adminview during a recent cross-border bicycle ride to promote tourism and environmental conservation in the Victoria Falls-Livingstone area.
“We wanted to shine the light on both sides of the Zambezi River in advance of the World Tourism Organisation Congress to both encourage Americans to come and explore this part of the world and to emphasise the connection between conservation and tourism . . . and economic development,” the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, told a Press conference soon after meeting Chief Mvuthu and the deputy mayor of Victoria Falls at a local hotel.
“Our government is deeply interested in promoting strong democratic institutions in both countries and in supporting strong sustainable economic development. I think tourism has got to be one of the drivers of both Zimbabwe’s and Zambia’s economic development,” said Wharton.
The Bike Across Borders initiative was implemented jointly by the American embassies in Harare and Lusaka with the two ambassadors, Wharton and Mark Storella, taking the lead.
Zimbabwe and Zambia will co-host the 20th UNWTO General Assembly from August 24-29 in Victoria Falls and Livingstone respectively. The event represents the second time that Africa will have hosted the WTO General Assembly, after Senegal in 2005.
This is the first time the UNWTO General Assembly has been co-hosted by neighbouring countries. The diplomats were optimistic about the success of the impending convention.
“I see very much that on both sides of the border you face the same kind of challenges and the same kinds of opportunities. I was very gratified to see during this visit that the two sides are co-operating to prepare for this international congress that is coming up,” said Ambassador Storella. “The UNWTO Congress that is coming up is a fantastic opportunity for the two countries to co-operate and advance together.”
The diplomats led a delegation of cyclists, including Zimbabwean comedian Carl Joshua Ncube and ZiFM DJ Lorraine Bgoya. Among the bikers were Zambian Minister of Tourism Sylvia Masebo and beauty queen Miss US Nana Meriwether, who was on a private visit to Zambia.
Zambian youth ambassadors Humphrey Mwila (aka Cactus Agony) and Luyando Haangala (Lulu) bicycled and entertained the group with a new song written specifically for Bike
Across Borders.
Among other places, the bikers visited the Livingstone museum and the national parks on both sides of the border, learned about snare clearing and endangered vultures, and met disabled handicraft makers and local chiefs in Livingstone and Victoria Falls.
For Ambassador Wharton, it was his first chance to see the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls.
“Livingstone is bigger than I thought it would be; I’m very impressed with it. The view of Victoria Falls is different on this side of the river, and people have been really friendly. (We have) had tremendous support from the Zambian police and the people,” said Wharton, who cycled on a Zimbabwean-assembled bicycle called the Buffalo.
“I think a lot of Zimbabweans would call it a black horse or black beauty. It’s a very simple bicycle and it’s very strong and beautiful. I am happy to ride the sort of bicycle that the people have been riding in Zimbabwe for decades,” said the US diplomat.
During the trip, local officials pledged to continue efforts to preserve natural resources. “We have got the machinery to look for diamonds, but our first priority is to conserve animals because animals have made us what we are. Even our communities are aware that we have to conserve this God-given gift that we have,” said Patricia Mwale, Deputy Mayor of Victoria Falls.
“We are geared more than ever before because one thing we know after this event is that Victoria Falls will never be the same again.”
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Association, Americans make up the largest group of non-African international tourists to Zimbabwe.
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