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ZAMBIA’S Minister of Tourism and Arts Ms Sylvia Masebo has congratulated Zimbabweans for holding peaceful elections saying the conduct of the polls augur well for the successful holding of the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation that will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia beginning this week. Ms Masebo said this during a cocktail attended by Zimbabwean and Zambian journalists assessing the state of preparedness of the two countries ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly and also to mark the 33rd anniversary of the founding of Sadc.
“Let me also thank Zimbabweans for holding peaceful elections. Some were worried that the elections date were too close to the dates of the General Assembly and would disrupt our preparations, but you successfully held the elections in a way that shows that as Africans we can hold elections in peace and I am truly proud to be an African,” she said.
Ms Masebo said it was important that Zimbabwe and Zambia took advantage of the vast opportunities that the General Assembly would offer to develop tourism between the two countries.
“Let us maximise the opportunities the world has given us to showcase the Victoria Falls as a magnificent tourist destination,” she said.
Journalists from the two countries were given an opportunity to assess the state of preparedness of the two countries ahead of the beginning of the General Assembly scheduled from August 24.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and Zambia said on Saturday everything is in place to co-host the 20th United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly from August 24-29 this year.
Officials from over 140 countries are expected to attend the conference, which will be held in the resort towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone respectively.
A media tour of the resort town revealed that the major conferencing facilities for the general assembly were in the final stages of being completed with infrastructure such as roads and telecommunications already in place.
Zimbabwean outgoing Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said the two countries were 99,5 percent ready for the tourism showcase.
“On a scale of one to 10 we are on 9,5. We are very ready,” he said.
Mzembi said the two governments were finalising the programme for the general assembly with a host of other modalities being put in place to ensure a smooth conference. Immigration issues had been addressed with introduction of a sticker system which would allow UNWTO delegates to move between Zambia and Zimbabwe without hustles.
“We have come up with a gratis visa, a sticker which almost works like a border pass.
“With that plus accreditation our delegates will be able to move between Zimbabwe and Zambia very freely, so there are no restrictions,” Mzembi said.
Government has invested close to US$20 million in preparation for the event while the private sector forked out more in putting in place enablers such as telecommunications, road as well as sewer system upgrades ahead of the showcase. — Herald Reporter/New Ziana.
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