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By Robert Mukondiwa RECENTLY IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
It was his first Africa Travel Market after the fall of the previous government and it was clearly business unusual for the Zimbabwe Tourism boss Karikoga Kaseke.
He was in exuberant mode and was shuttling from one meeting to the other.
How could he not be? His country is open for business. Serious business again, and tourism is one of the first places where growth is recorded with any positive change.
Picture this little story.
Today the prince of the United Kingdom, one prince Harry weds his luscious belle (probably the last time a plebeian refers to her as such; she is after all Her Royal Highness in a few hours!) Meghan Markle and the bookies are out on a number of issues.
Harry and Meghan will need to honeymoon no less. And the bookies had, wait for it, Kaseke’s Zimbabwe as being part of the places they think may be considered for a royal post wedding snuggle of a honeymoon!
Doesn’t sound remarkable? Well while their mother the late princess Diana dreamt that her boys, William and Harry, would one day behold the godly jewel that is Zimbabwe after her azure eyes had gazed upon the majestic Victoria Falls, a serious diplomatic row meant Zimbabwe would be the last spot for a royal visit never-mind honeymoon for a British royal.
Now with change, it has gone way up there.
“Yes, our country is marketable and shining again and we hope to hit plus or minus 8 million arrivals in the next 5 years,” Kaseke told journalists in Durban on the side-lines of the African Travel Indaba, Africa’s premier travel and tourism marketing show.
And then straight after his word, Zimbabwe was touted as a possible spot for Harry and Meghan to come and enjoy their epic post wedding event.
Not to mention the fact that Zimbabweans would be elated if indeed they royal couple chose Zimbabwe. It is enough excitement that Zimbabwe has been shortlisted at all!
Ok, so the strongest bookies have their finals eyes set on a royal honeymoon in Namibia, but there is always the dark horse. And we remain such.
Less than a year ago it would be like expecting the North Korean leader having dinner facing the White House lawns, or Queen Elizabeth going to Moscow for a manicure, or Satan taking time off in the cool gardens of heavens lawn in the wing behind the Almighty’s apartment overlooking the pearly gates.
Now it is a possibility.
“It was about perception and we have changed our stance as the new President has implored us to. And we are happy with the new policy. Now we want the airlines that used to ply Zimbabwe’s skies to come back. We want wings to land in our country,” he said.
And now that dream of wings as well as the dream of hosting British Royalty doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all.
A toast to the new royal couple who wed today. And to their travel agent who has hopefully booked a flight to Harare and prepped the private jet! And if they say Namibia, you can always accidentally happen to book one to Victoria Falls. After all accidents in aviation do happen. Remember Home Alone 2?
DSTV Zimbabwe P.R boss confirmed the airing of the wedding for local royal chasers.
“The wedding will be aired live on E! Entertainment from 12 noon Zimbabwean time, while ITV Choice starts coverage at 10:30am with pre, during and post-wedding coverage.”
“Sky News and BBC World News will give extensive coverage. E! Entertainment returns at 8pm with the Royal Wedding Rundown recapping all the highlights from the wedding, which takes place in St George’s Chapel in the ground of Windsor Castle, outside London,” she said.
Online Reporter