ZIMBABWE and Zambia will launch the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) Univisa next week in a move tailored to increase arrivals, revenue and enhance competitiveness for the tourism sector of both countries. VICTORIA MTOMBA BUSINESS REPORTER
Speaking at a Press briefing in Harare yesterday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi said the univisa would cost $50 for the duration of one month.
Mzembi said the univisa would be available to 40 countries that include the United Kingdom, the United States, Greece, Portugal, Germany, New Zealand and others.
The univisa will also cover tourists who want to enter Botswana for day trips through the Kazungula border post.
“Other countries have shown interest and will be part of the univisa in the second stage of the programme and have expressed great interest to join the univisa in the second, third and fourth stage,” he said.
Other three KAZA countries are Angola, Botswana and Namibia. Mzembi said the Zambian Tourism minister, Jean Kapata, failed to make it as he was still mourning the late Zambian President Michael Sata.
The univisa was mooted by Sadc Heads of State in 1998 and significant progress has been taken to date.
“We have reached the stage to launch the Kaza univisa. Zimbabwe and Zambia will co-launch the univisa at the Sadc meeting of ministers of tourism. We are doing what progressive unions have done in the world and this is the first little step towards the promulgation of a Sadc univisa,” he said.
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Mzembi said Africa had not opened its markets and it was one of the reasons why the continent accounted for a mere 4% of the tourism business worldwide.
“We in Sadc, except South Africa, are hovering around 1-2%, 2% of 4% is what Zimbabwe is enjoying, except South Africa, because they are a good benchmark,” he said.
Mzembi said the meeting would also decide on the future of Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (Retosa) as an organisation.
Mzembi said the Victoria Falls airport would be commissioned by June 2015 and would enhance the image of the destination and also help the country to have more revenues from Victoria Falls.
Meanwhile, Mzembi said bureaucratic control had delayed him in appointing the Mosi-oa-Tunya board, but would have international experts in the board.
“I am delayed in advancing Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company and its vision slightly. I have been delayed by bureaucratic issues, appointment of a board. I am sure you will appreciate when you operate at that level, you don’t want a minister who operates as the minister as well as the CEO.The delaying is much to do with our desire to observe corporate goverance. I met his Excellency yesterday on the same,” he said.
Mzembi said he will put in place a private sector driven board with international experts because there is not enough capacity locally.
There were players in London, he said, who have expressed interest in the country and he held meetings with operators in that market.
