Ahead of the 20th session of the UNWTO summit to be held from 24-29 August, Harare-based political analyst and former student leader, Blessing Vava said recently government would not risk such a conference being preceded by violent or disputed polls that could tarnish the country’s image abroad.
The summit is an important global meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level representatives of the private sector. Vava bemoaned the delay in holding the poll, saying: “What is now needed is to set minimum standards for the conduct of a peaceful election, to be held before the end of the year because the GNU has outlived its mandate,” added Vava. “Thereafter, the country should start a fresh, credible constitutional reform process that is all-inclusive and democratic.”