President Rupiah Banda yesterday met investors in the tourism sector in Mfuwe to discuss challenges affecting the industry.
The meeting created a platform for the investors to brainstorm on best ways that could be employed to turn the sector into a major foreign exchange earner, in view of the declining Copper prices on the international market.
Mr Banda said government wants tourism, apart form agriculture, to be a mainstay of the economic activities in the country.
“The main objective of the meeting is to give you, investors of in this sector an opportunity to suggest on what government should do to improve tourism, especially that the copper prices are falling on the international market for us to reduce dependency on the mining sector” he said.
He stated that Zambia was ready to learn from countries that have succeeded in developing their economies through tourism.
“We can learn from countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania that have succeeded in developing their economies through tourism,” he said.
The president also stated that government realized that the depletion of some animal species was among the serious challenges facing the tourism sector in Mfuwe.
Mr Banda commended the tour operators in the Luangwa valley for managing to revive their operations after floods severely affected the areas during the last rainy season.
“I saw the pictures of how most of your lodges flooded which affected your operations, I thank you for your hard work and resilience which made you bring your operations back to life,” he said.
“I hope we wont get more floods this season in this area,” he added.
The president was happy that the Luangwa valley has recorded infrastructure development in the social sector through the development of schools and clinics among others.
“I can testify to the fact that the valley has changed, I can see new schools and clinics and more have come to live in the valley,” he said.
President Banda said the meeting with investors in the tourism sector was important to help government set benchmarks for achieving growth in the sector.
He said Government has managed to reduce prices of fuel and mealie meal because it was able to engage in dialogue with relevant stakeholder in the respective sectors.
He disclosed government plans to consider reducing tax on fuel in next year’s budget as a measure of facilitating further reductions in the retail prices of the commodity.
“This will reduce the cost production which will further lead to the reduction of prices of other commodities,” he said.
The president also indicated government’s commitment to stabilize the price of mealie meal hence, appealed to farmers, millers and traders to be honest when conducting their businesses.
President Banda was in Mfuwe on a working holiday.
ZANIS/ENDS/HN/SJK/MM
Nambala wanu
numbala2 iwe
This is how a leader should begin a new year. For once I dare say: good move, Mr. President.
1.-60% of the tourism package goes to the airline.So without a national airline zambia loses 60% of its income from tourism to foreign airlines.
2.Zambia is also offered as part of a south african package through sun hotels and the monies remain in south africa .
Mr President, i support the initiative to seriously promote tourism in Zambia. My advise to you is that firstly, you need marketers to market tourism that Zambia is offering. Talking about tourism, you are looking at global market. Iam studying Marketing Management in the UK and had the chance as part of my Masters program to go to Liverpool for a week to learn how to brand a destination. You will agree that in UK today, people do not know where Zambia is. They know Zimbabwe and not Zambia.
Iam prepared to come and help promote tourism as soon as you need me.
I think Mr pesident is now talking and not being mute. We want to see results as well not just talk. By feb we want to see change. Matrix is all we need. =d>=d>=d>=d>=d>
Thats the President talking.
😕 Tourism industry is usually a result of serious investments in the agricultural and manufacturing industries. Look at the histories of the countries you are citing for your yardstick! Kenya, Tanzania … South Africa have relied on agriculture and Manufacturing industries. Why should we be exporting all resources as unfinished products? Lead our country in proper directions uncle RB! Before you negotiate for tourism, negotiate for agricultural issues, for it’s a better investment!
#5 read this interesting post i found. Don’t forget to close the gaps:
gndhlovu . blogspot . com/2007/11/wrong-tourism-menu.html
Hmmmm!we want genuine investors Mr.President! Not from Nigeria papa.
#9 , mulishani mukwai
8. SweetZED-NdiyoZimozi
Why should we be exporting all resources as unfinished products? Lead our country in proper directions uncle RB!
We need to empower local people to become farmers and business owners. That is where the real growth is – there are millions of subsistence farmers and marketeers, but this crop of politicians would rather look abroad than see the massive opportunities at home. They want foreign companies to see opportunities in the Zambian economy, and yet they do not for a second look at the opportunities Zambians see at home. Why is that?
Zambia needs to remove corrupt council official that make the aquiring land for tourism development slow and expensive for local invested. Zambian currently are not majority participants in the industry. A report released recently pointed that 90% of investors in the tourism industry are foreign. Count on me to come and turn the industry around soon. As for Banda ela sabaila fye **==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==**==:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^
Mr K.
How is Mr president on Zambia online. 2006, you were good with copy and paste with articles from The Post news paper. Do you still do that.
Sarah jones copy and paste also know as plagiarism (PLAGIARISM) **==**==**==**==**==**==:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^
I thought what he is doing is the job of the Minister of tourism. If the President will end up taking the jobs of these ministers then that will be sad, why are we even paying those Ministers. The job of the President is to make national strategic plans and supervise the ministers and ensure that the Ministers are implementing the plans in their various sectors and Ministers are equally strategising in their individual sectors and are performing and competent.
““We can learn from countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania that have succeeded in developing their economies through tourism,” he said.”
Mr President Rupiah Bwezani Banda, I would like to re-write your words into ““We MUST learn from countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania that have succeeded in developing their economies through tourism,” he said.”
We all know that we CAN learn …, but why should we continue hoping that we can when we actually MUST learn and implement those countries’ strategies to improve our case?
Ba Shibukombe # 15,
If the link or source is given, there is absoltely nothing wrong with the intiative of copying and pasting a report filling deemed of relevance to the ongoing debate on the thread.If MrK was doing illegal things, he could have long faced litigatons. But 2, 3 or 4 years on here is on ZOL, Maravi,LT and Zambian Economist blogging on.Lets build one another other that waste time on what would only inhibit logic.Trust me MrK like many folks is a logical economist with depth.We need all ideas to move the country forward.Co-existence,Co-existence and again Co-existence folks we need in 2009.
17. Maestro Hhehhehhehhe, we seriously need to adress our transport infrastructure. Or is it part of tourism for tourists to come and feel our pot-holes and have difficulties in moving from point A to B?
Let us re-work out railway system. We need electric trains and also decongesting the transport system would be worthwhile. So, instead of talking without doing something, let us for once change things by allowing our people to be partners in companies instead of looking to FDI always.
I hope these words will find place in my MMD GRZ!
18. Senior Citizen, big ups and keep well.
# 16. New Zambia,
Presidents are principals in all government policy be it in formulation or implementation.The President is not seperable from any public policy ministers presides on.”The ball or bulkal stops at the waters’s edge “which is the active president.In difficult times, the President sales his adminitration agenda as a “bully Pulpit”.Policy wise RB is very much right to do that.As a learned veteran politician, economist/Policy expert he knows that he is right.He is adding pressure to his ministers and not taking away their jobs.We could help each other here to policy issues.
So what happens during times when there are no economic difficulties and there is still no performance in those ministries, what the President is doing should have already been done long time ago by the Tourism Minister.
22. New Zambia, just to add somthing in line to our ministers do their jobs: what are Ministers like Vera Chiluba doing or what are theier plans for 2009 so that the MoFNP can give them the necessary monetary resources to carry out their activities effectively?
Surely, ministers do not need to wait for the President of Zambian to put them on track. All the need is to be corrected if they go out of touch with what is necessary. ;).
New Zambia,
I’m kind of lossing you from your earlier concern.Is your problem in # 22 about why RB is becoming active on a minitry policy issue or what? If that is your concern i must remind you hat Presidents are politicians,executives and custodians.They have their office agenda to be pushed and often use the “Bully Pulpit” too to sale there agenda.Often through PS, Policy implementation office and the OOP(SD)respective desks minitor and evaluate ministries.If not performers, they replace them or privately reprimand them with hallenge for action.But the President will never stop selling his agenda as .master principle on national interests.
The President is “Chief Minister” and therefore RB is in order to delve into any aspect of Zambia’s development. A President can best supervise his ministers if he himself also has basic knowledge in their various fields. RB is just “Right on”
Any computer guru here to walk me through a problem.My laptop keypad delays on some letters/keys when i’m typing fast.As a result a lot of letters are left out in my writting.This is a new laptop with no attempt on it technically.My desktop no issue, old notebook no issues by this Sony viao laptop.What should i do? I’m good at computer applications but clueless on technical issues.Advise will be appreciated.
#1, Ba Nine Chale PLISHI filekeni ifi fya u Nambala wanu, it shows immaturity, nakaili kulanga kwati tamuli serious pa blogg..
Even if you find yourself first just say anything quickly that comes to your mind even before reading the story..
You will still be number one and we will still NOTICE you.. (..brothery/sisterly advice am giving to you ..)
Nangula turn into a ‘multiple personality ‘ID when u want to express your excitement as being numala wanu..,
Continued happy returns to you and your family for 2009.. <:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p
27. Cutey, I second that point.
How long does one have to wait online just to post “nambala wanu!”?
Must be rather lonely8-|
#28,
Thanks Maestro,
You are coming up well with /merits/credits this Newyear… Many happy returns to you in Europe… <:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p<:-p
#29, Jaroph,
Mostly its a matter of chancing.. I have been number 1 several times on this blogg but I find it simply/increasingly childish to say what these others say.. complete kindergarden material. sometimes irritating and no wonder LT gave it an AWARD.. :o:o:o:o:-?
I agree, Kindergarten material indeed!
Perhaps that is even unfair to the little ones in Kindergarten!
#
30. your flag Cutey , I appreciate.:-$
that’s more like it mr president! :):):)
The sooner the copper prices will go up the sooner the President will forget about tourism. Tourism has and will always be with us and its time govt gave the sector its deserved place as far as revenue generation and job creation is concerned. Agriculture is another sector we can harness and use to develop this country. Time we forgot about copper which has sustained this country for far too long. Forget about the Mining Schools and talk about Agricultural Schools now.
Infrastructure! Infrastructure! 🙂
morning comrades…
iseni tulandepo pali ba bwezani banda, i mean the president of zambia
Totally agree with you Richard,Morning.
Ladies and Gentlemen, here is another shocker. Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa will be getting an honorary doctorate degree in Los Angeles,California this coming May. Why she is being honored is not because of her works at home, but rumor has it that they made huge donations to expensive and prestigious Pepperdine University before her husband died. Who is next? Thandiwe and RB? Money is being used to buy honorary doctorates while people sleep hungry in Zambia.
Has the Chipata-Mfuwe road been tarred? How about the Mfuwe-Isoka Road. Has it been constructed? How do we hope to attract tourists if the only reliable way of reaching Mfuwe is by Zambian Airways which is facing its own teething problems? Bwana Mkubwa RB should address these issues first before wasting taxpayers money on unneccessary holidays. Next time go to Kenya or Tanzania Serengeti National park to appreciate tourism. :-\”:-\”:-\”
#11 Pinkly. Nshaumwene umutende obe. Ine nelibwe lilanda, nganobe ulishani mune?
Zambian Passports
Please join us for a discussion
Teleconference Live
January 3rd 2009
Time : 11:00 am Central Time (USA)
Conference Dial-in Number: (218) 844-8230
Participant Access Code: 853993#
The Zambian leadership needs to look within before going all over the world looking for investors.Zambia has over 100,000 of it’s citizens abroad in South Africa,Europe,Asia and the United States.These people bring between $1 to $3 millions dollars per month into the Zambian economy through the money they remit to their relatives and families.
These men and women can bring into the Zambian economy millions of dollars per month if the Zambian leadership can wake up from sleeping at the switch,The money which these Zambians bring in will not leave the country,it will create more jobs.Instead of giving land to foreigners why not give it to the Zambians overseas.
please RB u r busy giving foreign operators to open lodges and safari companies.my application has been lying idol at ministy of tourism whithout being attended to coz the money they are demanding from me is to much,abash rb, no wonder i never voted for you….
ALL AFRICA GAMES MR RB FOR TOURISM[-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-([-(
YOU SEE NOW
40# you are so right, the roads in some national parks are bad, how can you have tourist driving on these roads. Take the road to i=tize-tizze, it’s need to be resufaced all the way.
Lip service for the last forty years.Govt has never been serious and will never be.SAD!!In fact investors r leaving after running out of patience.