The second Zambia International Travel (ZIT) show has opened in Lusaka today attracting over 120 local and foreign exhibitors.

The three day event is organized by Africast exhibition management with the aim of marketing Zambia to the rest of the world prior to the 2010 world and Africa cup.

Speaking at the official opening, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minster Catherine Namugala reaffirmed government’s commitment to support efforts intended at promoting tourism destinations in the country.

Mrs. Namugala said government alone can not manage to attract and convince many tourists to visit all tourisms sits therefore there is need for other stakeholders to play a leading role in ensuring that tourists continue to come the country.

She assured that government will do everything possible to support all efforts and process pertaining to facilitating more investment in the country.

She pointed out that partners in the private sector like Africast should endeavor at assisting government find lasting solutions to the current global economic crisis.

The Minster who also toured the exhibition stands explained that through providing such a platform like ZIT show that brings operators who are potential investors together, the country is likely to increase its investment capacity to the industry.

Mrs. Namugala also urged exhibitors to use the show and exchange views amongst themselves on how best the current global economic crunch can be addressed so that it does not affect their business.

She further added that marketing is key to the growth of the tourism sector adding that this is way innovative ways such as ZIT should be wide explored.

She said Marketing Zambia as a tourist destination in non traditional products can contribute positively to the economic development of the country.

She also challenged the financial institutions to come on board assist government in developing Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector.

She stressed that SMEs have potential to reduce poverty as they would ensure wider participation of the local people in various tourism enterprises.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Namungala has also urged investors to respect the laws of the country and conduct their business in accordance with the stipulated guidelines.

And earlier Africast exhibition management Managing Director Chimwemwe Nyirenda said despite the economic disturbances world wide there is need for the tourism sector not to relent in marketing their products.

Mr. Nyirenda explained that local and foreign marketing of tourism plays a vital role in developing and attracting more tourists in any country.

He noted that Zambia is a country that is blessed with natural tourism attractions but only lack proper marketing skills of her products to other countries.

He also called upon local exhibitors and other tour operators to use the show as an opportunity to identify more tourists to the businesses.

Mr. Nyirenda further thanked government and other stakeholders for partnering with his organization, adding that this will go along way in encouraging more investment and consequently contribute to the economic growth of the nation.

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS

Government has approved K 2.5 billion for Mazabuka Municipal Council for Integrated Municipal Service Delivery.

This follows a successful project proposal submitted to Cabinet under the Public Service Management service delivery fund.

Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.

He said the local authority will handle the tender procedures and select contractors while the disbursement of funds will be done by the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Chingangu said the funds will be used among other things to construct a modern solid waste management, a weigh bridge and the processing of the issuance of title deeds for 1,000 housing units in Nakambala and Mulonga townships.

He said equipment for the construction of a weigh bridge purchased from India has since arrived in the district.

Mr. Chingangu said a Lusaka-based contractor has since been engaged to undertake the project which scheduled to be completed within two months.

A project monitoring vehicle and Industrial back hoe loader have already been procured and received while purchase orders for the mobile office equipment have been submitted for payment to the ministry of finance.

The German Technical Cooperation to Zambia under the Support to Decentralization Implementation has been instrumental in capacity building at Mazabuka Municipal Council, (GTZ-SDI).

GTZ-SDI has also been conducting capacity building at Sinazongwe and Kalomo district councils in Southern Province.

He further said the funds will help the council in conducting mobile information system especially for rural communities who do not have access to information and are not aware of processes and issues involved in accessing services.

Mr. Chingangu added that the council data base on revenue, accounts, plot allocation that are not integrated into one system that links up all records pertaining to revenue payments and accounts would now be networked.

ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS

Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Sipula Kabanje, says President Banda’s State visit to Zimbabwe is key in cementing the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Dr Kabanje told ZANIS in an interview in Harare today, that the people and government of Zimbabwe hold President Rupiah Banda in high esteem and look forward to his visit.

He said President Banda is visiting Zimbabwe at a time relations between the two countries are at their highest and strongest level.

“The people and government of Zimbabwe are extremely excited about President Rupiah Banda’s visit. The visit comes at a remarkable time when relations between the two sister countries are at their highest level,” Dr Kabanje said.

He said the people of Zimbabwe are happy that Zambia has been an all weather friend since the colonial era when the two neighbours were one country under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The high commissioner observed that the two countries should therefore continue to emphasise collaboration as opposed to competition in their quest for sustainable development.

“There is need for Zambia and Zimbabwe to emphasize cooperation and not competition with each other for mutual benefit,” he said.

Dr Kabanje said Zimbabwe has a long history of mechanized agriculture and irrigation which the government of President Banda wants to emphasize in the development of Zambia’s agriculture sector.

He called for the promotion of joint ventures between the two countries in developing agriculture and other key sectors of the economy.

Following the formation of the government of national unity, Zimbabwe is back on the road to economic stability, with the country overcoming the hyper inflation phenomenon as a result of the introduction of the use of the United States dollar and the South African Rand as the country’s main currencies in place of the Zimbabwean dollar.

President Rupiah Banda arrives in Harare, Zimbabwe tomorrow on a four-day State visit during which he will also officially open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

Zambia’s High commissioner to Zimbabwe, Dr Sipula Kabanje, told ZANIS in Harare today that President Banda is expected to touch down at Harare international airport at 15.30 hours.

He will be accompanied by First Lady, Thandiwe, commerce minister Felix Mutati and other government officials.

Dr Kabanje said agriculture minister Brian Chituwo, Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, Energy deputy minister Gladys Lundwe, and Chipangali Member of Parliament Vincent Mwale arrive in Bulawayo today ahead of President Banda’s arrival there on Thursday.

Host President Robert Mugabe accompanied by his wife, Grace, will lead a high powered Zimbabwean government delegation to receive President Banda at the airport.

The welcoming party will include the two vice presidents Joseph Msika and Joyce Mujuru, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Professor Arthur Mutambara.

President Banda will be given a 21 Gun Salute to be mounted by the Zimbabwean defense forces after which he will watch some traditional dances before proceeding to Rainbow-Towers hotel where he will stay.

The two leaders will later in the afternoon hold official talks at state house, to be followed by a state banquet in honour of President Banda.

On Thursday morning, President Banda leaves for Bulawayo where he will be met on arrival at Joshua Nkomo international airport by President Mugabe.

The two leaders will then proceed to the Trade Fair grounds where they will tour stands after which President Rupiah Banda will officially open the Zimbabwean International Trade Fair and present prizes to winning exhibitors.

Among the stands the two Presidents are scheduled to visit include the Zimbabwean Grain Marketing Board Pavilion, Zambian, South African, Botswana and Chinese stands.

They will also tour the MTN South Africa, Namibia Port (NAMPORT), Malawian, Mozambican and Tanzanian stands.

On Friday, President Banda is expected to visit Gwanda district, about 150 kilometres south of Bulawayo.

He returns to Lusaka on Saturday, 2nd May.

ENDS/IMD/AM/ZANIS

Management at the shut down Albidon Munali Nickel mine in Mazabuka has surrendered back to the local community 1,000 hectares of land out of the 2,200 hectares that the mine had secured for its operations.

The acquisition of the 2,200 hectares of land had resulted in the displacement of 145 families.

Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.

Mr Chingangu explained that the move follows several meetings held between the displaced families and the mine management.

He said currently lawyers representing the mine are working with staff in the Ministry of Lands to subdivide the land.

Mr. Chingangu said the mine realized that it had obtained vast land which it could not fully utilise hence surrendering part of the land back to the local community.

Meanwhile, Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba , has welcomed the development.

And Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo told ZANIS that the move will ease the suffering of the families that were displaced.

Mr Nkombo noted that the life and livelihood of the affected families had been severely disturbed in the last three years that they had been displaced without being offered alternative land.

He pointed out that the affected families had no land on which they could cultivate crops hence they had been perpetually threatened by hunger.

Mr Nkombo said there is need to look into the plight of displaced people when allocating land to investors.

Albidon Munali Nickel mine in Mazabuka has since been put on receivership.
ENDS/HC/AM/ZANS