via Interview: Zim keen to fix UK ties, Mzembi 06/11/2013 NewZimbabwe
FRESH from a comprehensive victory in the July 31 elections but confronted with an economy in serious trouble the Zanu PF government is looking at ways of mending ties with western countries – Britain in particular – which imposed sanctions the party blames for bringing Zimbabwe’s economy to its knees.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi, who is in London attending the World Travel Market, made this clear in an interview with the BBC. Mzembi said despite the animosity of the last decade or so, there remained an “undeniable” link between Zimbabwe and Britain which could form the basis of a new relationship – as long as the UK dispensed with its master-servant approach and recognised that the former colony was now an independent and equal partner.
Mzembi spoke to the BBC’s James Coomarasamy …
Jamie Coomarasamy (JC): You are particularly keen on – and you are not alone by any means – in trying to encourage Chinese visitors …
Walter Mzembi (WM): Absolutely because they are the biggest spenders now in the world; at US$140 billion they have surpassed Germany. But more importantly China is in that unique position where they are raising a whole new middle class – 300 million people have just entered the middle class in that country and we seek, obviously, to leverage on that critical mass in order to grow our tourism. If you are a tourism policy planner and you are just sitting not thinking China, you are not thinking Brazil, Russian and India then you should be fired because that is where the growth strategy is going.
WM: Well, we were the first country … well there are many now that are now turning to the East, but we were the among the first to recognise that we had to adopt a Look East policy and it was obviously borne out of all the animosity that the Western world was exercising towards us; it made us turn immediately to the East and we adopted a Look East policy and by 2006 we had crafted and penned signatures on a preferred destination status agreement (with China).
JC: Your economy is has turned around in the last few years. Today, I see your government predicting 6 percent GDP growth for next year. How important is re-electing President Robert Mugabe to your country’s growth?
WM: Well, President Mugabe is obviously a symbol of our nationhood. But having said that, he is obviously now in a position where he is able to raise a new generation going forward – I wouldn’t be here as part of leadership … at 50 I sit in the same Cabinet with President Mugabe at 89 and I can tell you there is no greater joy than obviously reading from that script because you can’t substitute that experience for anything, and you can’t shop it over the counter. But he is raising a generation to take over and that generation has got to write its own legacy.
JC: Are you thinking about … it sounds to me as though you’re already thinking about the post Mugabe era?
WM: Well, it’s inevitable that it will come when it will come …
WM: Well, it will be an era built on his legacy of total empowerment and liberation of the African and I can tell you there is no country like Zimbabwe where black people now own their full means of production in the land that has been bequeathed to them by him (Mugabe); that inheritance is obviously unparalleled – you can only read about it in the Bible.
WM: We will fix that (interrupted) … that’s why I’m here. We have already started fixing that. The mere coming of the entire world to Zimbabwe (for the World Tourism Congress) and it was declared, not by me, but by the UNWTO themselves, as the best ever attended general assembly in the history of general assemblies … (interrupted)
JC: There was a lot of criticism about it (tourism congress) happening there though, do you still feel out in the cold?
WM: Unfortunately it was criticism coming from a country like the UK where I’m today … people that don’t belong, as it were.
WM: Yes, yes … we have an undeniable link with the British … a hundred years of investment relationships between each other. But times have changed; when a country assumes independence it assumes also the role of master and you must treat it equally and defer and submit to its own authority …
JC: Do the British treat you fairly?
WM: I think they still treat us unfairly …
WM: I think that is the feeling back home – that it’s master and servant, and I think the sooner we begin to treat each other as equals the more and better for our relations going forward. I don’t think there is any country in Africa where the British have a higher incidence of investment than there is in Zimbabwe. And I don’t there is any other country also where the British are best disposed to maintain a foothold in investment in African than is the case in Zimbabwe.
JC: What do you say to British people though who might want to visit Zimbabwe but can’t get beyond the images of years ago of white farmers being chased off their farms? Is it a place that we should really feel safe going back to with Mugabe still in charge?
WM: Yeah, that is the unfortunate thing about global mainstream media. It continues to recycle images that are already in the past, that are virtually history. And it is the mischief of Africa’s inability to establish its own BBC, raise its own African CNN where it actually runs current fresh messages which are actually relevant …
WM: The fresh message is that Zimbabwe is one of the most peaceful and stable democracies in Southern Africa and if you compare us to what is happening up north, the happenings in Kenya, more recently, in Egypt – you’d marvel at how much of a peace haven Zimbabwe has become; how much of a secure destination we’re to the extent that our crime rates are obviously the lowest in the region and everyone is free to move as they wish. The investment laws have been relaxed substantially, to the extent that you can get an investment licence in less than three days – in the past it would be 90 days. The currency regime multiple currency, we don’t even use our own Zimbabwean dollar at this juncture and we just reassured investors and the entire global village that we will be linked and riding on multiple currencies – that includes the US Dollar, British Pound and the South African Rand in the main for the next five years. So there is no exchange rate at all, we have eliminated it – and I think we are possibly and probably one of the most attractive investment destinations in southern Africa.
COMMENTS
Another character living in cloud-cuckoo-land.
Mike H, you can receive help to escape from cuckoo land you know, there are some psychologists local who may assist you.
Hiope yoy get better soon.
Dear brother, how …………person can you be by saying that whoever has a different opinion from your excellency needs the medical assistance of a psychologist? In deed you seem to be very keen to psychologists………………
its you who needs that bro.
Dream on nesbert
Congratulations, at the very same time that you think that you are smarter than your brothers, millions of people are suffering.It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.what goes around comes around……………………..
At least now you describe yourself
Mr Mzembi you are saying whatever it is you are saying on BBC and your grandfather says a different story at the UN. Even the situation in Zimbabwe is totally different. Tourists being harassed at Game Reserves, the police don’t even do anything and those things are published on the very same BBC. Just tell me is that behaviour logical or stupid?
Muzembi is a certified fool.How can you say Mugabe is a national symbol? Why do you court European tourists?Look your Chinese friends will just visit your national parks and you will never see elephants again.Its high time Muzembi do something for the people of Nyajena.You yourself can not coss Tetenu river to Muchibwa hospital when the rains start.The bridge is one of the worst in Zimbabwe.The Morgenster-Renco Mine tarred road is on stand still.You were last in Renco Mine trying to take over the mine.Since the court interdict, you were never seen.You will be seen in 2018 seeking reelection.This time the people of Nyajena will teach you a lessen,wake up and stop this bootlicking of Mugabe.Develop the area.
Regards the fresh message – how about serious discussion on the violence perpetrated over the past 13 years, and holding people to account. It’s not a matter of considering it to be ‘history’.
Who did we hold to account during the Rhodesian era? The abuses committed by the Selous Scouts and the other bigotted institutions of that time? You talk about holding people to account now?
Lets styart with the farm next to Harare South Golf Club where villagers wer murdered in the night including elderly children and babies – eyes gouged out and filled with sadza as were the mouths.
Vote MDC banners were hung on the fence.
In discussion groups MDC supporters said it was done in retaliation – some blew the whistle on the disruption intended prior to the election before last. Depicted on the front page of the Herald described as gruesome murders.
Message was do not speak about what you see – babies cant even talk.
This not a matter of history either lets investigsate.
Mzembi cannot even answer a straightforward question. He was asked “how successful have you been in getting Chinese visitors”? Waffle waffle! He couldn’t answer because the answer is zero except for chinese looters. Last year, the largest tourism visitors were Australian (thanks Ambassador), followed by other Western countries!
MUZEMBI’s COLUMN IS WORTHLESS, so here is something worthy.
The term Shona is as recent as the 1920s.
The Kalanga and or Karanga (including m’Korekore clans) had, from the 11th century, created Empires and States on the Zimbabwe plateau.
These Kalanga States include the Great Zimbabwe State (12-16th century), the Torwa State, and the Munhumutapa States, which succeeded the Great Zimbabwe State as well as the Rozvi state, which succeeded the Torwa State, and which, with the (Manhu) Mutapa State, existed into the 19th century. The states were based on kingship with certain dynasties being Royals.
The major Dynasties were the Rozvi of the Moyo (Heart) Totem, the Elephant (of the Mutapa State), and the Hungwe (Fish Eagle) Dynasties that ruled from Great Zimbabwe. The Kalanga who speak tsi’Kalanga are related to the Karanga, possible through common ancestry.
Modern day Shona groups are not very familiar with the existence of Zimbabwe’s Royal Kalanaga, hence they are frequently not recognized as Shona today.
Shona are actually the original ‘Colonists’, before C.J.Rhodes’ Britain and China today!
Sorry Kalanga, not Kalanaga! Typo…..
You are soooo educated… Wiki is a great tool right??
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Thanx for educating us Chivula, not others who view the pages to just hail insults at others.So Tino , was also right to a certain extent .Thanx