UNWTO: Let’s shame our detractors

everything that was required.
In fact, it had extra infrastructure.
I have never doubted the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s ability to deliver at any stage, because in the past they have made the nation proud.
I, however, am very worried about the type of infrastructure that we need to put in place before August 2013.
It is was going to be easy if one organisation was going to undertake the establishment of the required infrastructure but this requires several stakeholders in Government and the pace of doing things really has to move a gear up urgently.
Imagine that we need to rehabilitate roads, upgrade Victoria Falls’ fuel supply infrastructure, provide adequate, clean and safe water, put up health care facilities, develop a theme park, broadband and information communication technology facilities.
Further, Government will require resources for construction of museums, exhibition parks and halls.
Imagine we require huge financial resources for the construction of a convention centre, shopping mall, upgrading of Victoria Falls and Harare international airports, completion of Joshua Nkomo International, all within a year and half.
I just hope that Finance Minister Tendai Biti will not glide to his usual delaying tactics.
Someone should really knock some sense of urgency in the minister so that he releases the fund now and not tomorrow.
In the past we have seen his antics as a master of delaying tactics.
At this stage the country needs people who are proactive, people who have the nation at heart and people who are prepared to spend the whole night working on the project.
This is a national issue and national pride should lead us into doing something really African.
We must make a difference. We must deal a blow to world perceptions against Zimbabwe and shame all our detractors.
Zimbabwe must draw significant mileage through portraying an ultra-positive image and its suitability as premier foreign investment destination by putting in place measures to ensure optimal attendance by most if not all 186 members of the international tourism grouping.
The more we delay, the more we increase pressure on ourselves and the more we make mistakes.
In the world we are living, there are vultures circling over UNWTO and there are vultures all over who are waiting to pounce on any mistake we make and say to the world: “We told you Zimbabwe cannot make it, give it to us.”
Ask South Africa, which hosted the 2010 World Cup, they will tell you that they were always under threat from these vultures.
We are running out of time. We have a lot to do and we must do those things.