TOURISM YET TO STIR BACK TO FULL LIFE - LSTONE MAYOR

THE tourism industry is yet to record significant impact after the recent re-opening of hotels, lodges and other facilities in the tourist capital, Livingstone Mayor Eugene Mapuwo has observed.

Mr Mapuwo said the fact the some business houses were still closed following the outbreak of the COVID-19, was one reason that had caused slow restoration of tourism sector.

He said that as a result, many families had been negatively affected especially those that depended on the tourism industry for employment.

Mr Mapuwo added that the situation had translated into suffering, worse the vulnerable, visually impaired, orphans and widows.

The Mayor was speaking when he received a donation of food and COVID-19 preventive materials for the 54 visually impaired citizens from Emmanuel TV partners and Prophet TB Joshua in Livingstone at the weekend.

"I would like to thank

Emmanuel TV partners and TB Joshua for remembering the blind in Livingstone that they also need to receive help and make their lives better because these are people who most of them don't work.

"If Emmanuel TV partners and TB Joshua can do this, it means they value life and the needs of the people. I appeal to other stakeholders within the city and other towns to come and do the same," he said.

And Emmanuel TV partners Livingstone branch representative, Ramona Singani Temitope, said that the gesture came about after realising the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable people in the community.

She said that the donation was also as a way of celebrating TB Joshua's birthday which falls on June 12 on Friday this week as he turns 55 years.

"We organized ourselves as partners from Livingstone, Kafue and Mwandi- Western Province and brought our resources together so that we contribute to the community of the visually impaired in Livingstone who are 54 in total.

"We are following the footsteps of our vision bearer Prophet TB Joshua in giving even the little we have. It is about giving just like the Bible tells us," Ms Temitope said.