The Zimbabwe UNWTO Candidate for Secretary of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Eng. Walter Mzembi, landed an AfricanUnion (AU) Leadership position in Lome, Togo on 17 March 2017.
African Tourism, Energy and Infrastructure Ministers in Togo for the AU STC Meetings reaffirm their faith in Zimbabwe leadership in Tourism and elected the Hon. Eng. Walter Mzembi, Tourism & Hospitality Industry Government of Zimbabwe, as their Vice Chair of the Bureau of the AU-STC.
This is seen as another important step to accept the Zimbabwe minister to lead UNWTO starting 2018.
Ujumbe wa Zimbabwe kwenye Mkutano wa Kwanza wa Kawaida wa Kamati Maalum ya Ufundi ya Jumuiya ya Afrika (AU) kuhusu Usafirishaji, Miundombinu ya Bara na Nishati, Nishati na Utalii, ikiongozwa na Naibu Waziri wa Viwanda vya Utalii na Ukarimu, Mhe. Anastancia Ndhlovu (Mb), ameifanya Zimbabwe kujivunia baada ya taifa hilo la Kusini mwa Afrika kuchaguliwa kwa kauli moja kwenye nafasi ya Makamu Mwenyekiti. AU-STC ilikutana mnamo 17 Machi 2017 huko Lome, Togo na ikachagua Ofisi hiyo kwa msingi wa Kanuni Namba 16 ya Kanuni za Utaratibu chini ya Tume ya Umoja wa Afrika ya Miundombinu na Nishati.
Ofisi hiyo inaundwa na Mwenyekiti, Makamu Wenyeviti 3, pamoja na Mwandishi. Zimbabwe ilichaguliwa kama Makamu Mwenyekiti wa pili, akiwakilisha sekta ya Utalii na ukanda wa Kusini mwa Afrika katika AU-STC kwa miaka miwili ijayo, hadi 2. Wanachama wengine wa Ofisi hiyo ambayo itakutana mara moja kila mwaka ni Togo -Mwenyekiti (anayewakilisha Sekta ya Uchukuzi na eneo la Afrika Magharibi), Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Mauritania-2019 (anayewakilisha sekta ya Nishati na ukanda wa Afrika Kaskazini), Makamu Mwenyekiti wa 1 wa Ethiopia (anayewakilisha sekta ya Nishati na ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki) na Kongo -Rapporteur (anayewakilisha Sekta ya Uchukuzi na eneo la Afrika ya Kati). Ofisi hiyo ni Kikundi cha Mawaziri Watendaji wanaohusika na Sekta ya Miundombinu, Nishati, Uchukuzi na Utalii waliopewa jukumu la kutoa jukumu la sera na usimamizi kwa Programu za Kazi za Tume ya Umoja wa Afrika ya Miundombinu na Nishati, na Kamati Maalum ya Wataalam wa Ufundi.
Kuchaguliwa kwa Zimbabwe katika Ofisi ya Kamisheni ya Umoja wa Afrika ya Miundombinu na Nishati hakuja hata mwaka kufuatia umiliki mwingine wa Uenyekiti wa AU wa Zimbabwe na Mheshimiwa Rais, Cde RG Mugabe, kutoka Januari 2015 hadi Januari 2016. Kufuatia uchaguzi huu, Naibu Waziri aliyefurahi Mhe. Anastancia Ndhlovu alisema, "Uchaguzi huu ni kuidhinisha na kuidhinisha kazi kubwa iliyofanywa na mwana mkubwa wa Afrika, Mheshimiwa, Rais RG Mugabe, alipoongoza Mkutano wa AU kwa kupitishwa kwa ajenda ya Ajenda ya 2063, iliyotiwa nanga mnamo 2030 Malengo ya Maendeleo Endelevu. Hii ni ya kufurahisha sana na inathibitisha tu urithi wa uongozi usio na kifani wa Mheshimiwa, Rais ”.
The election of Zimbabwe to lead the Southern Region of Africa in the Bureau of the African Union Commission on Infrastructure and Energy representing the Tourism sector, is happening when the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon. Dr. Walter Mzembi has successfully submitted his application to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), for the next 4 years, from 2018 to 2021, to the Headquarters of the Madrid-based global tourism organization. Hon. Dr Walter Mzembi is currently continuing with his world-wide outreach effort to garner international support for the countrys bid represented by him to secure the top job at the UNWTO. Elections for the next Secretary General will take place at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, Spain from 11 to 12 May 2017, during the course of the 105th session of the Organisations 33 member Executive Council meeting.
Asked what the election into AU-STC Bureau means to Zimbabwe’s bid for the top UNWTO post, Deputy Minister Anastancia Ndhlovu had this to say, “I can confirm that the election of Zimbabwe further re-affirms the visionary leadership qualities of Hon. Minister Mzembi, as the current Chairperson of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) and the African Union-endorsed candidate for the UNWTO post, who has been very articulate on Zimbabwe’s and African tourism issues at a global scale. Therefore, this election will definitely be a boost to Hon. Minister Mzembi’s election bid, since the policy issues we pushed through to the apex of the African Union Commission on Infrastructure and Energy today reflect his vision for Africa’s tourism and the global tourism industry”.
Uchaguzi wa pamoja wa Zimbabwe kuongoza Ofisi ya AU-STC katika eneo la Utalii ulikuja dhidi ya msingi wa majadiliano ya muda mrefu katika mikutano ya STC ambayo ilisababisha Zimbabwe kuchukua msimamo wa kuongoza na kuweka taasisi ya utalii katika Ajenda ya 2063 ya AU na miundo yake, mtawaliwa. Uwasilishaji mzuri na ufafanuzi wa maswala haya ya sera na Zimbabwe ulilipa gawio wakati Tume ya Umoja wa Afrika ya Miundombinu na Nishati ilipokubali kuanzisha Kurugenzi au Kitengo cha Utalii katika miundo ya Shirika ifikapo Desemba 2018, ili kutoa msaada wa sera na uratibu wa Shirika la Utalii la Afrika linalopendekezwa. Hivi sasa, hakuna uwepo wa utalii katika miundo yote ya AUC, licha ya kusherehekea kwa sekta hiyo kama shughuli ya tatu ya uchumi baada ya mafuta na kemikali, kwa kiwango cha ulimwengu.
The UNWTO 2016 Report indicates that global tourism grew by 4.6% in the year 2015 while Africa declined by 3% in the same year, the trend Zimbabwe is fighting to reverse for the benefit of all African countries and other developing tourist destinations of the world.
