six in court

By Chali Mulenga

THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has said that the detention of the six former council workers living in former council houses near the Zambezi River is within the law.

ZAWA Director General Edwin Matokotwani said his organisation is ready to discussion with the provincial administration to find lasting solution over the concerns that the concerns.

Mr Matokotwani said that section 15 of the ZWA act was very clear that no one should live in the park.

“Before we can proceed squarely on the matter we want to appreciate what the concerns of the provincial administration and the people are as the law is very clear,” he said.

The ZAWA chief promised to travel to Livingstone to ensure that he meets the provincial minister to sort out the matter.

 He said that strictly speaking the residence in the park is not allowed by the law.

Mr Matokotwani said that this matter maybe needs to be discussed as making people go to jail was not the best option as the offence was grave.

He said that there is need to discuss with all the stakeholders and that the Government officers needs to speak the same language.

He said lodges had been allowed in the park as they are doing business and it was different from the residence in the park.

Mr Matokotwani said that national parks were declared in 1972 and that Government made sure that they are no people that should live in the park.

“The parks were game reserves and that they did not remove the people from the park,” he said.

Mr Matokotwani said residence in the park is not allowed and that the only parks where people are allowed are those that were declared under traditional authorities.

 “The Sioma Ngwezi National Park and Liuwa national parks were established by the traditional authorities and that Statutory Instruments (SI) provides that the people should live in the park,” he said.

 And Livingstone district commissioner Paul Sensele said that it sad that ZAWA has taken the people to court.

  He said that Government will ensure that the people are not victimised and it is the people that voted for the Government and not the wildlife.

End. 

LTA lauds Govt

By Chali Mulenga

THE Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) has praised the Government for allocating K32.3 billion for tourism marketing and promotion, Livingstone ahead of next year’s 20^th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly.

 LTA chairperson Kingsley Lilamono said that his association was delighted the allocation by the Government has it has never happened before that such big allocation can be awarded for tourism marketing and promotion in the country especially for Livingstone.

 Speaking in an interview in Livingstone yesterday, Mr Lilamono said that it was now up to the ministry of tourism and arts to ensure that Livingstone is marketed and promoted ahead of the UNWTO conference.

“It is good that the Government is putting money in the right direction and that it is going to put the country on the advantage,” he said.

He thanked the government for incentives that would encourage rural based tourism and the fishing industry, and make water transport safer and more accessible.

 “We would like to commend the government for putting in place incentives that would encourage rural based tourism and the fishing industry, and make water transport safer and more accessible,” he said.

Mr Lilamono said explained that it was also god that the government has also proposed to remove duty on refrigerated fishing vessels, canoes, cruise and ferry boats, dredgers, pontoons and other water vessels.

 He expressed hope that his association would propose more concession from Government especially on accommodation.

“We also expected some relief on accommodation, however we are happy with what the Government has done for the tourism sector as we prepare for the UNWTO conference next year,” he said

 He said that with more incentive the Livingstone would acquire a lot of benefit from hosting the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation Conference.

Mr Lilamono said the inventions the Government has proposed of suspending duty on the following goods on new motor vehicles for tourism enterprises that offer transport services would have the tourism sector in Livingstone to grow.

On Friday The minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda during his budget presentation, he said he has provided K32.3 billion for tourism marketing and promotion, with particular focus on the UNWTO conference that will be held in Livingstone in August 2013.

The minister also said that in support of the hosting of the UNWTO and that he would later propose tax concessions in his revenue measures.

 End

masebo urges civil servants to work hard

By Chali Mulenga in Sesheke district.

TOURISM and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has urged civil servants in the country to ensure that they implement Government projects efficiently as opposed to slowing down the implementation process.

Meanwhile, Kavango Zambezi Tran Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA), which is potentially the world's largest conservation area, is planning to conduct a uniform-visa pilot project between Zambia and Zimbabwe to boost travels ahead of next year’s United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly.

Ms Masebo appealed to civil servants to work hard and stop slowing down the implementation of projects especially when the money was available for the implementation of the project.

 She was speaking in Sesheke on Tuesday during the launch of the infrastructure in the Zambian component of the KAZA-TFCA.

Ms Masebo, who handed over the newly constructed Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Sesheke Office, said Government was happy that its vision was shared by different cooperating partners like KAZA TFCA.

She said her Ministry would ensure that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KAZA-RFCA, that had been outstanding for the past three years, was signed. 

“Sometimes civil servants drag their feet in implementing Government programmes. If there is a conditionality that is not good for Zambian people, you should say it so that money can return to its owners” she said.

Ms Masebo said KAZA TFCA programme was for the benefit of the people as it was about promoting tourism and observed that Sesheke was ready for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in Livingstone next year.

 She also urged Sesheke residents to get involved in the running of tourism businesses adding that the people of Western Province were not poor.   

Ms Masebo said the PF Government under the leadership of President Michael Sata wanted the people of Western Province to have a better life than they had before.

“The PF Government under the leadership of President Michael Sata wants the people of Western Province to have better life,” she said.

Speaking at the same function, Western Province minister John Kufuna said that his province was endowed with a lot of natural resources and that the work that KAZA was doing was in line the PF Government.

Mr Kufuna noted that the natural resource had been with the people from time immemorial and added that the wild life in Sioma Ngwezi National Park was attracting tourists.

 He said that the local people could benefit from the tourism by offering tourism services like lodges, catering services and camping to the tourists.

He said that if the natural resources were not looked after well, they could be wiped out and hence that was the reason why KAZA had intervened.

World Wide Fund for Nature country director Patrick Matakala called on the Government of Zambia to ensure that they put in place a operational frame work as it has not been finalized.

Prof Matakala said the delay by the Government to put in place an operational frame work for the past three years would lead to the country losing funds for implementing conservation programmes. 

He noted that the partners had insisted that the operational frame work must be put in place.

 Prof Matakala said that his organisation would like to look on policy engagement, and would also support KAZA in the management of the human and wildlife.

Meanwhile, KAZA-TFCA executive director Victor Siamudala said his organisation was planning to conduct a uniform-visa pilot project between Zambia and Zimbabwe to boost travels ahead of next year’s UNWTO general assembly.

Mr Siamudala said the project would help tourists to use a single visa each time they crossed into another country.

Speaking in an interview in Sesheke, Mr Siamudala said the uni-visa pilot project, which was a KAZA initiative, would cost US $ 800 000 with support from the World Bank.

 “There is need for the KAZA uni-Visa that would help to easy the movement of the tourists,” he said.

 He said KAZA was working with the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the project.

Mr Siamudala said the lessons that would be learnt from the implementation of the pilot uni-visa project would be passed on to other countries in the region.

He said that his organisation was working on modalities that would ensure the program works before it could be rolled out to the other countries.

End

masebo tours south and west

By Chali Mulenga

TOURISM and Arts minister Sylvia Masebo’s recent tour of Livingstone, Kazungula and Sesheke has warmed up preparations for the 20^th session of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly next.

As she rightly pointed out during her recent visit to Livingstone and borders of Kazungula and Katimamulilo in Sesheke, the countdown to 2013 UNWTO general assembly has started as only about 360 days have remained ahead of the event which will be co-hosted by Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe from August 24 to 29, 2013.

Ms Masebo held a series of consultative meetings with various stakeholders at which several issues were tabled ahead of UNWTO general assembly next year.

The stakeholders she met during her three-day visit included Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) members, Livingstone City Council (LCC), members of the business community, representatives of street vendors, artists, curio traders, border staff and money changers among others.

She was accompanied by Vice President’s wife Charlotte Scott, her deputy David Phiri, her permanent secretary Charity Mwansa, Southern Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta, ZTB managing director Felix Chaila, Livingstone town clerk Vivian Chikoti, officials from the Ministry and Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), Bank of Zambia and other senior Government officials.

Other notable personalities who joined her entourage included former tourism minister and current Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) vice chancellor Patrick Kalifungwa as well as former ZTB chairperson Errol Hickey. 

During her meetings with various stakeholders, Ms Masebo emphasised that preparations for the UNWTO general assembly should be as an academic exercise but a process which was all-inclusive and embraced ordinary people of Livingstone.

Speaking on arrival at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International airport, Ms Masebo said it was important that ordinate people of Livingstone participated in the UNWTO general assembly preparations as opposed to making the process as an academic exercise.

She said although her predecessor Given Lubinda, LTA and LCC had done a lot of preparatory works towards the co-hosting of the UNWTO, what was missing was the aspect of taking the information to ordinary people in the city.

Ms Masebo said the hosting of the UNWTO general assembly in Livingstone was a grand opportunity for Livingstone City Council and the district commissioner’s office to enhance infrastructure development in the city.

 “To Livingstone town clerk Ms Chikoti and district commissioner Paul Sensele, the hosting of UNWTO general assembly is an opportunity for you to enhance infrastructure development in the city.

If you miss this opportunity, you will not have it again. Someone told me Zambia may only hold the general assembly after 300 years from now when this current generation won’t be there,” Ms Masebo said.

She also directed provincial culture and arts James Zimba to ensure that the provincial national dance troupe and other artists to exhibit their art works at the airport. 

LTA chairperson Kingsley Lilamono said there was need to address security concerns in the tourism capital as the city at times experienced cases of petty thefts.

And Mr Hickey urged the hospitality industry in Livingstone to come up with services of international standards ahead of UNWTO general assembly.

He said there was need for lodges and hotels in Livingstone to jack up and come up with services of international standards.

Mr Hickey also urged the Government to give incentives to tourism operators in Livingstone to enable improve their operations.

In the meeting with LTA and LCC members at the civic centre, Ms Masebo said the street vendors to diversify their business portfolio by coming up with other lucrative income generating ventures as opposed to persistent  trading in streets where the environment is unfriendly.

Ms Masebo said Zambia was blessed with abundant natural resources and that street vendors   could take advantage of such opportunities by producing indigenous products to supply to tourists.

 She said trading in streets was unsustainable and not healthy because streets had no lavatories and other sanitary facilities.

During a stakeholders meeting at Livingstone’s Courtyard Hotel, Ms Masebo said the Government wanted to develop Livingstone into a true tourism city.

Ms Masebo said the Government wanted to work on the infrastructure to boost development in the city.

Ms Masebo said tourism, arts and wildlife had potential to boost the country’s revenue base and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Bank of Zambia legal counsel Leonard Nkole Kalinde said that dollarisation had been used as way of invading tax in the country and therefore the Statutory Instrument (SI) Number 33 of 2012 which bans the quoting of foreign currency for domestic transactions would be implemented effectively. 

Dr Kalinde said that money from sectors like tourism had not been coming into the county as transactions were being settled outside the country.

At the same function, Ms Scott said that the co-hosting the UNWTO general assembly next year was huge undertaking as the whole world would be coming to Zambia and Livingstone in particular.

She said that there was a lot that needed to be done in the preparations for the co-hosting of the event as it was very important.

“It is a massive opportunity to look at the services and products on offer the tourists. Let’s diversify and ensure that every service on offer is good in Zambia,” she said.

The vice President’s wife said that there was need to market Zambia’s tourism products by using every opportunity possible.

“We have to show the tourist that an elephant in Zambia is better than the animal found in our neighboring countries so that the money can come into the country,” she said.

During the launch of a film which Livingstone as a tourism city, Ms Masebo has said that the film industry was an industry that could have an impact upon the country and society.

Speaking at the same function, Information and broadcasting permanent secretary Amos Malupenga said his Ministry would put up measures aimed at ending piracy in the country.

Mr Malupenga said the Government would ensure that security was provided on productions of local producers.

During her tour of Kazungula border post in Kazungula, Ms Masebo urged ZRA officers to move in the same direction with the Government as tourism also depended on smooth operations of borders.

Ms Masebo said Zambia would be regarded as a disorganized tourism destination if Government agencies and institutions did not collaborate in their operations.

Ms Masebo said Kazungula was a district that had huge investment opportunities but such opportunities had remained unexploited.

 ZRA Kazungula border station manager Mupishi Miti said the role of authority was very critical in promoting tourism as some tourists had to use the borders to come to the country.

Mr Miti however noted that the biggest challenge at the border was a lack of bureau de changes and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) facilities to help the tourists pay in the local currency.

 “The tourist ends up going to the call-boys who are changing money illegally,” he said 

He said there was need for reinforcement of manpower at the border because it was porous.

At Victoria fall border in Livingstone, acting station manager Msanka Soko called for the establishment of banking services to facilitate transactions at the border.   

Mr Soko said the lighting system at the border was very poor and thus putting the lives of tourists at risk.

ZTB managing director Felix Chaila said that the delay by tourists to cross to Zambia at the borders was not healthy.

Mr Chaila said there was need to speed up clearance at the borders so that tourists could be clearly quickly.

During Ms Masebo’s visit in Mwandi at Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta’s palace in Sesheke district of Western Province, the traditional leader said that his chiefdom and that of Chief Sekute of Kazungula District in Southern Province would soon embark on the establishment of Simalaha conservancy which was a collection of animals.

Senior Chief Yeta said the two chiefdoms were waiting for Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to let them know when they would get the animals saying ZAWA had been supportive.

During her tour of Katima Mulilo border in Sesheke, Ms Masebo expressed shock at the failure by the Road Development Agency (RDA) to construct a three kilometer road that connects to Katima Mulilo one stop shop border on the Zambian side.

Ms Masebo said that the road would not gobble a lot of money compared to the facility that had already been established at the border.

She also urged money changers to legalise their business by forming a cooperative instead of doing illegal business in the country.

Immigration officer in charge Simunji Munengo said if his department had enough man power, they would be ready to go up to 24 hours of working at the border but they couldn’t do so currently because manpower was below the establishment.

 “We are aware of the UNWTO and we are in support of the hosting the general assembly,” he said.

Acting station manager Akalilwa Masheke said the volumes of cargo and efficiency at the border had increased.

Mr Mashekwa however noted that some people were in a habit of eluding the border point and ended up being intercepted.

 He said there was need to put up bank facilities at the border as the money changers had taken advantage of the situation.

During the tour of the One-Stop-Shop complex in Livingstone, Ms Masebo said the Government would integrate all the ministries and ensure that they work together ahead of the UNWTO general assembly.

Ms Masebo expressed disappointment at some ministers and departments that had failed to take up their positions at the One-Stop-Shop facility in Livingstone.

Some of the institutions have not yet put personnel in the complex include immigration department, National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA), Zambia Revenuer Authority (ZRA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZDA).  

 “We are too slow as Zambians in implementing things. Let’s learn to do things quickly,” she said.

During a meeting with street vendors, Ms Masebo thanked street vendors for being willing to work with the Government of the day and not wanting to be on the streets forever.

She called on the vendors to support and help President Michael Sata to rule the country by cooperating with the Government.

“You should create groups for the youths, women and elderly women, sites have been identified spaces in the market or in the game or sweeping the streets or picking litter on the streets,” she said.

Ms Masebo gave vendors seven days ultimatum to come up with groups and that after two weeks, she would be back in Livingstone to help them on the way forward so that they could be progressive people. 

Street Vendors Association of Livingstone chairperson Patrick Mubanga said vendors were ready to move to a permanent place.

Mr Mubanga said vendors wanted to graduate from the street and engage in tourism as well as other business activities.

During meeting with Livingstone based artists at the Livingstone museum, Ms Masebo implored artists in the country to use their talents to denounce the ills of society.

Ms Masebo said there was need for artists to use their God given talent not only to generate an income but to use it to speak against injustices prevailing in the country.

She said lack of dedication among Zambian artists had contributed to their failure to compete in the international markets.

“Emulate prominent global artists like late Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey by believing in yourselves,” Ms Masebo said.  

National Arts Council Chairperson Victor Makashi described the appointment of Ms Masebo as ‘the greatest and important gift for the artists’.

“The minister (Ms Masebo) is a celebrity on her own and it’s only befitting for celebrities to have a celebrity as their minister,” he said.

Vilole Images productions executive director Catherine Musola said the creation of tourism and arts ministry was timely saying it would help revamp the potential of the artists to contribute to the economy.

“We’re humbled and honoured to have a ministry solely dedicated to the arts and this will enable be us considered as billionaires in our small way,” Ms Musola said.

She urged Ms Masebo to ensure that the artists in the region were not left out from the benefits that came with the creation of the ministry.

Ms Musola said the artists in Southern Province have formed a taskforce that would work at perfecting their works in reading for the 2013 UNWTO general assembly.

She also bemoaned foreign film producers who make local productions without incorporating the local actors.

Soon after her appointment as Tourism and Arts Minister, Ms Masebo has managed to warm-up prepares for next year’s UNWTO general assembly and it is now up to various stakeholders to implement that they discussed with her.

End