“In the last decade Zimbabwe has achieved tremendous results, in empowering its broad masses in various cardinal areas starting with our historic land reform, going forward now to the economic pillars of agriculture, mining, manufacturing and indeed tourism, great victories indeed, but in the process we lost the propaganda war to our detractors, with the mainstream global media that included CNN, BBC, Sky, leading the onslaught.
“In the last decade or so, Zimbabwe was slapped with sanctions and even tourism, the peace sector, was not spared, culminating in very negative travel advisories being applied, resulting then in a sharp decline in tourism arrivals and revenue, with our lowest record being 2008.”
Minister Mzembi said the inclusive Government made it imperative to negotiate for sanctions’ removal that was achieved within six months.
“This task was successfully achieved within a record six months on the back of goodwill and support from Africa, particularly the UNWTO’s Commission for Africa, that supported Zimbabwe’s candidature onto the UNWTO Executive Council in October 2009.
“I have since leveraged with this seat to re-engage, and successfully so with the international source market, at times swimming in the deep end in circumstances some colleagues here may not have quickly understood, but which efforts have resulted even in the USA only last week through its ambassador having their Damascus moment on Zimbabwe, declaring it peaceful and the most beautiful country on earth, and within that statement castigating CNN, among other media, for misleading the world about Zimbabwe!”
He said there was also need to “uniquely package” the meeting and enhance the brand equity of Zimbabwe and Zambia, the region and Africa.
“If this event is not going to achieve this at all, then we may as well tear the agreement!”
Minister Mzembi described tourism as a people-to-people diplomacy, bridge linking and a precursor of foreign affairs.
Labels: SANCTIONS, TOURISM, VICTORIA FALLS, WALTER MZEMBI
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Zambians' scrutiny of government performance cheers Lubinda
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 10 Apr. 2012, 13:28 CAT
GIVEN Lubinda says it is good that Zambians have started questioning what the government is doing and benchmarking its work against the party manifesto. And Lubinda has expressed concern over the rising number of cases relating to human-animal conflict in the country.
Featuring on ZNBC's Culture Remodeling programme on Sunday evening, Lubinda, who is foreign affairs and tourism minister, said the PF government's campaign was to make policy changes in the tourism and hospitality industry.
"Zambians have now started questioning what we are doing and benchmarking our work against our policy statements and manifesto statements. The PF manifesto with regard to tourism development is anchored on 10 policy issues, one of them is … the issue of legislative changes, policy changes in the area of tourism and hospitality," he said.
Lubinda said the government would endeavour to develop the tourism sector so that it could create employment for the people and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.
"As we speak now you may be aware of the fact that the tourism sector only contributes 3.1 per cent GDP, we think that it can be grown further than that," he said.
Lubinda said the government had come up with a deliberate policy to encourage private sector participation in the industry.
"In so doing, therefore we are also encouraging the emergence of small tourism sector enterprises. This is the reason you have been hearing us talking about encouraging banks to reduce base lending rates, so that people can borrow and put their money in hospitality institutions, restaurants, lodges, hotels and so on and so forth," he said.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, PF, TOURISM
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Lubinda urges Zambians to market the country abroad
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 05 Apr. 2012, 13:53 CAT
FOREIGN affairs and tourism minister Given Lubinda has urged civil servants who travel out of the country on taxpayers' money to help market the country's tourism abroad. And Lubinda has appealed to the players in the hotel industry to be sensitive to the tourism seasons of the country before settling for any rates.
During the Zambia International Travel Expo 2012 briefing at Cresta Golfview hotel in Lusaka yesterday, Lubinda said every citizen who leaves the country on taxpayers' money should be an ambassador.
"I urge especially the civil servants who travel out of the country on taxpayers' account to be visiting the Zambia Tourism Board before going, to collect brochures which they can distribute wherever they are going," he said.
And Lubinda said Zambia's cost of accommodation was high as compared to other countries such as Zimbabwe.
He further said the theme for this year's Expo which is ‘Unlocking Zambia's eco-tourism and domestic potential to realise sustainability for local communities", would encourage responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people.
He said the theme also recognises the role domestic tourism could play in the development of tourism in Zambia.
"Domestic tourism is the mainstay of tourism development of most developed tourism destinations in the world and government, being alive to this fact, is working to ensure that the development of our tourism industry gives ample time and attention to stimulating the locals' awareness of the tourism products, and encouraging them to visit touristic areas," said Lubinda.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, TOURISM
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COMMENT - Uncle Bob still has to apologize for his 180 degree u-turn on the Windfall Tax. You can't pull a stunt like that and hope people still believe in your credibility.
Zambia hasn't been properly marketed, says Sichinga
By Gift Chanda
Thu 12 Jan. 2012, 13:57 CAT
COMMERCE minister Robert Sichinga says there is need to properly profile Zambia in order to attract more foreign investment inflows.
Speaking on Tuesday when he met top officials from the Zambia Institute of Marketing, Sichinga said past regimes had failed to properly market Zambia to the international community. He said this has had an impact on the amount of foreign direct inflows into the country.
"We have never sold Zambia; we have never packaged it despite all the good things going for us at the moment," Sichinga said.
"I can tell you that no country in Africa has had five transitions of governments without violence. One that comes near to us is Tanzania, but very few people know Zambia because we have not sold it out there."
He said the peace and stability in the country were accolades that could be used to market the country.
"Zambia is seen as a beacon of peace, why can't we use that to attract revenue?" Sichinga wondered.
"We have Dr Kenneth Kaunda, let us use him while he is still with us."
And Sichinga observed that even the country's natural resources had not been fully exploited.
He said the country was endowed with mineral resources such as cobalt and emeralds which had not been fully exploited.
Sichinga further observed that past regimes had failed to sell the fact that Zambia was endowed with plenty of water which could be used for generation of clean energy.
He said the region was experiencing a power deficit which Zambia could take advantage of and supply power.
Sichinga said even the country's tourism had not been properly sold.
"We haven't sold the attractions of the country, the tourism, the warmth of the people, the investment sectors, the peace and stability," Sichinga said.
"Zambia has so much untold to the outside world which could bring more revenue."
He challenged ZIM to assist the government raise Zambia's investment and improve the tourism sector in a bid to attract foreign direct inflows.
Sichinga said the PF government hoped to breathe fresh air into the country's tourism sector.
ZIM president David Kombe pledged the institute's support towards raising the country's profile internationally.
He agreed with Sichinga that the country had not been properly marketed to the outsiders.
Kombe said ZIM would soon make proposals to the government on raising the country's profile.
Labels: DAVID KOMBE, FDI, PF, ROBERT SICHINGA, TOURISM, WINDFALL TAX
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COMMENT - I hate to even make this news, however the entire media is trying to make it sound like this happened on the Zimbabwean side of the border. Actually she was rescued from the Zimbabwean side, by the much vilified Zimbabwean police. The booking agent is South Africa's Safari Par Exellence (Safpar - read
their statement here), and the local operator is Mike Davies' Victoria Falls Bunjee. Registration is
on the Zambian side of the border. Bungee jump horror 'a one-off': tour boss
09/01/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA’S Tourism Minister took a bungee jump on the Victoria Falls Bridge on Monday in a bid to reassure tourists, days after a rope snapped and sent a 22-year-old Australian woman plunging into the Zambezi River.
Given Lubinda took the extraordinary step after Erin Langworthy’s “miraculous” survival of the 111 meter plunge on New Year’s Eve became headline news around the world. Lubinda said after his jump that bungee jumping remained a “viable operation.”
“I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free,” he said.
Langworthy’s ill-fated jump was organised by Safari Par Excellence, one of the area’s leading tour operators.
An advert on the company’s website promoting the jumps says: “Challenge the limits of the mind and test the edge of fear by leaping off the impressive bridge.”
Promotional materials tout the bungee jump as having a “100% safety record.”
On Monday, Safari Par Excellence confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. The rope which snapped had been sent to South Africa for expert analysis.
Company boss Mike Davies said the accident was a “one-off”, adding: “There has been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.”
Davies said experts had also been brought in at the site on the Victoria Falls Bridge on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia to look into how safety can be improved.
“We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime,” he added.
Thrill-seeking backpacker Langworthy, 22, escaped with only scrapes after a botched bungee jump sent her plunging 111 meters into the Zambezi River.
An amateur video captures her leap from the bridge amid cheers of “Erin!” Just as her cord begins to rebound, it snaps. People on the bridge can only watch as her tiny form floated downriver. “Oh my God, who’s going to do something,” said one, just as Langworthy and her long, trailing rope enters a set of rapids.
Moments after hitting the water “I felt liked I had been slapped all over,” Langworthy told Australia’s Channel 9. Her feet still bound by the rope, Langworthy was forced to swim against the current and make for the Zimbabwean side of the river.
At one point, she recounted, she needed to dive down and free the rope after it became caught on rocks and debris.
Quick action by Zimbabwean police officers who raced by staircase to the bottom of the gorge has been credited for Langworthy’s miraculous survival.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, TOURISM, VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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Bungee jump horror 'a one-off': tour boss
09/01/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
ZAMBIA’S Tourism Minister took a bungee jump on the Victoria Falls Bridge on Monday in a bid to reassure tourists, days after a rope snapped and sent a 22-year-old Australian woman plunging into the Zambezi River.
Given Lubinda took the extraordinary step after Erin Langworthy’s “miraculous” survival of the 111 meter plunge on New Year’s Eve became headline news around the world. Lubinda said after his jump that bungee jumping remained a “viable operation.”
“I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free,” he said.
Langworthy’s ill-fated jump was organised by Safari Par Excellence, one of the area’s leading tour operators.
An advert on the company’s website promoting the jumps says: “Challenge the limits of the mind and test the edge of fear by leaping off the impressive bridge.”
Promotional materials tout the bungee jump as having a “100% safety record.”
On Monday, Safari Par Excellence confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. The rope which snapped had been sent to South Africa for expert analysis.
Company boss Mike Davies said the accident was a “one-off”, adding: “There has been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.”
Davies said experts had also been brought in at the site on the Victoria Falls Bridge on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia to look into how safety can be improved.
“We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime,” he added.
Thrill-seeking backpacker Langworthy, 22, escaped with only scrapes after a botched bungee jump sent her plunging 111 meters into the Zambezi River.
An amateur video captures her leap from the bridge amid cheers of “Erin!” Just as her cord begins to rebound, it snaps. People on the bridge can only watch as her tiny form floated downriver. “Oh my God, who’s going to do something,” said one, just as Langworthy and her long, trailing rope enters a set of rapids.
Moments after hitting the water “I felt liked I had been slapped all over,” Langworthy told Australia’s Channel 9. Her feet still bound by the rope, Langworthy was forced to swim against the current and make for the Zimbabwean side of the river.
At one point, she recounted, she needed to dive down and free the rope after it became caught on rocks and debris.
Quick action by Zimbabwean police officers who raced by staircase to the bottom of the gorge has been credited for Langworthy’s miraculous survival.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, TOURISM, ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE
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HCAZ implores government to cut licence fees
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Tue 13 Dec. 2011, 11:59 CAT
HOTEL and Catering Association of Zambia Copperbelt region chairperson Kenneth Mulalami has appealed to local government and environmental protection minister Professor Nkandu Luo to reduce business licence fees for hotels and guesthouses.
The Rupiah Banda government in July this year instructed all councils to increase business licence fees for hotels and guesthouses from K750,000 to K5 million. In an interview, Mulalami said the increment was not fair.
He said it was not in order for big hotels and small guesthouses to be paying the same amount of money in licence fees.
Mulalami said the new licence fee had disturbed many businesses as many guesthouses had stopped operating.
He asked Prof Luo to consider reducing the fee to a reasonable amount that everyone would be able to afford.
"Hotel and guesthouses are not supposed to pay the same amount. Guesthouses should pay a less amount, but for starters, the minister should give us a general reduction. This issue should be resolved before many guesthouses stop running," said Mulalami.
Labels: CATERING, LICENSES, NKANDU LUO, TOURISM
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