TOURISM and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has said she will announce the new Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Board in two week’s time.
Speaking in an interview with the Times in Lusaka on Saturday, Ms Kapata said the new Board would consist of people who were experts in the Tourism sector.
The yet-to-be appointed ZAWA Board will replace the one Ms Kapata dissolved with immediate effect last week on Thursday using her powers as appointing authority.
“I the next two weeks we should be able to put up a Board comprising technocrats in Tourism. We want people who are experts in Tourism, not just anybody. Am looking for people that are technocrats,” Ms Kapata said.
The dissolved Board which was appointed by her predecessor Sylvia Masebo in January last year was headed by prominent commercial farmer Guy Robinson.
Other Board members were Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Wynter Kabimba, Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta and Timothy Mushibwe.
The rest were former Tourism Permanent Secretary Charity Mwansa, Ministry of Finance Economist Chasiya Kazembe, Ms Anita Poleti, Chieftainess Mwape from Petauke and Mr Yonas Mita.
President Michael Sata recently relieved Ms Masebo of her duties as Tourism and Arts Minister.
ba jean, do a good job there. put policies thst encourage zambians to run game farms. i have bn waiting for my permit for a long time because of uncertainities there.
allow zambians to run zawa, they r able. some.people now started taking animals into few hands, and made it hard for zambians to buy animals for stocking.
good luck.
What good will she do when she is merely going to handpick party cadres…the fact that these politicians have full control in choosing board members is a flaw in itself.
How does one even accept to serve on such a board? Only people of certain names would accept such appointments.
Can we ensure that these are people who actually know what the life cylce of …lets say an elephant is…and understand what ecology means and that Zambia actual has many unique habitats. ..I think I lost Jean already there. We don’t need a bunch of operational managers who aren’t and won’t have time for functioning as a dedicated board member.
Now you have lost Jean too much. She thinks operational management and strategic management are one and the same. Typical of people when given assignments outside their area. in this case Jean, nursing is what she has done for all her life. We miss you friendly services in Kabwata at that private outlet
Ba Jean bena kuwayawayafye…..if anyone is expecting Jean to perform, you are in for a rude shock. What has she done in her constituency….banyafye amasusi mu parliament aba.
Please let us refrain from insulting people in leadership .You can make your point without insults.Do you know that ms Kapata is a mother ,a sister and a daughter to someone.How do you think her children will feel when they read insults from Mambala.MWANDI BA Kapata stay focussed and just do your work .Am not PF and l have never talked to her but l think she is down to earth.
A.M
Lol..a.m. Shall I start listing people that have children, are mothers and absolute psychos or people I have never met but “feel” that can be commented on based on a bird of a feather etc. You’re comment is insipid, luke warm, ignorant and very wreakless. No disrespect to the lady but merit is difficult to give , given the wieght and recent history of ZAWA happenings. Especially because it seems people who had a clue have been fired, expelled or deprived.
Hi ba Mama Jean,
Next what I would recommend is to to mix , Zambian , foreigners, Indians and whites
Who understand the what is involved in tourism. Thanks mama.
JEAN, ONE OR TWO VERY IMPORTANT ADVICE FROM ME. PLEASE, 1. INITIALLY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON MARKETING ZAMBIA’S TOURISM, 2. DESIGN A PACKAGE TO SUIT THE POCKETS OF ZAMBIANS, 3. ENSURE THAT ALL DESTINATION PLACES IN ZAMBIA ARE PACKAGED. UPON ACCOMPLISHING THE ABOVE MAKE SURE THAT LAW THROUGH PARLIAMENT ARE ENACTED (INTO POLICIES) TO SUPPORT ALL THESE ACTIVITIES.
SPEND MONEY ON MARKETING ZAMBIA’S TOURISM
Zambia is not known overseas as Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa are known. This is due to lack of proper or absolutely none marketing of the country abroad and overseas. The improper marketing of Zambia tourism is when you entirely use mission houses overseas to market Zambia. Human traffic to Zambia from abroad/overseas is scant. Therefore, marketing of Zambia is confined to that…
from #6…limited number of visitors to mission houses abroad/overseas who are trying to obtain visas to visit Zambia. And as a matter of logic how and why would any person spend money to advertise to someone who is already going to Zambia and is there at the embassy only to obtain a visa. PLEASE, RENT AN OFFICE in the (central) city for a multitude of people to access our tourism services and in the process make known of our presence. In terms of the population of wild life, Kenya and S Africa put together can’t still much Zambia- it is speculated. If individuals are not traveling to any particular country they rarely visit embassies. Because embassies are political and rarely people are fans of politics. I hope madam minister you pick the logic here…
from ‘6.1…The best and most effective way of marketing Zambia through a central office abroad/overseas is by employing a reputable marketing company with branches in almost all BIG CITIES. Wolf Olins is one such company. To highlight how reputable Wolf Olins is- they won the branding and marketing of the 2012 London Olympics. They have branches in most major cities of the world where once contracted they can market Zambia very effectively. They almost came near to doing that serve for the corrupt past regimes. They have branches in New York, Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, in Spain, Brazil, China etc and their head office is in London, Kings Cross. You can browse their Website to check their equally reputable clientele. They can paint the world towns red with marketing Billboards in streets,
…from #7 in streets, undergroundstations/subways, tv, cabs, commutter buses and any public places in various citie and towns. They are very accessible by phone, email, etc and down to earth group of professionals. I have encountered them in my life. Even visiting their office block tells the whole story.
DESIGN A PACKAGE PRODUCTS TO SUIT THE POCKETS OF ordinary ZAMBIANS
In Zambia tourism is aimed only at foreign tourists. What about Zambians. The idea of aiming or directing your product/service just confines your business to one season and therefore decimating the business turnover. Tourism in Zambia must first be aimed at citizens before you bring in outsiders. Outsiders should just fall in the jigsaw puzzle. There must be laws forcing companies to let employees go on holidays…
…from#8 Turning holiday days into money must be against the (tourism enacted) laws in Zambia. All employees should be encouraged (not forced) to take up annual holidays to places such as Mfuwe, Livingstone, Samfya, Kasaba Bay, etc on a subsidized company holiday package arranged with a company appointed tour operator. The fact that they should be subsidized should not mean subjection to sub standards treatment of local tourists. This should see a surge in government revenue through tourism and a continuation of tourism business as opposed to a seasonal one which only involves tourists from overseas or abroad. It should also see children improving in Geography studies in schools. as well as a population of enlightened citizens.
…from #8. let alone an increased employment opportunities in the tourism sector and in turn in the supply chain as a ripple effect. Because agriculture can never be detached from tourism this should also see an increased demand for food stuff in lodges and hotels, and hence the need for increased food production across the country.
ONE LAST BUT NOT LEAST THING
The ministry of tourism in conjunction with the ministry of Education should design a state-of-the-art TOURISM subject in schools starting right from Grade One to the university level. In that subject a pupil/student must master at least one international language ranging from Chinese Mandolin, Spanish, Germany, Japanese, etc. All these would emphasize how serious Zambia is about tourism. learning of these languages should…
…from# 10. start right from Grade One to a Degree Level. This programme of study would also directly benefit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in acquiring personnel who have full knowledge of spoken and written Language ability for various countries that are not English-speaking. We do not need a Chinese man interpreter when doing business with the Chinese people. Zambia needs their own citizens who can understand that particular language, thoroughly. With the above accomplished we should see Zambia leading in the world in terms of tourism. People shun going to certain countries because of language barrier. But the above would defeat it. And more employment opportunities in teaching.
PARDON ME:
I have mis-numbered my sub articles. If you come across something that say, say from # 2 but you notice that it does not make sence, it is due to mis-numbering and I am sorry about that. Thanks.
peter just call jean she will probably give you a job
China even if I needed a job it wouldn’t be in the ministry of tourism. I am even currently doing an engineering programme at university. So, I am very far from asking for a job from Jean. I just have the interest at heart for my country. My country has huge potential in tourism. Imwe fyonse mufimwena fye pabupuba bawishi. Anyway, I shouldn’t even be wasting my time on you. I have too much constructive stuff to do.
Peter…very few ccountries actually have “expensive” offices for tourism promotion. What’s needed is getting travel agents and businesses to promote Zambia not big multi corp marketing cos that would cost a fortune. Also by engaging with conservationists and encouraging research you would be opening up a positive pandoras box. Including these studies into the education system in Zambia would foster the young. The ffirst place though is recognition of ZAWA and prosecution of issues within. The next is ensuring locsl communities appreciate wildlife, take o ly what they need and study conservation for preservation. The game fishing industry in Zambia is another area. Basically in a nutshell. This jostling for power and money within ZAWA has unfortunately removed the whole idea of it .
LOL, its your brilliant advices from you people the country in general needs and in particular the tourism ministry. I can only give advice within the confines of what I know. Another person such you can give even a better advice. However, the waste part is one to remain mute when in fact they possess the best ideas that can help our country. Collectively, we can help our country to be on the road to real prosperity. Thanks for partially differing from me.
But I insist that marketing the country from the embassies has never worked, it will never work and just doesn’t work. Even then in my contribution if you read carefully, I have mentioned an element of agents doing marketing work on behalf of Zambia. But we can’t run away from the fact that money and not small money has to be spent. You spend money before making money. If you fear to spend or take a risk you will never make money. Unfortunately, that’s the law of thumb.
Family and Friends
I have decided to come back to Zambia and apply for the job. I have a diploma in Hospitality Management Hotel and Tourism. I am wrapping up my Bachelors Degree in Travel and Tourism. I have managed hotels and restaurants, studied macroeconomics, statistics, marketing 1 and 2. I have great knowledge in sustainable practices and the consequences of habitat loss. I strongly believe we need to boost our heritage and cultural tourism. I have done feasibility study projects for proposed hotels which could be a benefit for the Zambian Tourism sector. Wildlife is my passion and time to rid of Trophy Hunting that is diminishing our wildlife population. I am a 26 year old lady and have worked hard all my life and believe I can do a better job than anyone who has ever held such a position. Thank you.