via Zim must respect property rights: Mzembi – DailyNews Live 30 July 2014 by John Kachembere
HARARE -Tourism minister Walter Mzembi says Zimbabwe must value property rights to ensure that the country attracts more tourists.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector hit an all-time low in the decade ending 2008 following diplomatic rows with Western countries, resulting in travel warnings being issued against visiting the southern African country.
But thawing relations — following the formation of a unity government between president Robert Mugabe and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai in 2009 — have seen Western countries, Zimbabwe’s key source markets, relaxing the travel warnings.
However, lack of respect for property rights by the Zanu PF-led government, among other policy inconsistencies, are dampening efforts to boost tourist arrivals.
“We need to reaffirm our respect for property rights in the country and package and interpret for daily use our investment code which should be readily available in all forms, print and electronic media included, without having to be constantly amplified, reinforced or corrected through political voices,” Mzembi said.
“Unfortunately, the reality with this market, notwithstanding its negative disposition towards us, is that they are currently holding the bulk of investment stock in the hospitality sector directly or indirectly and inform the attitude of the tourism wholesale and retail value chain.”
“So when Tourism (industry) calls for sanity in the Save Valley Conservancy, we are not doing the bidding for the few remaining white investors but are just being streetwise in the national interest to keep the remaining 13 percent from disappearing altogether,” he said.
Analysts say property rights in Zimbabwe have been under the spotlight for the last 15 years after the government seemed to sanction the invasion of white-owned commercial farms by what it deemed land hungry peasants.
The commercial farmers were not compensated, sparking tense relations between Zimbabwe and Britain.
The country has struggled to attract foreign direct investment in recent years or funding for its economic blueprint, ZimAsset, due to concerns over the perceived lack of respect for property rights and uncertain business climate and in particular the implementation of the empowerment law.
Mzembi, who recently launched a National Tourism Policy aimed at attracting over $5 billion in tourism receipts by 2020, said the country must work on its brand image within the next six years to boost arrivals.
“Our benchmark year is 1999, when 27 percent of international arrivals were from Europe and America.
“We are down to 13 percent, with this high expenditure and leading source market.
“An absolute review of Brand Zimbabwe appears to be the action required in this market,” he said.
Zimbabwe currently earns on average $1 billion annually from tourism receipts, falling behind its peers such as South Africa which clocks $12 billion and Tanzania at $1,7 billion.
COMMENTS
Save Valley Conservancy, the Presidential Elephant land near Hwange Main Camp, all of them need sanity and forethought. If Mzembi is the only one who sees it, though, and Kasukuwere continues to have no clue, then these and more are damned, and the tourists will continue to stay away.
Viva mzembi, hey comrade you hopefully the Lord will bless you for not advocating theft of anothers property! Read in the Holy Bible what Micah 2 verse 1-7….
Well said Mr Mzembi! Very encouraging.
How many times do I have to remind people that deliberately destroying The Rule of Law always has “unintended consequences” and quickly come round to bite you on your arse?
You cannot be a Bandit Nation, and also expect investment and prosperity. I enjoyed my recent holiday in Zim, but the destruction of the tourism sector, particularly in Kariba, was terrible to see.
What little remains that is functional seems to be run by the Dreaded Whites!
Oh yes those dreaded whites. Just look at posts on Min Saviour Kasukuwere’s Facebook (/Kasukuwere) to see how wildlife land grabs have potential tourists on the rage. Return of sanity urgently required to restore tourist confidence and their desire to visit. If it is not too late already.
There is a spelling mistake on my surname. Which should read Mutamiri. Other wise the message is correct. Well said Mr Mzembi! Very encouraging.
Well said Mr Mzembi! Very encouraging message.
Mzembi please pull the other one. You are a minister in a government that advocates the very policies you pretend to speak against. Mzembi tell us about your farm and how you came by it
Not only his farm but also the chalet business in Sikato, with a white man, in which the poor white fella relinquished share holding to Mzembi and Gono at no cost to protect his business from the Nemangwe villagers..its all hypocrisy. If MT says it…”atengesa and he is Western Puppet”
Too frigging late for that. Agreed John Thomas, Mzembi must come clean on what he has grabbed.
… “the government seemed to sanction the invasion of white-owned commercial farms …”
Seemed to sanction?? They ORDERED it! This must be the understatement of the century!
But hey tourists, please visit our country. We’re not racist (we just hate white people).
Tell us how you crooked through from Ag-Venture to now. Mbavha dzeZanu idzi.
YOU PEOPLE ARE SELFISH OGRES WHO FEED ON OUR SUFFERING. YOU ARE GREEDY GEEKS. ZANU PF WILL NEVER RESPECT ANY PROPERTY RIGHTS. HISTORY IS LITTERED WITH DANGERS TO LOCALS AND FOREIGNERS WHO DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES. THEY ARE SOON ACCUSED OF OPPOSING THE ZPF PARTY AND EVICTED. ZPF IS SO USED TO VIOLATION OF RIGHTS THAT WHOEVER TRUSTS THEM WITH THEIR PROPERTY DO SO ENTIRELY AT THEIR OWN PERIL……DURING THE 2008 ELECTIONS WE LOST LIVESTOCK AND LIVES BUT UP TO NOW ZPF IS QUIET. LETS WAIT AND SEE. AS LOCALS WE KNOW HOW JEALOUS PURPORTD ZPF SUPPOTERS CAN TAKE ANYTHING AND THE POLICE IGNORE THESE CRIMES. THESE PEOPLE ARE CRIMINALS.
Too late! The damage is done!
Obasanjo: Morgan Tsvangirai did win in 2008. I told Morgan, “either you mount the horse or you play second fiddle”.
Mzembi needs to repent. e could be relevant if he was in right standing with God. Yes! He needs to come clean on what he has grabbed. Micah 2 is a good word. for those who have grabbed and coveted beware. Zimbabwe’s puny skewed laws will not stand up on judgment day and those Supreme court judges who have stood by unjust laws and those who have grabbed and coveted and plundered the whole nation will not be able to hide behind them. They will crumble before a just an righteous God. There is always a higher law than the so called supreme law of any country and that is God’s law. He say that ‘forever His word is written in heaven.’ Psalm 119.
Oh Walter, Walter – you who speaks of Property rights….you who is the beneficiary of stolen property. Filthy liar. Our Tourism Industry died with the first land invasions and it will not be back – the planes to Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia are full with visitors who once would have been jetting in to our great country. They have no need to see the ashes of your failure – they are on holiday stupid!
Does this comrade ever attend any meetings with his homies? Bob rants on about his hated of the white race, do you really think any tourists will risk touring Zim. The new Chinese tourists seem intent on buying poached rhino horn and doing shady deals with the polookas in the charge of mismanaging the country. As for respecting property rights, he’s about 12 years too late…….what is he smoking?
hypocrisy at its highest…
Mzembi, Mzembi please give us a break. You know where you place your mouth in the trough. Don’t be a hypocrite. You have uttered similar sentiments before. I think you’d better keep mum.
There people out there who should make such comments. Not you.
Too much hatred preaching against non black people will kill zimbabwe investors