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Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe has been elected to chair the Regional Tourism Organisation for Southern Africa (RETOSA) following failure by Malawi to assume chairmanship.
Tourism Minister Cde Walter Mzembi yesterday said the country was requested to chair the regional body after the Malawi tourism minister failed to turn up for the SADC ministers meeting in Mozambique last week.
“I have just come from the Seventh Sadc Ministers Summit which was hosted by Mozambique.
“Malawi was supposed to chair, but the minister did not turn up because of their own internal challenges so Zimbabwe was asked to assume the chairmanship.
South Africa is current host of RETOSA, but Minister Mzembi said some countries were signalling interest in hosting the regional body in the event that South Africa was not willing to continue.
RETOSA is a concept that brings together 15 African countries — Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to offer a unique opportunity to discover the natural wonders and splendors of the region — the infinite contrasts of scenery, climate, colour, traditions, culture and the spirit of Africa. Meanwhile, Minister Mzembi also met the Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Bruno Rodriguez Parilla to exchange notes on the two countries’ tourism industries.
Minister Mzembi yesterday said Zimbabwe wants to emulate Cuba which has been under sanctions for more than 50 years but was able to lure more tourists.
‘‘We will be sending a team to Cuba to carry out a benchmark study to find out how they are managing decent tourists arrival figures despite sanctions.”
Online Reporter