Zim to host Sadc Heads of State conference

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
ZIMBABWE is warming up for the hosting of this year’s Sadc Heads of State Summit slated for here in August. The regional summit follows the successful co-hosting of last year’s United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly that was held here and the neighbouring Livingstone, in Zambia.  Zimbabwe was elected deputy chair of the regional bloc at the 2013 summit.

Correspondence from the Office of the President in charge of the local organising committee for the event indicates the summit would be preceded by meetings of the council of ministers and standing committee of senior government officials.

Senior officials will meet between August 10 and 12 while the council of ministers will meet on August 14 and 15.

A local organising committee was formed yesterday, composed of representatives from a cross section of different government departments, police, national army, prisons, immigration, Zimra, hotels and tourism among others.  The meeting was held at the Victoria Falls Municipal Boardroom.

Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu chairs the local organising committee deputised by Hwange District Administrator Tapera Mugoriya and Hotel Association of Zimbabwe Victoria Falls chapter chairperson Jonathan Hudson while the municipal public relations and economic development officer Ngqabutho Moyo will be secretary.

“We received praise for the good work we did last year and the Office of the President has given  us another chance to host the Sadc Summit in August. President Mugabe felt he can host his colleagues in our town,” said Victoria Falls Acting Town Clerk, Philip Ndlovu, who chaired yesterday’s meeting.

Clr Mpofu urged members of the committee to work together for a successful event.

“Let us work together for the betterment of Victoria Falls. Let us do it differently in a high standard,” Clr Mpofu said.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were supposed to be in Victoria Falls yesterday and are now expected next week to start of a series of preparatory meetings.

“Following the approval, a familiarisation tour was made to inspect facilities in Victoria Falls,” read part of the correspondence from the Office of the President, which was addressed to the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North Cde Cain Mathema.