Zimbabwe and Zambia will co-host the UNWTO General Assembly from 21-28 August. In his 2013 budget presentation, Finance Minister Tendai Biti set aside $2,1 million to fund tourism promotional programmes.
Another $1 million was set aside for preparations of the co-hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly.
During the meeting, Mzembi took time to brief Tsvangirai on progress relating to preparations towards the hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly which he said were proceeding fairly well even though there is need to boost coffers.
“The Minister of Finance is yet to release the funds and this is the reason why I was engaging with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the implementer of policies that would have been adopted so I wastelling him we need money so that work can be done,” said Mzembi.
Added Mzembi: “The UNWTO is a good branding window for the country and every step must be taken to make sure it succeeds.”
Mzembi briefed the Prime Minister on the outcome of trilateral meetings held between Zambia, Zimbabwe and the UNWTO concerning preparations for the hosting of the tourism summit.
He said recent reports that the Zimbabwean government was bankrupt had created anxiety over the country’s preparedness to host the conference.
“The UNWTO sought to know how we could host the UNWTO General Assembly with only $217 in the bank. I advised the UNWTO to dismiss the reports as Biti later on indicated to me that he was taken out of context and the matter was not reported in the manner he had put it across,” said Mzembi.
Mzembi said there was nothing to panic about as far as Zimbabwe’s preparedness for the UNWTO General Assembly is concerned.
On another note, Mzembi said the UNWTO conference will be graced by some of Africa’s most celebrated musicians.
“We agreed on Salif Keita and Ishmael Lo and they will combine here with our own stars such as Oliver Mtukudzi and Dudu Manhenga. We are also looking at courting South African artists such as Hugh Masekela. We believe the General Assembly must also celebrate our Africanness in terms of the arts,” said Mzembi.
Post published in: News