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Minister Mzembi

Victoria Falls Reporter
PLAYERS in the tourism industry in the resort town of Victoria Falls yesterday welcomed the reappointment of Engineer Walter Mzembi to the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the appointment of Dr Obert Mpofu as Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development saying they made a good combination for tourism growth.

In separate interviews, players in the sector said with Zimbabwe and Zambia having received accolades from across the globe for successfully co-hosting the just ended United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly Dr Mpofu, the former Mines and Mining Development Minister and Eng Mzembi were the right people to work on the brand Zimbabwe and connectivity of the country.

Mr Clement Mukwasi, Shearwater Adventures public relations manager, said with UNWTO putting a spotlight on air connectivity, Dr Mpofu who managed to turn around the fortunes of the mining sector, was the right person to turn the fortunes of the transport sector especially air connectivity.

“Dr Mpofu did wonders for the country when he was the Minister of Mines and Mining Development. President Mugabe might have seen that he is a hard worker and rewarded him with this new ministry which as the tourism sector we are looking at with much interest as we want our country to be accessible.

So we hope he looks at the issues like bringing in new airlines and the fast completion of the Victoria Falls International Airport so that more tourists visit us. On Eng Mzembi I think the country needs him so that he continues with the rebranding of the country’s image.

Also we need new strategic partners and Minister Mzembi is the face to rebranding,” said Mr Mukwasi.
Mr Steve Jonasi from Lion Encounter said Eng Mzembi was going to bring continuity to branding the country to the international world.

He said he hoped that Dr Mpofu would pursue the open skies policy for the growth of the industry.
“President Mugabe’s appointments are done with precision. As a sector we want more tourists and Dr Mpofu and Eng Mzembi were the right candidates for the posts. We want them to work together so that we dislodge South Africa as the flights hub of the region. We want direct flights here so that the Government’s vision of building our own Disneyland, comes to reality,” said Mr Jonasi.