By Chali Mulenga
LIVINGSTONE – Aspiring Livingstone Central Constituency parliamentary candidate Dilon Mayangwa has praised President Hakainde Hichilema for creating a stable economic and policy environment, but says there is need for strong local leadership to translate the vision into tangible development outcomes in the tourism capital.
Mr Mayangwa said while the New Dawn administration has laid a solid foundation for economic recovery and growth, Livingstone requires “practical managers and agents of development” to unlock its full tourism potential.
“President Hichilema has set the tone for economic transformation, but at constituency level we now need effective managers who can implement and deliver results,” he said.
Mr Mayangwa expressed concern over what he described as a widening gap between Livingstone’s vast tourism potential and actual economic returns.
He noted that the city is endowed with world-class attractions such as the Victoria Falls, the Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport and surrounding national parks, yet continues to underperform.
“Livingstone has everything it needs to thrive as a tourism hub, but the returns are not reflecting the level of investment and potential we have,” he said.
Mr Mayangwa said the situation points to structural inefficiencies in the management of the sector, including weak coordination, limited value addition and inadequate participation of local communities.
He further questioned cross-border tourism dynamics, noting that Zambia appears to be deriving fewer benefits compared to neighbouring countries despite sharing key natural resources.
“We are seeing tourists moving across borders, but the benefits on our side are not proportional. These are issues that require deliberate policy and management intervention,” he said.
Mr Mayangwa also cited disparities in river-based tourism activities on the Zambezi River, observing that Zambia has fewer tourism boats compared to the Zimbabwean side.
“All these are indicators that we are not managing our resources optimally. With proper planning and execution, Livingstone can significantly increase its tourism earnings,” he said.
He said priority should be placed on strengthening the tourism sector before aggressively pursuing diversification into other industries.
“If we do not fix tourism, even our efforts to expand into other sectors may not yield the desired results. Tourism is our low-hanging fruit,” he said.
Mr Mayangwa added that reforms should focus on improving sector coordination, enhancing tourism value chains and ensuring that communities directly benefit from tourism activities.
He said effective management of the sector would not only increase revenue but also create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
“We are offering ourselves as managers who will ensure that the President’s vision is realised on the ground and that Livingstone begins to deliver the economic benefits it is capable of,” he said.
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