Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Sadc Southern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SACJF) and Institute for Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute of Zimbabwe (CGAIZ) conferences start this morning with most of the delegates for the two events having arrived in Victoria Falls yesterday.
President Mnangagwa is scheduled to officially open both events tomorrow.
The two conferences will run concurrently and some participants will follow proceedings on virtual platforms.
Organisers said all was set for the meetings.
For the SACJF, most delegates, especially Chief Justices from Sadc had arrived for the SACJF conference and annual general meeting.
Judicial Service Commission secretary Mr Walter Chikwana said delegates from 10 Southern and Eastern Africa countries including Zimbabwe are already at the venue and had an annual general meeting yesterday.
He said a total of 10 Chief Justices and 80 delegates including other judges will attend the two-day conference.
“Yes, delegates from 10 different countries are already in Victoria Falls. The conferences commence tomorrow with a plenary and the official opening will be done by His Excellency on Friday,” he said.
Mr Chikwana said the theme of the conference is: “Use of technology in Africa”, which he said resonates with the prevailing situation in the region where nations are afflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic that has ushered in a new normal in discharge of duties including justice system.
He said the conference will seek to find ways on how courts can remain operational relying on technology.
Speakers will be drawn from the region and beyond.
Justice and Parliamentary affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and Permanent Secretary Mrs Virginia Mabhiza, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo, Attorney-General Advocate Prince Machaya and Prosecutor General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi are among the key dignitaries.
The organiser for the CGAIZ, formerly Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (ICSAZ), Dr Nelson Maseko said all was set for the conference and annual general meeting.
“Some delegates flew in in the morning and are already in Victoria Falls while others used buses and cars. Our advance team is already setting up,” he said adding that some presenters from outside the country will present virtually.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo are among those expected to attend.
The CGAIZ conference is being held under the theme: “Reset, Reignite, Refocus” and discussions will hover around achieving Vision 2030.
There will be deliberations on good corporate governance, transparency and accountability with speakers drawn from the institute and its partners.
Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo and acting Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Givemore Chidzidzi are among some of the high profile panelists on “Strong institutions for sustainable growth and development.”
There will also be discussion around embracing change, innovation and disruptive technologies” with experts in information communication technologies leading the discussion.
The events, forming part of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) approach to boost tourism business by Government, have reignited life to Victoria Falls as there has been a significant change in human and vehicular activity on the streets.
Some hotels and lodges have said they are fully booked for the week until month-end.
Tourism is a key driver to the country’s economic growth, through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1:2021-2025), a key building block towards achieving an upper middle-income economy by year 2030. — @ncubeleon
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