(CHATHAM HOUSE) Zimbabwe After the Elections: Domestic Economic Developments and Regional Impacts
COMMENT - MP Walter Mzembi in front of Chatham House
Zimbabwe After the Elections: Domestic Economic Developments and Regional Impacts
Friday 8 November 2013 12:30 to 13:30 GMT
Location
Chatham House, London
Hon Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Zimbabwe
Chair: Alex Vines, Research Director, Area Studies and International Law; Head, Africa Programme, Chatham House
Type: Research and other events
While international attention remains focused on the 2013 election process, fluctuations in the Zimbabwe stock exchange observed during the election period are beginning to settle and the government is increasingly looking towards attracting investors as a means of boosting economic growth in the country. This year Zimbabwe co-hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly. Tourism is expected to account for over eight per cent of the country's GDP over the next 10 years, and promoting tourism remains central to the government’s agenda.
Hon Walter Mzembi, a party member of ZANU-PF, will discuss Zimbabwe's regional cooperation on tourism and investment. He will also present his views on the investment climate and the prospects for political stability and economic growth after the elections.
Please note this event has been rescheduled from its original date of Wednesday 6 November.
For more information, please contact Chris Vandome
Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), CHATHAM HOUSE, WALTER MZEMBI, ZANU-PF
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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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(STICKY) Sata, Mugabe are cut out of revolutionary fabric - Mzembi
By Edwin Mbulo in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Sat 24 Aug. 2013, 14:01 CAT
THERE are some very glaring similarities in Presidents Michael Sata and Robert Mugabe in that there are both cut out of the revolutionary fabric, says Zimbabwe's tourism minister Walter Mzembi.
And UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai said the 20th General Assembly was an important event not only for Zimbabwe and Zambia but the entire Africa and the world.
In an interview before Rifai's arrival at the Victoria Falls International Airport on Thursday, Mzembi said PresidSents Sata and Mugabe had provided leadership and focus in the collaboration of the two countries.
"There are some very glaring similarities between our two heads of states in that they are both born and cut out of the revolutionary fabric, Pan-Africanist in their very full rights and more importantly, leading patriotic front parties between the two countries," Mzembi said.
He said the two Presidents had enjoyed a very cordial and warm relationship.
"Very brotherly relationship, which has provided us the leadership and focus that we have been looking for as ministers in terms of the integration of the region and collaboration of sister states towards meeting the objectives of bringing prosperity to our two republics," Mzembi said.
He said Zimbabwe was at 9 on a scale of 1 to 10 in the preparations of the UNWTO general assembly which starts today.
"I had budgeted for 10 per cent of unseen circumstances, maybe spiritual issues, but those that we can see with the naked eye, we have attempted to correct and bring the train back on the rail. So by and large, I'm happy with what we have done so far," he said.
And speaking to Rifai, Mzembi said the general aassembly coincided with the celebrations of the inauguration of President Mugabe to his seventh term in power.
And Rifai said the UNWTO coincides with this important experience that the people of Zimbabwe went through.
"We are very delighted that the elections went in a very civilised and smooth way and the will of the people of Zimbabwe was very clear," he said.
He said the UNWTO General Assembly was already a success as it was the best-ever attended event.
"You can hear and feel the success from the very beginning. Once it starts well, everything is going to go well. This is one of the best attended general assembly. The rate of registration has been very high and we have never seen the number of ministers and delegations in previous assemblies," he said.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, TALEB RIFAI, UNWTO, WALTER MZEMBI
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Mzembi says refused US$100k RioZim bribe
04/02/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
TOURISM Minister Walter Mzembi, accused by RioZim Limited of trying to seize the firm’s gold mine in Masvingo, has in turn claimed the company offered him a US$100,000 bribe in a bid to buy his silence in an on-going labour dispute with its workers.
The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed group is involved in a labour dispute with workers at its Renco Gold Mine in Masvingo but has accused Mzembi, who is MP for the area, of trying to use the stand-off to seize control of the lucrative mine.
In a statement, RioZim said Mzembi had tried to impose Zanu PF’s Chivi South legislator Irvine Dzingirai as general manager at the mine in an attempted takeover of the company under the guise of the country’s indigenisation laws.
"Minister Mzembi arrived at the mine... He called a public meeting and announced that RioZim had not complied with the indigenisation obligations of the country and hence they were taking over Renco," the company said.
The company also accused Mzembi of using threats and intimidation to bar RioZim directors and management from the mine while denying them access to the company's gold bullion.
But the minister denied the allegations insisting: "That's political slander. I'm surprised by their statement, which seeks to politicise what is a dispute between them and their workers.
"I have no interest in the mine's shareholders except to say they must comply with the laws of this country. I have never taken an ounce of gold from Renco, nor do I intend to, but my people are crying for justice."
And on Tuesday the Masvingo South MP claimed RioZim tried to buy his silence with a US$100,000 bribe, a claim immediately rejected by the firm.
Counter accusations
“They tried to buy me out of this case, with a US$100 000 brown envelope which I turned down, preferring to advance community and worker issues which they have blatantly violated over the past 40 years,” Mzembi told the Herald newspaper.
“I am not that cheap neither is my constituency worth so little, after four decades of gross neglect and abuse. They must try someone else.
“I will not be bought with filthy lucre to sell an entire constituency’s aspirations and dreams about development which they clearly see being implemented more responsibly by other corporates like Zimplats and Unki in areas where they are operating.”
The claim was dismissed by RioZim chief executive Ashton Ndlovu, who said: “I do not know where the minister is getting that (bribery allegations) from.
“Any money spent by the company is accounted for because we are public listed company. All the money we give out is not given to individuals.”
Mzembi said he would continue to press for better working conditions for the mine’s workers.
“This is a classic case of trying to prevent me from exercising my legitimate role of interceding on behalf of the community in their dispute with RioZim shareholders,” he charged.
“I will not dignify corporate political slander on my person, neither will I be intimidated by litigation from exercising my representative role as Member of Parliament.
“I have no intention of owning a mine, my plate is already full, with my calling to represent the people, but if they expect me to turn a blind eye to exploitation of our people, then they have got it wrong.”
Renco - formed in 2004 when Rio Tinto Plc sold off most of its Zimbabwe assets - produced 11 000 ounces of gold in the first half of 2012, when it resumed operations after shutting down at the height of Zimbabwe's hyperinflation crisis in 2008.
RioZim owns Empress Nickel Refinery, 50% of Sengwa Colliery, several exploration claims and a 22% stake in Murowa Diamonds.
The company was saddled with $50m of debt and on the verge of collapse in 2012 but was saved when New York-based private equity fund Global Emerging Markets took a 25% stake.
Labels: BRIBERY, CORRUPTION, RIOZIM, WALTER MZEMBI
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Zambia, Zim set for UNWTO indaba
December 15, 2012
By MIRIAM ZIMBA -
ZAMBIA and Zimbabwe are on course with preparations to co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly next year.
Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi said resolutions of the 94th UNWTO held in Mexico recently indicated that the two neighbouring countries were on course to co-host the international showpiece.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo said the Statutory Instrument issued recently to waive tax on imported tourism goods and articles had improved the quality of service in the tourism industry in Zambia.
The two ministers were speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a second joint ministerial meeting ahead of the general assembly scheduled for August.
Mr Mzembi, who led a joint delegation during the 94th session of the UNWTO executive council, resolved that the level of preparedness by the two countries to co-host the general assembly was excellent.
“I am happy to report to you that the resolution of this meeting is that we are on track, and there is a statement of confidence in both Zambia and Zimbabwe’s level of preparedness,” he said.
He said the UNWTO executive council meeting scheduled for Serbia in May 2013 would be the last to be held outside the venue for the 2013 general assembly.
Mr Mzembi commended the Zambian Government for introducing a Statutory Instrument that waives duty for the importation of capital goods and others directly associated with the tourism industry.
Ms Masebo, on the other hand, said the Statutory Instrument was aimed at improving service delivery in the tourism industry.
The Zambian Government, she said, would ensure maximum benefits accrue from the industry such as the creation of employment and the generation of foreign exchange.
Ms Masebo called for accelerated efforts in the two countries as the date of the general assembly draws closer.
She said the second joint ministerial meeting in Lusaka was a measure of the levels of preparedness to co-host next year’s general assembly.
Labels: SYLVIA MASEBO, UNWTO, WALTER MZEMBI
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COMMENT - The Canadian government of today is a rightwing tool. Like the Swedish government.
Canada quits UN body over Mugabe honour
Good to see you ... President Mugabe welcomes President Sata in Victoria Falls
31/05/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
CANADA has withdrawn from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) over the agency's appointment of President Robert Mugabe as a special tourism ambassador. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird confirmed the development Thursday.
Mugabe and Zambia’s Michael Sata were appointed tourism ambassadors by the UNWTO on Tuesday at a ceremony in Victoria Falls where the two leaders signed an agreement for the joint hosting of the organisation’s congress next year. But the honour sparked protests from critics who accuse the Zimbabwean leader of human rights violations.
A spokesman for the Canadian foreign ministry said Mugabe’s appointment was the "last straw" for Canada's participation in the UNWTO.
"After (Minister Baird) heard that (Mugabe) was honoured at an event, after he was invited to join this global leaders group, he signed the Order in Council almost immediately," the spokesman said.
"They were legitimising him by enlisting Mugabe to promote tourism. In our view that makes him a small 'a' ambassador."
However, Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said Canada’s withdrawal was inconsequential as the country was a “small player in the global tourism industry”.
“Does Canada capture your imagination? We do not even use their currency,” Mzembi said.
“It (Canada) is not a player in the sector. It wants to leverage on the Mugabe brand. They want to take advantage of the Mugabe brand to be on the global map.
“If they want to withdraw, let’s go ahead. They will not be the first to withdraw because countries such as the US and Britain are not members.”
“No one can doubt that President Mugabe has done a lot for the tourism sector than anyone else in the world.
“He has recognised tourism as a pillar of the economy and has dedicated a ministry to deal with that.”
The UN body also dismissed Canada’s reasons for the pull-out, pointing out that it doesn't actually have an ambassadorial program.
The UNWTO said it gave an Open Letter on Travel and Tourism to the presidents of Zimbabwe and Zambia on May 29, in recognition of a tripartite agreement with both countries on the hosting of the 20th Session of the UN General Assembly in Victoria Falls, which straddles the borders of both countries.
The agency added that the same letter had been given to leaders of other countries around the world.
"The receiving of the Open Letter implies no legal commitment or official title attribution to the country or the recipient," the agency said in a statement.
Labels: CANADA, ROBERT MUGABE, UN, WALTER MZEMBI
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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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WikiLeaks: Mnangagwa 'grabbed Mugabe by the lapels'
07/09/2011 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter
DEFENCE Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa “grabbed President Robert Mugabe by the lapels” during a heated argument in 2008, according to leaked United States embassy communications.
In an October 2, 2008, memo to Washington released by WikiLeaks, former US ambassador to Zimbabwe James MacGee admitted he had been unable to confirm the “physical altercation”, but was persuaded that there appeared to be a “serious rift” between the two men.
According to McGee, Mnangagwa and Mugabe squared off over the latter’s plans to give away the Home Affairs portfolio to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party during negotiations for a power sharing government.
In the end, Zanu PF and MDC-T agreed to appoint a minister each to share the portfolio.
In a cable marked 'Confidential', McGee said: “Mugabe leads a fractured party and he is trying to satisfy key individuals and groups. Rumours circulated last week that he and Emmerson Mnangagwa were involved in a heated argument over the possibility of ceding Home Affairs to the MDC.
“According to these rumours, Mnangagwa grabbed Mugabe by the lapels at which point Mugabe's bodyguards forcibly subdued Mnangagwa, injuring him to the point that he was hospitalised.
“We have been unable to confirm the physical altercation; nevertheless, there appears to have been a serious rift between Mugabe and Mnangagwa over the allocation of ministries. Mnangagwa is loathe to allow any of the security apparatus to pass to the MDC.”
Citing sources, McGee added that “defence forces chief Constantine Chiwenga and Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono are opposed to the MDC assuming responsibility for Home Affairs. They fear the ministry and police would investigate them for corrupt activities.”
The account of Mnangagwa’s confrontation with Mugabe has been met with incredulity by both supporters and political opponents of the two men.
“McGee was stretching the boundaries of what is possible, let alone what is rational," said one Zanu PF MP.
"This is one case which might discredit the entire catalogue of these cables. It makes you wonder how much of these dispatches are untested wishes of diplomats trying to shape US government policy on the ground."
Seemingly intent on confirming the face-off, the US embassy’s former Deputy Chief of Mission Katherine Dhanani met Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi two weeks later on October 13 and quizzed him about the incident.
“Mzembi said he had been at recent meetings that included Mugabe and Mnangagwa and he doubted there was a rift between the two,” Dhanani wrote in a cable dated October 15, 2010, released by WikiLeaks last Friday.
“He categorised as false reports that Mnangagwa had been beaten at Mugabe's behest and said these reports had been spread by a faction of the CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation].”
Labels: EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, JAMES MCGEE, WALTER MZEMBI, WIKILEAKS
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Zimbabwe to acquire farming equipment from Brazil
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 02:00
Martin Kadzere Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE is set to acquire irrigation equipment and various farm machinery from Brazil worth nearly US$100 million under the Food for Africa Programme, to boost the country's agricultural sectorThis was revealed by Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi and Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada, who were part of the delegation that was in Brazil last week to appraise investors on Zimbabwe's investment opportunities.
Minister Mzembi was the head of delegation, which comprised representatives from various public and private business institutions.
The Food for Africa programme deals with lines of credit, increase in food production and facilitation of farm machinery and equipment.
"We will have a US$98 million line of credit coming from the Brazilians and this shows the strong bilateral relations between the two countries," said Minister Mzembi. Minister Mashakada also confirmed the facility.
BRAZIL AND ZIMBABWE
* Brazil considers investing in Zimbabwe
A source close to the deal said Brazil would supply Zimbabwe with farm equipment, which include tractors, combine harvesters and irrigation equipment worth US$98 million. The farm equipment will be earmarked for both small scale and commercial farmers. Both countries are now finalising the repayment period and rate of interest.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made and secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka were reluctant to comment.
While the Zimbabwe delegation was in Brazil, its international advisor in the Ministry of Agrarian Development Mr Francesco Pierri was in the country and pledged to support the country's land reform.
Mr Pierri, who was leading the Brazilian delegation to Zimbabwe, had visited the country as a follow up to their first visit two months ago.
"We visited several schemes and agricultural projects and we have seen the achievement of land reform programme.
"We are pleased to work with Zimbabwe as a partner from whom we have a lot to learn," said Mr Pierri.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM, MECHANISATION, TRACTORISATION, WALTER MZEMBI
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Govt urged to resettle 3 000 families
Friday, 05 August 2011 02:00
Masvingo Bureau
Government has been urged to resettle 3 000 families in Gororo communal lands in Masvingo South to pave way for the Tokwe- Murkosi Dam. Land to resettle the families has not yet been found.
The villagers fear they might lose out on irrigation spin-offs once the dam is completed in 22 months time. Masvingo South legislator Cde Walter Mzembi, at the weekend appealed to Government to ensure families to be displaced also benefit from the dam's water.
Cde Mzembi said this while addressing a constituency stakeholders workshop at Renco Mine.
"There are more than 3 000 families who will be displaced by the dam and now that construction work has resumed, it is important for Government and the Masvingo provincial leadership to make sure that land is found as soon as possible to resettle the families who will be affected by the dam.
"We must also emphasise that the people of Masvingo
People in his constituency had asked him about their fate.
Government and the Masvingo provincial leadership had already put in place plans to resettle part of the families who will be affected by the Tokwe Murkosi Dam at the nearby Nuanetsi Ranch where they will be allocated irrigation plots.
Cde Mzembi said the arid Masvingo South was poised to be a massive greenbelt once Tokwe-Murkosi was completed.
He said companies such as Renco Mine were not supposed to continue milking the area of its natural resources without ploughing back into the community.
Cde Mzembi challenged civil servants, mainly teachers, to use their intellectual capital and actively participate in developmental programmes and projects in Masvingo South.
Labels: DAMS, IRRIGATION, LAND RIGHTS, WALTER MZEMBI
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Mzembi castigates Renco Mine
Sunday, 26 June 2011 01:26 Local News
Sunday Mail Reporter
TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, who is also the House of Assembly member for Masvingo South, has lambasted
gold mining concern Renco Mine for failing to carry out developmental projects in his constituency.
Minister Mzembi castigated the company, a subsidiary of Australian diversified concern
Rio Tinto, for failing to repair roads and neglecting irrigation projects in the area despite reaping huge profits from its mining activities.
Speaking during a field day hosted for farmers in his constituency recently, Minister Mzembi said Renco Mine, one of the leading gold producing companies in the country, should vacate the area if not interested in pursuing community development and social responsibility programmes.
“I am saddened that despite making huge profits from this area, Renco Mine is not giving back to the community,” he said.
“This is unacceptable if one considers that it is one of the biggest mining firms in this country. It’s either you shape up or ship out of this area.”
Minister Mzembi said roads in his constituency were in a deplorable state owing to the heavy trucks owned by the mining company which patrol the area.
“For many years, Renco Mine has been using our roads,” he said.
“Most of the roads have become difficult to navigate because the heavy trucks that are owned by Renco Mine have damaged them.
“They carry their gold and make promises to repair the roads, but they do not stick to their promises. It makes sense for the company to assist in the repair of these roads, but, unfortunately, we are not seeing any commitment from them in this regard.”
Minister Mzembi also castigated the mining firm for neglecting irrigation projects that it set up in the 1990s.
- The Sunday Mail
Comments
Labels: RIO TINTO, WALTER MZEMBI
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Mzembi defends Zim’s diplomatic position
Monday, 30 May 2011 22:25
From Obi Egbuna in Washington DC.
On Friday May 20 2011, Zimbabwe's Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Walter Mzembi gave a keynote address at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy's International Symposium in Washington DC. The theme was,
"The Role and Responsibilities of the US and Europe in a Changing World Order: Evaluating the Political, Economic and Cultural Dimensions".It was Minister Mzembi's first visit to the United States since the summer of 2009 when he was the only member of Zimbabwe's inclusive Government delegation, who was singled out and barred by US President Barack Obama from entering the White House.
The group came to Washington in pursuit of a fully fledged political re-engagement with the US Government. That delegation was led by Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. This gesture sent a bold statement to President Mugabe and Zanu-PF, that regardless of the outcome of Zimbabwe's GPA/inclusive Government, the Obama administration would stand firmly in the corner of the MDC faction, led by Prime Tsvangirai.
This was made abundantly clear when during the photo-op with the delegation, President Obama said absolutely nothing about Zimbabwe's decision to form an inclusive Government, and referred to Prime Minister Tsvangirai as his partner in relation to political and economic developments in Zimbabwe.
The timing of Minister Mzembi's visit to Washington comes only two months after President Obama, for the third year in a row used the Presidential executive order to extend US-EU sanctions against Zimbabwe, and one year after Prime Minister Tsvangirai received the National Democratic Institute's Herriman award from former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy was founded in 1999 and has headquarters in Washington DC and Berlin, Germany. Their main objectives are successful inter-cultural interaction, and also to enable and enhance inter and intra-cultural dialogue between different cultures.
It is also important to note that Minister Mzembi has been offered a seat on ICD's advisory board, which puts him shoulder to shoulder with the former US Secretary of Homeland Security Mr Michael Chertoff, Ms Katherine Marshall, the senior advisor to the World Bank and the 22nd President of the Australian Senate Mr Alan Ferguson, who currently serve on ICD's board.
The Minister used this opportunity to remind the audience that President Mugabe has always functioned from the intellectual and political premise, that Westerners cannot teach Zimbabwe anything about democracy and soft power.
Because President Mugabe and Zanu-PF pardoned the Rhodesians for the war crimes they committed against the Zimbabwean people, any attempts to lecture him are almost as outlandish as the missionaries coming to Africa to teach religious and spiritual values.
The Minister followed this up by notifying the gathering that Zimbabweans are just as passionate about Zanu-PF's land reclamation programme, as US citizens are about the fight against terrorism, as the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks steadily approaches.
The Minister also noted the inability of the US Government to discuss its Africa policy on moral ground, citing the unconditional support of Mobutu Sese Seko and mercenary groups - Renamo in Mozambique along with Unita in Angola.
He also condemned the US Government's decision in the past to allow US companies to import Rhodesian chrome, at a moment in history when they were supposedly in favour of iron-clad sanctions against Rhodesia's UDI under the leadership of its Prime Minister Ian Smith, that maneuver also coincided with the clandestine measure to deploy 1 000 Vietnam veterans to fight alongside Rhodesians during the Second Chimurenga.
A very important issue for Zimbabwe to monitor will be how the US-EU alliance will strategically respond to ICD's decision to offer Minister Mzembi a position on its board, especially when we take into consideration how they attempted to prevent his predecessor (Minister) Francis Nhema from chairing the UN Committee for Sustainable Development in 2007.
This was in conjunction with their feeble attempts to prevent President Mugabe from addressing the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome twice in the 21st century.
Because ICD puts strong emphasis on conducting research and running programmes, when it comes to developing their methodology and activity, Zimbabwe finally has a platform in the Western think tank community to effectively challenge Ronald Reagan's brainchild - the National Endowment for Democracy.
The strategic value of this overture by ICD moving into the future helps Zimbabwe immensely, because NED's director, Carl Gershman takes pride in telling anyone who will listen what their organisation does out in the open, and what the CIA does behind closed doors.
That statement by Mr Gershman is definitely on Zimbabwe's radar, since we are only two years removed from Gershman, revealing to the world that NED is financing 14 civil society groups on the ground in Zimbabwe.
While Gershman's position on the NED is correct, the CIA has undergone a facelift that supposedly represents a tactical shift due to the end of the Cold War.
The CIA on its fact-book makes the claim that Zimbabwe is now a point of narcotics distribution into South Africa, and that prostitution and forced farm labour on land acquired through the land reclamation programme are quite prevalent on the ground throughout the country.
Because reckless propaganda of this sort is used to blatantly peddle falsehoods of this magnitude, the Minister has a stage to convince the international community that Zimbabwe is entitled to the last word on what goes on within its borders.
The irony is that Gershman's point was not exposed, courtesy of a WikiLeaks file. On the contrary, he was testifying at a Zimbabwe hearing organised by the US Sub-committee for Africa and Global Health, chaired by Congressman Donald Payne.
The key point to be extrapolated from Gershman's remarks was that Congressman Payne, a lifetime Democrat, served on NED's board for nine years, and that Payne's fellow CBC member Congressman Gregory Meeks replaced him in that capacity.
This makes it difficult for Congressman Meeks to convince anyone that his visits to Zimbabwe are aimed at fighting to have US-EU sanctions lifted once and for all.
This was followed up by Senator Russell Feingold in a hearing he organised, informing the world in September 2009 that the US Government was going to finance the office of Prime Minister Tsvangirai, shortly after President Obama said US funding would be channelled through NGOs.
The news was delivered with US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, who gave testimony at the hearing, standing by his side. The Zimbabwean people will be pleased to learn Minister Mzembi received a cordial welcome from Ambassador Carson, when he visited the US State Department.
From a diplomatic point of view, this was promising as we are one year removed from Ambassador Carson's public clash with Zimbabwe's Ambassador to the US Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga at the African Ambassador's Africa day celebration in Washington DC.
This means that ICD, providing Minister Mzembi a platform to challenge the merit of US-EU policy on Zimbabwe, is not only a unique opportunity but potentially an invaluable tool, because Zimbabwe's colonial language happens to be English.
Minister Mzembi also discussed the status of the petition being circulated inside Zimbabwean borders, aimed at escalating the fight on the grassroots level to lift US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe.
The audience was surprised that the petition now has 3 million active and verifiable signatures. The Minister also challenged the audience to contextualise the ramifications of the concept of soft diplomacy, which was vital because President Obama's statement, "We must understand the might of our military must be matched by the strength of our diplomacy", which justifies pro-war diplomats like Christopher Dell and James McGee pursuing a regime change in the name of democracy and human rights.
The Minister however, did mention that the current US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ambassador Charles Ray, has displayed a level of objectivity and decency, that Zimbabwe views as promising in comparison to the abrasive style of Mr Dell and Mr McGee.
The presence of Minister Mzembi on ICD's board helps Zimbabwe raise the question: how long will President Obama and his cabinet continue to turn a deaf ear to the wishes of Sadc and the AU concerning the lifting of US-EU sanctions on Zimbabwe?
This capacity also helps Minister Mzembi to challenge the international community to analyse President Obama's decision to deploy his National Security Council Africa desk director Michelle Gavin, to serve as the Ambassador to Botswana, who the US Government considers a diamond in the rough, because of their pro US-EU stance on Zimbabwe.
It was President Khama who volunteered Botswana's space for a military invasion of Zimbabwe, and stated the only reason he wants US-EU sanctions lifted on Zimbabwe is because President Mugabe and Zanu-PF are exploiting the sanctions for leverage. The first order of business for Ambassador Gavin could potentially be giving President Khama a pop quiz, on her paper, "Planning for Post-Mugabe Zimbabwe", which she wrote as a fellow for the Council of Foreign Relations in 2007.
The Minister reminded the crowd that as Zimbabwe enters the 10th year of confronting the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, we are also approaching the 50th anniversary of the US blockade on Cuba, a policy the US Government has gotten away with maintaining, even when it is diametrically opposed by the entire planet. The Cuban delegation at the UN General Assembly in 2009 were extremely pleased, as they witnessed President Mugabe mention how the US blockade on Cuba has cost the country roughly 96 billion dollars.
The Minister also raised the point that the US Government only recently removed former South African President and global icon Nelson Mandela, from their list of terrorists, which exposed President Mugabe will not lose one ounce of sleep for being labelled the world's worst dictator by the Washington Post's parade magazine in 2010.
obiegbuna15@yahoo.com
Labels: DONALD PAYNE, SANCTIONS, WALTER MZEMBI
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WikiLeaks: Tsvangirai in regime change talk on U.S. State visit
By: Nancy Pasipanodya
Posted: Thursday, February 3, 2011 10:44 pm
Tsvangirai meets US President Barack Obama during a US state visit in June 2009PRIME MINISTER Morgan Tsvangirai used a state visit to the United States to find ways of ousting President Mugabe, a confidential cable released by whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks revealed.
The PM had travelled to the US with a delegation comprising Zanu-PF's Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi.
Mzembi was barred from discussion with US officials including President Barack Obama.
It has now emerged that one of the reasons why Mzembi was barred was because Tsvangirai was discussing regime change options with the US administration.
The confidential cable entitled "A/S CARSON'S MEETING WITH BOTSWANA'S VICE PRESIDENT MOMPATI MERAFHE TRIPOLI" released last week quotes United State's chief African diplomat, Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson confirming the meeting and insinuating that it would be difficult to remove President Mugabe.
Carson met with PM Tsvangirai during the visit and the White House barred the media from asking the Zimbabwe delegation any questions after the meeting even though it had earlier been announced that a question and answer session with the Press would follow the discussions.
The confidential cable read: "Carson noted that POTUS saw Zimbabwe Prime Minister Tsvangirai during his recent travel to Washington, and said that helping the Prime Minister without aiding Mugabe will be a challenge.
The cable also reveals that the US government was working directly with non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe to effect regime change.
"Carson also said that the USG (US Government) would ... continue to channel foreign assistance... through non-governmental organizations."
"USG... democracy and governance programs in Zimbabwe will all continue under the USG foreign assistance program.
The United States also wanted to use the regional Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to "increase pressure on Zimbabwe for Mugabe to exit".
During Tsvangirai's visit, President Obama referred to a "partnership with Prime Minister Tsvangirai" instead of with the Government of Zimbabwe.
During Tsvangirai's visit President Obama announced that his government would be giving US$73 million to selected non-governmental organisations.
BOTSWANA ASKING FOR AID
The cable also quoted Botswana vice president Mompati Merafhe revealing that Botswana was "struggling" as a result of "the global recession, citing high-end tourism and the diamond industry as particularly hard hit."
"As part of a larger effort to save jobs in the industry, Botswana has had to close one diamond mine due to decreased sales and lower prices."
The cable also made an interesting observation that the Botswana government would be maintaining an 80% stake in any diamond mining in the country.
Zimbabwe has been criticised for passing an indigenisation and empowerment law requiring a 51% ownership by indigenous Zimbabweans.
Labels: JOHNNIE CARSON, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, TREASON, WALTER MZEMBI, WIKILEAKS
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Zim-SA to sign tourism pact
Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE and South Africa will next month sign an agreement that seeks to strengthen co-operation in the tourism sector. The agreement will be signed during the South African National Tourism Indaba in Durban next month.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi and his South African counterpart Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk agreed on the project after a meeting in Victoria Falls last week.
In a joint statement, Zimbabwe and South Africa said the agreement would strengthen and increase co-operation "promoting and up-lifting inter-country collaboration and the sharing of expertise in tourism."
The two countries identified a number of areas for cooperation including marketing and promotion and human resources development.
"To unlock the tourism potential between the two countries, the ministers identified the areas of cooperation, including marketing and promotion. This will have a positive effect on tourism in the region, the development of heritage and cultural tourism, human resources development, sustainable tourism development that is intended to create decent jobs and empower product owners. It will also encourage investment as well as the development of common standards in respect of tourism products of both countries."
Minister Mzembi said South Africa was an important source market and Zimbabwe could secure 30 percent of its neighbour’s international arrivals.
Last year, South Africa received just over nine million international tourists and Zimbabwe seeks to attract some of those visitors into the country.
"We need a totally packaged and attractive regional product and our strength is to package the features endowed on us as one unit," he said.
Minister van Shalkwyk underscored South Africa’s confidence in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry calling for regional integration in marketing tourism to maximise benefits.
"I am visiting a number of countries in the region to look at the tourism products and what they have to offer. I can say with confidence as South Africa, we want to express a vote of confidence in the long-term health of tourism in Zimbabwe.
"With the short-term view in light of the World Cup it’s enough and we can tell visitors to the World Cup to consider Zimbabwe because it’s safe." He said it was in South Africa’s interest that Zimbabwean tourism sector recovers as quickly as possible.
Zimbabwe has stepped up efforts to boost tourist arrivals that declined in the past decade because of negative reports fuelled by hostile foreign media.
These efforts have begun to bear fruits with Zimbabwe being chosen to represent southern Africa along with South Africa at the United Nations World Tourism executive council.
Labels: MARTINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, TOURISM, WALTER MZEMBI
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Zimbabwe can’t be ignored — Mzembi
ZIMBABWE was recently readmitted into the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the equivalent of the World Health Organisation, after years of excommunication due to non-payment of subscription fees. The Government, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, immediately went into overdrive to promote, rebrand, repackage, rebuild and market Zimbabwe as a safe tourist destination and investment hub, ahead of the 2010 World Cup soccer finals, slated for South Africa. Our Features Editor, ISDORE GUVAMOMBE (IG), interviewed Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi (WM) on these and other issues.
IG: You have been Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry for a year now. How has it been?
WM: Hectic. It has been very eventful. In fact, we are very grateful to his Excellency the President, Cde Mugabe, for his vision in creating a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, whose portfolio was given to me. His example was immediately followed by South Africa, which has also established a full Ministry of Tourism.
We have manoeuvred through this Ministry and ZTA, enabling us to pay our subscriptions to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. We won a seat in the executive committee of the UNWTO after campaigning quietly and are now using our position to influence events from there.
Actually, I am yet to see any ministry, since the inception of the inclusive Government that has achieved what we have achieved.
IG: Which other achievements have you made?
WM: Numerous. ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke was elected first vice president of the African Tourism Marketing Initiative.
We feel flattered and honoured for Kaseke. I think it was long overdue for a man who has worked so hard for tourism.
On three occasions we have brought to Zimbabwe, the UNWTO assistant secretary-general and advisor to the secretary- general, Professor Jeofry Lipman, to the country and struck a training deal for our industry. The three visits affirm our presence. They are feeling us.
No one can ignore Zimbabwe now.
IG: What else have you achieved within the year?
WM: We have successfully hosted the Africa investor, Pan African Investment Conference, where we scooped three awards.
Zimbabwe won The Best Upcoming African Tourist Destination, African Sun won the Best Hotel Investment Award and Phillip Chiyangwa the Best Tourism Investment Award.
IG: Besides the awards what did Zimbabwe benefit from hosting this conference?
WM: Yes, we clinched US$2 billion worth of investment deals that are now being pursued by the industry.
We also used the conference to dispel misconceptions about the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act and the process. We told them our sector is not affected; it is already compliant, so there are no problems there.
IG: Can you explain your main thrust for the year?
WM: Those who have been following events in the ministry and ZTA might have noticed that last year was the year for re-engagement. We attended 30 international expositions and exhibitions to make a statement for ourselves and what we stand for. We got our voting rights back from UNWTO.
IG: What is this year for?
WM: This year is the year of investment. This is why we started the year with an investment conference that clinched US$2 billion worth of investment deals.
We have come up with a tourism masterplan that must culminate in every province having a structure like the Harare International Conference Centre. We are decentralising, devolving to give the provinces ownership and input. We are going to establish provincial tourism boards, provincial offices and provincial leaders that complement each other.
IG: You have said much about the local scene. What are you going to do on the international scene this year?
WM: Budget permitting, we want to increase our presence on the international source markets. At the inception of the inclusive Government, we were facing travel warnings, the embargoes, but we have managed to negotiate our way out of it. Today, sanctions remain our major problem. Other tourism industries get funding from the ACPU, Continuo Agreement, Section 23, but we are not.
IG: What about the latest extensions of sanctions?
WM: Well, the two pronouncements, one by the EU and another by America, are tantamount to travel warnings or travel bans. They discourage the visitor. But like what President Mugabe said, we should ignore them and move on as if nothing happened. We are very clear that all major pillars of economic development are under siege. The diamonds are under siege, farming is under siege, tourism is under siege because the sanctions are sending negative signals. Even in the region, we tend to get indifference from our neighbours because they fear collateral damage.
IG: Tell us about the 2010 World Cup finals. Many people think there is nothing for Zimbabwe to gain except the media hype.
WM: The World Cup is an African event hosted by South Africa on our behalf. Around 450 000 tourists are expected in South Africa and as Zimbabwe we want to bring 30 percent to Zimbabwe in a spillover effect. If we do that, we are home and dry.
IG: What is there for the ordinary people of Zimbabwe?
WM: Zimbabwe is not among the 32 teams participating in the finals. What we have to deal with is connectivity. . . issues about how to connect our people to this mega event, physically or otherwise.
Physically, we have to ensure that the luxury buses are there to ferry fans, we have to equip Air Zimbabwe and we also have to open the skies for other players to make transportation easy to match venues. Air Zimbabwe, for instance, must repackage its routes and say we now have Harare-Masvingo/Buffalo Range-Polokwane, because there will be matches there.
For most of our people who will not be able to go and watch the matches physically, we have fan parks or fan clubs that will be put in every suburb and other strategic areas for our fans to meet and watch matches.
I have two companies that have pledged to put 10 viewing points each and more are still coming.
What we are working on right now is standardisation and formalisation because we need to look at the law in terms of how many people can gather at one place. We also have to look on health issues, ventilation, sanitation and so forth. In short, we need to do the right things for our people.
IG: Where is the money for all these things coming from?
WM: We have applied for US$25 million from the Ministry of Finance, but there has been bureaucratic bungling when my Permanent Secretary got in touch with his counterpart in Finance. I am now personally engaging the minister so that at least something comes out of it. We need our own financial base before we ask from others. South Africa has spent 34 billion rand, but they started with their own 17 billion rand before getting money from others.
We are also imploring the private sector to move and do things. We want to lure teams to camp in Zimbabwe for training.
IG: But we are told no team is going to camp in Zimbabwe for the World Cup finals since South Africa has taken in all teams.
WM: No. The Fifa rules are that no team is allowed to camp outside the host 10 days before the tournament kicks off. That means in the last 10 days before the tournament, all teams must be resident in the host country. For Zimbabwe, we want teams to camp here for training before they eventually zero in on South Africa.
IG: But we don’t have any team coming . . .
WM: We have one already in the pocket, but I am not at liberty to disclose for reasons of keeping our detractors out of play.
We have two or three others we are closely negotiating with. To us it does not make sense for an African team like Ghana to go and acclimatise in Europe and not in the Sadc region that is close to South Africa. It defies logic.
IG: There seems to be a departure from the previous African vision of sharing the proceeds of the soccer finals as envisaged by former president Thabo Mbeki in his bid to host. What exactly is happening?
WM: For one reason or the other, we get such signals from our neighbour, but we have talked over it. We need to re-market the concept the South African Minister of Tourism to come to Zimbabwe, to Victoria Falls, precisely to market this destination together with the World Cup.
Outside the soccer matches, the Victoria Falls is one of the major attractions, together with the Table Mountains of South Africa, the Kalahari sands of Namibia. So we want to package regionally. Zimbabwe has 14 million people, but when marketed with the Sadc, it becomes a big game of numbers. Regional packaging should be our strength.
Victoria Falls is a must visit. Victoria Falls must be to each tourist, what Mecca is to the Moslems, a must visit.
IG: As Minister of Tourism, where do you want to take this industry to and how?
WM: We have played our part and we cannot be ignored as a tourist destination.
That I sit on the UNWTO executive board, within a year of our re-admission, means we are doing very well. The world now recognises our presence. I want Zimbabwe to think big, to have a vision beyond our current lifespan and generation.
We must reposition ourselves to host World Cup 2034, when it again comes to Africa. We must start working on it now. We must see beyond our lifetime.
Let us look at building false beaches, buying aircraft, building stadiums and so on. We will be there. We are on our way to the Promised Land.
l Feedback: isadore.guvamombe *** zimpapers.co.zw
Labels: TOURISM, WALTER MUZEMBI, WALTER MZEMBI
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