Use sustainable energy: Mujuru

for maximum economic development.
She said this while launching the 2012 World Tourism Month in Harare.
This year’s theme for the tourism month is: “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable    Energy: Powering Sustainable Devel­opment”.

“We believe that a new paradigm is required for the participation of the tourism sector in sustainable energy generation, not only by Government, but the private sector, especially in meeting energy requirements       through various renewable energy resources,” said Acting President Mujuru.
She said energy supply was directly linked to the pace with which a coun­try could develop.

“As such, there is a need for some re-engineering in supply value chain of energy to be sustainable in support of our economic development,” said Acting President Mujuru.
“While the focus today is on tourism, the matter is much broader and touches on every sector of the economy.
“The tourism sector, which fairly consumes a substantial amount of energy, faces enormous pressure from power supply deficit.”

Acting President Mujuru, who is patron of the tourism sector, said in keeping with this year’s theme, it was crucial to cut carbon emissions in the tourism sector.
“Let me hasten to say that as Zim­babwe embraces globalisation, we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels by migrating to modern and affordable energy supply services in our entities,” said Acting President Mujuru.

She urged the tourism sector and households to exploit the use of sus­tainable sources of energy.
Acting President Mujuru is the chairperson of the national committee preparing to play host to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly next year.

She said preparations for the gen­eral assembly were at an advanced stage.
Speaking at the same occasion, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said his min­istry recognised and planned to lever­age all the social and economic roles of tourism to advance Zimbabwe’s interests.

Government, he said, intended to put equal emphasis on both domestic and international tourism.
“At the social level, we are and will continue to use tourism for instilling a sense of national pride in all Zimbab­weans and building social cohesion as well as for enhancing national cohe­sion,” he said.

“At the economic level, we will use tourism to provide easy entry into the mainstream economy by all sections of our society, with emphasis on women and the youth.”
Zimbabwe Council for Tourism president, Mr Glenn Stutchbury said the private sector was committed to making sure the country played host to a successful general assembly next year.
Activities for the tourism month will culminate in the commemoration of the World Tourism Day on Thurs­day next week in Kariba.