A REFLECTION ON 2017
THERE is no doubt that 2017 had its own challenges, ranging from political governance, economic development as well as social and economic management.
I will leave political governance, economic development and indeed social and economic management to other experts.
I will reflect on tourism development with a particular reference to accusations levelled against the President by some of his critics that he spends more time travelling around the globe.
But what these critics fail to appreciate is that the President sometimes has no choice but to travel. After all, he is the chief diplomat. He is the only one popularly elected to be the official spokesperson of the republic, and at the end of the day, it is him who will be held responsible for the failures and successes. So from that perspective, he has to travel and take responsibility.
In all his trips outside the country, tourism development and how the country could attract foreign investment into the tourism sector has been part of his agenda.
The results of these travels and lobbying for investment may not be seen right away, because governments all over the world suffer from the disease called “red tape” and bureaucracy and Zambia is no exception. However as Northern Tourism Circuit, we have actually benefitted from President Edgar Lungus travels as evidenced by anticipated infrastructure development in our tourism sites during 2018/2019.
The Northern Province Minister Brian Mundubile has always been briefing the people in the province on the progress being made in various development sectors and has disclosed that there is an investor who the government has approached who will be putting up a five-star hotel at Lumangwe falls in Mporokoso.
Another investor is expected to set up a five-star hotel at Kasaba bay. The roads to these tourist sites are being done to improve connectivity.
From that stand point, I think as Northern Province, we ought to appreciate that the travels the President made during 2017 were in fact worthwhile.
We also appreciate that Government during 2017 got us Chinese investors who will develop a massive farming bloc in Mporokoso.
In Kenya and Malawi it is the tea and coffee plantations that have contributed to tourism development. Hopefully this farming bloc in Mporokoso if well planned could add value to the tourism credentials of the Northern circuit.
However during 2018 we need to see more team work. We need to see the government constantly consulting stakeholders in the private sector and civil society organisations because these are critical to development.
President Lungu during 2017 did very well in terms of consultation over important national issues and this ought to be emulated by provincial administrations, who until now have been working in isolation.
Some government officials seem to forget that it is the private sector that drives the economy of the country while the government should provide an enabling environment. In fact, this is the challenge government will face this year.
We want to see this enabling environment being accessed and benefiting the SMEs. We want this enabling environment being translated into a real tool for development.
The issue of PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) which the government has been talking about for years now, has not really benefitted the SMEs partly because the policy has not been effectively explained.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has in fact failed in this area and the Minister, Ms Margaret Mwanakatwe ought to be ashamed We want to see the Development Bank of Zambia opening outlets in the provinces during 2018 as part of the government decentralisation policy. This bank needs to be more accessible to rural SMEs than just being confined to Lusaka.
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is another government entity that needs a shakeup. Again Ms Mwanakatwe should take a leading role in shaking up the ZDA if this organisation is to be seen serving the interest of every Zambian, including rural SMES.
All in all, government did very well in terms of developing the tourism sector but what the President ought to remember is that tourism is a very competitive sector which should be spearheaded by people with the passion for it. The author is proprietor of the Northern Walking Safari. A tourism enterprise promoting and marketing the Northern Tourism Circuit. cell: 0961835055. Email : walkingsafari2015@gmail.com