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Earlier today, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Hon N.M. Ndhlovu officially commissioned Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) motor vehicles and information centre at ZTA headquarters in Harare.
The development is in pursuit of the ZTA Integrated Results-Based Management (IRBM) Strategic Plan for the period 2021-2025 which prioritises capitalisation, among others, as one of the key deliverables.
Minister Ndlovu said as part of ZTA’s capital expenditure programme, the organisation needs a total of fifteen 4×4 all-terrain field operations vehicles, of which eleven vehicles have been delivered with the remaining four awaiting delivery. Ten of the eleven vehicles are earmarked for ZTA Regional Offices whilst the remainder will serve as programme vehicles based at the Head Office.
“Given Government’s devolution agenda, the acquisition of these field operations vehicles and their allocation to Regional Offices could not have come at a better time. Aided by these all-terrain vehicles it will become easier for the ZTA Regional Staff to reach out to all parts of their respective regions/provinces. In so doing this will enable them to engage tourism operators including those in remote parts, thereby ensuring we do not leave anyone behind from ensuring enhanced compliance, accounting for tourism facilities stock both existing and new facilities as well as the collection of tourism statistics,” Minister Ndlovu said.
He said the capacitation of ZTA through the provision of these vehicles will also go a long way in facilitating critical stakeholder engagement including the different Government structures. It will also enable the ZTA representatives to engage with the Local Authorities such as Rural District Councils and Urban Councils as well as the traditional leaders and local communities thereby enabling the tapping into tourism as a vehicle for local social and economic development.
Meanwhile, Government recognises the importance of Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs), especially in the improvement of the livelihoods of local communities. As such, going forward, ZTA Regional Offices working together with the Ministry’s Provincial Offices will need to flag all potential CBTEs for development and promotion. This will help in unlocking the value of the tourism potential of local areas thereby bringing communities closer to the tourism value chain and for beneficiation.
“Further, Government expects the ZTA through their regional offices to immensely contribute to tourism product development and diversification. Taking into account each of the Region or Province’s peculiarities in terms of tourism resource endowments, Government’s desire is to see tourism as one of the key economic sectors contributing to National and provincial Gross Domestic Products (GDPs). Against this backdrop, it is imperative to ensure that ZTA employees deployed to the regions are competent enough to contribute towards the broad mandate of the organisation as a whole.”
Pertaining to the refurbishment of the Tourism Information Centre at the ZTA Head Office into a state-of-the-art facility, the Minister was happy that the authority is moving with time in its marketing of the destination.
Mr. Raynold Mawerera, the ZTA Board Chairman said with such capacitation with resources, there should be no room for complacency and procrastination in the execution of tasks aimed at achieving ZTA’s planned outputs and outcomes.
“Through the effective and efficient discharge of our mandate and utilisation of resources, we should perform as expected. Now that you have commissioned these new vehicles and the information office, allow me to borrow from the aviation sector and say please fasten your seat belts as the journey is beginning. The Executive will have no excuse not to deliver and gone should be the days where stakeholders bemoan the lack of presence and visibility of the ZTA. I appeal to the operators out there to continue to work with and support the ZTA in general and the regional offices in particular as they go about their duties. We have a statutory mandate to fulfill but also relations to nurture with the industry,” Mr. Mawerera said.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Givemore Chidzidzi, the ZTA Acting Chief Executive said prior to the handover of the resources, the lack of mobility did only negatively impact their effectiveness as a promotional and regulatory body, but also stakeholder relations.
“One would hear operators saying they do not see the ZTA except at events. With this new development that should now be a thing of the past. When Secretary Munodawafa asked us to submit our request and plan to acquire vehicles we did not waste time and in no time the Authority was there. We are extremely excited that we have finally taken delivery of eleven out of fifteen 4×4 vehicles. This vehicle fleet will go a long way in enhancing our operations aligned to the fulfillment of our mandate and the delivery of the expected results.
“I want to assure our principals that the vehicles will be put to good use. Through the car tracking system that we have invested in, we will be able to monitor and evaluate the use of the fleet in both real-time and on a historical basis. This should go a long way in curbing the temptation of the misuse of these treasured assets.
“Meanwhile, the upgrading of the Information Centre had been overdue and its finalisation should help ZTA in disseminating tourism information on destination Zimbabwe locally, regionally, and internationally. The new-look tourist office blends perfectly with our brand new tourist attraction in the vicinity, the Statue of our National Heroine, Mbuya Nehanda, which has become a popular place to visit for both domestic and foreign visitors,” Mr. Chidzidzi said..