Zimbabwe lands AU leadership position
ZIMBABWE has landed the vice chairpersonship of African Union — Specialised Technical Committee (AU- STC) on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism a body that seeks to promote infrastructure, energy and tourism in Africa.
The country was elected as the 2nd Vice Chair, representing the Southern African region in the tourism sector in AU-STC at a Summit held in Togo last week.
The AU-STC met on 17 March 2017 in Lome, Togo and elected the Bureau on the basis of Rule Number 16 of the Rules of Procedure under the African Union Commission on Infrastructure and Energy.
Speaking from Togo, the Zimbabwean head of delegation Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Anastancia Ndhlovu said the election was testimony of the work done by President Mugabe during his tenure as African Union chairperson.
“This election is the approval and endorsement of the great work done by the greatest son of Africa, His Excellency, President Mugabe, when he steered the AU Summit to a landmark adoption of the Agenda 2063, anchored on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
“This is very exciting indeed and it only confirms the legacy of the unparalleled leadership of His Excellency, the President.”
The bureau is made up of Togo ,the chairperson which is representing the western African region in the transport sector while Mauritania the first Vice Chair will represent North Africa region in the energy sector.
Ethopia the third vice chairperson will represent the East African region in the energy sector with the rapporteur Congo representing the Central African region in the transport sector.
The election of Zimbabwe to lead the Southern Region of Africa in the Bureau comes at a time when the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Walter Mzembi is bidding to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), for the next 4 years. ◆ Elections for the next Secretary General will take place at the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid, Spain from 11 to 12 May 2017, during the course of the 105th session of the Organisations 33 member Executive Council meeting.