Online Reporter
Sunday News Reporter
Ms Kathy Kathewela has been elected president of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe in succession to Mr Clive Chinwada, who has retired after his two-year term of office.
Ms Kathewela is the first person from the travel agency business to become TBCZ president and the youngest person to hold the office to date.
Her election came at the TBCZ annual general meeting in Harare, attended by travel and tourism operators from across the sector.
Two new TBCZ vice presidents were also elected, while the third remained in position from the previous year. They are Ms Emmah Kativu, whose vice presidential role is to represent the accommodation cluster of sub-associations, Mr Lovemore Machipisa (activities cluster) and Mr Gidion Chauraya (access cluster).
The TBCZ is the representative body for operators in all areas of the travel and tourism sector and provides a voice for the operators on the national stage. Under its umbrella are 18 sub-sectoral associations, each designated to focus on specific membership fields, from hospitality and travel agents to airlines and vehicle rental organisations.
Kathy Kathewela (36) is the managing director of Elgrass Travel, a destination and travel management company of 20 years’ operation, with focus on corporate and leisure travel, destination management, and inbound tourism services across Southern Africa. She describes herself as being ‘passionate about delivering travel experiences, driving innovation, and promoting Zimbabwe as a leading tourism destination.’
Emmah Kativu is at present also president of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, and is owner and managing director of Coghlan Hospitality Group, which operates the Coghlan Boutique Lodge in Greendale, Harare. She is co-founder and finance director of Delomic Construction and also has interests in agriculture. She chairs Future Leaders Zimbabwe Challenge and has had career experience in the United Nations Development Programme and the World Food Programme.
Lovemore Machipisa is based in Victoria Falls and is founder and managing director of Africa Travel Tours, as well as co-founder of Golden Functions and the Africa Travel Community Empowerment Trust. He is active in the affairs of the Zimbabwe Tour Operators’ Association.
Gidion Chauraya is business development director of Mwendo Africa, a leading tour operator, vehicle rental and ground handling company. He is also founder of Adventurous Africa, an adventure travel organisation, and Gibela Adventures, which specialises in e-bicycle activities. He is at present chairman of the Zimbabwe Mobility and Vehicle Rental Association.
