Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke on Friday warned a splinter group of Upfumi Kuvadiki led by Alson Darikayi to stop intimidating tour operators in Matabeleland North province as they risked arrest.
Kaseke was reacting to the group’s action last week when it sent a circular to tour operators in Victoria Falls “ordering” them to declare their community share ownership schemes and to increase workers’ salaries.
The action was viewed as a threat to preparations for the United Nation World Tourism Authority (UNWTO) general assembly set for Victoria Falls in August next year.
In an interview on the sidelines of the UNWTO countdown ceremony in Victoria Falls on Thursday night, Kaseke had no kind words for the Zanu PF-aligned youth economic empowerment group.
“We can’t be a lawless country,” he said. “We can’t condone that lawlessness. I called them to my office and told them to stop that forthwith. We don’t want chaos in the tourism industry. The law doesn’t empower them to do so. Where is their locus standi? They have no legal basis at all. If they continue doing that we will have them arrested. We can’t afford to disturb such a performing sector considering where we are coming from.”
Kaseke said the tourism sector was already heavily indigenised.
“On the other hand indigenisation is a process,” he said. “It is a shareholder’s agreement. You can’t just force yourself on somebody’property. Some are family businesses that cannot be indigenised.
“Remember we once chased away another lawless group which had invaded ImbaShiri lodge in Harare. That is our stance.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Darikayi is on record as saying his organisation was invited by workers in the tourism sector to air their grievances to their employers as their union leaders had failed them.
He has also said it is his organisation’s duty to see that there is pressure to indigenise the sector which he said was largely dominated by whites.
Meanwhile the countdown to the hosting of the UNWTO general assembly was officially launched in the country’s premier resort town, Victoria Falls yesterday amid pomp and fanfare.
Victoria Falls and Livingstone in neighbouring Zambia will co-host the international tourism event which starts on August 24.
The launch started on Thursday evening and spilled into the early hours of Friday.
Thousands of people attended the function which was characterised by fireworks displays and the lighting of the Public Viewing Area (PVA) screen erected along Livingstone Way.
Several artistes and groups that included Blessing “Buju” Nyagwaya, Chicken Bus, Iyasa, Amazulu and gospel diva, Fungisai Zvakavapano – Mushavave kept the gathering entertained.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Walter Mzembi said next year’s tourism event would leave behind a legacy for Victoria Falls.
He said government was going ahead with its plans to build a conference centre where the convention would take place.
“It (centre) will be there for the people after the event, the hospital, and the roads are being rehabilitated. One of the leading hotels has just completed one of its expansion projects and these are all benefits for you as residents of Victoria Falls.”
