Let’s move faster than our lips

can do and what we cannot do otherwise we risk making ourselves a laughing stock.
I am a patriotic Zimbabwean and wish to categorically state that some of the things we intend to do within a year might require nothing short of a miracle.
It is fact, not fiction, that we must put our act together by backing all our thoughts and ideas with tangible and effective action.
It is not easy to build a convention centre in Victoria Falls and complete it within a year.
We require huge financial resources for the construction of the convention centre, shopping mall, upgrading of Victoria Falls and Harare international airports, completion of Joshua Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and refurbishment and construction of hotels and villas.
Funding is also required for the rehabilitation of roads, upgrading of the town’s fuel supply infrastructure, provision of adequate, clean and safe water supplies, health care facilities, development of a theme park, broadband and information communication technology facilities.
Further, Government will require resources for construction of museums, exhibition parks and halls.
Bearing in mind that we want to put up a memorable exhibition, since Government identified tourism as the fourth economic pillar, we should be moving faster than our lips.
Zimbabwe and Zambia’s hosting of the assembly is expected to put us on the international spotlight considering it is the first time the two countries have co-hosted the UNWTO’s premier convention.
Yes, we must do things right and draw significant mileage through portraying a positive image and our suitability as premier foreign investment destination by putting in place measures to ensure optimal attendance by most if not all 186 members of the international tourism grouping.
This is our greatest opportunity and we should consider more renovations than new construction.
Fine, Zimbabwe will host the official opening ceremony of the general assembly and will need to display the highest level of organisation and positive image since the entire world will be watching us.
We should never forget that this comes amid expectations that over 400 international businesses will attend the global event with a view to get a first-hand account of the investment opportunities available in the country.
The businesses are also expected to pay a courtesy call on the presidents of the host countries.
The UNWTO has given the host countries the latitude to make the event truly African.
As such the event is expected to bring together the presidents of Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe whose countries form the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier conservation area.
But at the end of the day we should ask ourselves one question. Are we able to deliver unless we act faster than we talk?
Since the Cabinet endorsed the bid, it would be interesting to find out how much we have moved. This is not the time for bureaucratic bungling!