Zimbabwe had ample time to strategise on how to capitalise on the World Cup Soccer Games that will be played between June and July in South Africa. A lot was said that could have been implemented, which could have seen Zimbabwe benefitting financially from this once in a life time opportunity.
Many participating teams and visitors to this historic event, could have no doubt, felt safer to stay in a country that is relatively crime-free compared to the host of the games, South Africa.
However with President Robert Mugabe firmly in charge, and the countrys skewed priorities, the country has let a golden chance, slip through its fingers just like that.
Had the country put its governance in order, restored its battered economy, brought stability on farms, stopped violence and intimidation of civil society members and journalists, we could have been smiling all the way to the bank, without us lifting a finger.
Had we made Zimbabwe an internationally friendly tourist destination, we would have seen an influx of teams that were willing to be housed by us, much more visitors who could have come to watch the games in neighbouring South Africa but also take time to visit our once majestic Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world, our historic Great Zimbabwe monuments and our precious rhino and other wild life.
We could have directly sold our resort areas to the world but as it is other countries have hijacked the marketing of our tourist places. South Africa is aggressively marketing Victoria Falls as if it is theirs. It is no wonder some foreign tourists think Victoria Falls or Zimbabwe is in South Africa.
At the end of the soccer games, most of these visitors would certainly have wanted to come back again either as investors or just to see more of our country and spend their forex, which we badly need to restore our economy back on its feet.
Only one team will camp in Zimbabwe, just for training and not to stay. Even then the team that is coming is already surrounded by controversy as for some Zimbabweans, particularly those in Matabeleland, the teams presence conjures up memories of the Gukurahundi era. During this era, the North Korean trained Zimbabwes fifth brigade army, killed thousands of innocent people in Matabeleland for opposing Mugabe.
How unfortunate because we will never see this opportunity in Africa until about 2034 according to FIFAs rotational World Cup Calendar. Indeed 2034 is a lifetime.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga