‘Togo has a lot to learn from Zim’

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
TOGOLESE President Faure Gnassingbe yesterday said his country has a lot to learn from the Zimbabwean approach to tourism. President Gnassingbe visited Victoria Falls yesterday and toured the Rainforest after going on a half hour boat cruise.

The Togolese leader, who arrived in Harare on Monday to invite President Robert Mugabe to chair the African Union’s Maritime security and Development Conference slated for Togo in November, said his country was interested in entering into a bilateral tourism deal with Zimbabwe.

“When I came to Zimbabwe I said to myself I can’t go back without visiting the famous Victoria Falls. This is my first visit and I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say. I’m being told this isn’t the peak period and if I come back during peak period, it will be more beautiful than it is now,” he said.

President Gnassingbe said the Victoria Falls International Airport, which is under construction, had the potential to positively impact on the tourism sector in the country.

“The Minister explained to me the strategy and I like the wise manner that you’re using to develop infrastructure. You aren’t just opening it up widely for tourists and investors to come, but you’re learning from what’s being done in other areas,” he said referring to the new look airport.

“I’m sure you can develop this place and at the same time prospecting and preserving the environment. That’s what I like about the Zimbabwe strategy. We’ve learnt from you and we’ll invite the Minister of Tourism to discuss opportunities and I hope he is going to respond positively.”

President Gnassingbe, who was re-elected for a third term in April, arrived in Victoria Falls aboard a chartered flight and landed at 11.50AM.

He was welcomed by Zimbabwe’s Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi, the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Ambassador Cain Mathema, Victoria Falls Municipality Mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu and Ambassador Jonathan Wutaunashe, who is a director in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Soon after landing, he was taken on a brief tour of the new look airport before being whisked to Elephant Hills Hotel to prepare for a boat cruise.

Minister Mzembi said President Gnassingbe’s visit was a reflection of the relations the two countries enjoyed and a fulfilment of the “Africa for Africans” stance.

“We’re elated by the Togolese President’s visit. Whenever we host celebrities on the President’s invite, we make sure they sample the beauty of our country. This is an expression of the confidence we have and that they’ll tell their people about the unforgettable memories of the beauty of the country,” he said.

“We’re inviting him and his people to come and invest in Zimbabwe as you may know after the visit by Aliko Dangote, the stance is that Africa is for Africans so that we tell our story.”

Briefing the delegation earlier at the airport, Minister Mzembi said the new look facility would be a game changer. “This is a legacy project following the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and our idea is to service 1, 8 million passengers annually once it’s completed,” he said.

Minister Mzembi said he was confident that the airport was still within its completion timeframe as the majority of works had been completed. The contractor set this month as the deadline for completing the project. Workmen are now roofing the new terminal while the control tower and fire station are also almost complete. Work on the new car park has already started.