Jane Kambalame told The Zimbabwean in a recent interview that the VISA would create room for more women to venture into businesses and secure jobs in the hospitality industry
Zambia and Zimbabwe are set to launch the VISA in Victoria Falls in a bid to allow free movement of people, services, goods and labour across borders.
“Apart from business and job opportunities for women in the sector, the economic impact of a revived tourist industry will be felt at household level, as research has shown that when women get economically empowered, the entire community benefits,” she said.
Many women already own and run businesses in the tourism sector ranging from lodges and restaurants to art and craft shops, but the sector is still dominated by men, she said.
The ambassador said in line with the expected boom in tourism, more women should be trained as tour guides, while hotels, lodges and restaurants need to re-design their training programmes to allow more women to take up positions that have traditionally been occupied by men.
“The opportunities for woman are vast,” she added, noting that there was a unique opportunity for women through eco-tourism since it was based on local resources, heritage and uniqueness of places.
The Zambia-Zimbabwe UNI VISA is expected to set the pace for a similar SADC UNI VISA. As poverty was not only about lack of money but also choices, Kambalame believes that as the region embarks on the road to SADC UNI VISA “issues that affect women will be addressed as a way of achieving Millennium Development Goals, particularly number 3 which is about promoting gender equality and empowerment of women.”
She pointed out that SADC countries had policies tailored to offer equal opportunities to both men and women, and the UNI VISA would provide the opportunity for member states to walk the talk.
Malawi has welcomed the VISA and promised to support the initiative. As the rest of the regional body’s member states prepared to adopt the single SADC Visa, it is hoped that the pilot project would offer an opportunity to learn from the two countries’ experience and provide a good benchmark for the rest of the region.
“Congratulations the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the upcoming launch of the UNI VISA which is a major and crucial step as we seek to achieve regional integration. I believe that studies were conducted and necessary consultations made to ensure the cost of the Visa remains affordable and not prohibitive to those countries eligible to visit the region on the UNI VISA,” she said.
Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism, said the UNI VISA would result in tourists streaming into the region and spend huge sums in foreign currency.
“Tourism is a major economic driver and would improve the welfare of people if properly managed,” said Mzembi, calling on regional governments to open up airspace and borders for foreigners.
Post published in: Gender Equality