Zimbabwe set for Commonwealth return by 2011
Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president, pulled his country out of the organisation in 2003 and has been a fierce critic of Britain ever since.
However, the new political coalition in Zimbabwe has helped pave the way for a possible early return.
Leaders of Commonwealth countries, including Gordon Brown, will gather for their biennial meeting in Trinidad on Friday. Discussions will take place that are expected to set a timetable for Zimbabwe to be re-admitted at the next summit in two years time.
The re-admission will be linked to a series of reforms being implemented by Harare.
Officials are looking closely at how the coalition parties, which include Mr Mugabe’s Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change, have gone about putting in place the reforms that include action on human rights, judicial reform and a constitutional overhaul.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the MDC, agreed to join a unity government with Mr Mugabe in January after months of political stalemate. Under the deal Mr Tsvangirai became prime minister while Mr Mugabe chaired cabinet meetings.
The South African Development Community want to see progress on new reforms by 6 December.
Britain led an attempt in 2002 to get Zimbabwe suspended from the Commonwealth after the full extent of Mr Mugabe’s brutal campaign against his political opponents became clear – more than 100 were killed.
However, the diplomatic moves initially failed as foreign ministers from eight Commonwealth member states refused and instead chose to push for more sanctions and demands for “full and fair elections.”
When those elections were roundly agreed not to have been fair, with violence and intimidation rife, Zimbabwe was suspended, initially for one year.
But pre-empting an extension of the suspension Mr Mugabe pulled Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth in 2003.
British officials ahead of Friday’s meeting said yesterday that they thought there was some progress on reforms in Harare, but they needed to be more solid before firm commitments of a return to the Commonwealth can be countenanced.
The Queen will open Friday’s meeting in Trinidad and Zimbabwe will be discussed a day later. The timing has extra symbolism as it is 30 years since a similar meeting in Lusaka opened the way for Rhodesia to become independent. A year later Zimbabwe was born.
The two-year power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe means there should be an election by February 2011 and a new constitution. So a Commonwealth return is possible after that.
However, with the constitutional talks deadlocked there is some uncertainty about the scale of progress that might be achieved by 2011.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, will address the Commonwealth gathering, becoming the first French leader to do so. He will take part in talks with the Prime Minister and other leaders on climate change.
Source: Daily Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6646415/Zimbabwe-set-for-Commonwealth-return-by-2011.html)
National Railways of Zimbabwe plan World Cup trains
The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), in partnership with a local hospitality concern, plans to introduce a safari train between Harare and Johannesburg during the month-long 2010 Soccer World Cup events.
Plans are at an advanced stage with trial runs between Harare and Johannesburg expected in December. To be known as Rail Leisure Premier Classe, service is to equal that of a three-star hotel. NRZ public relations manager Fanuel Masikati told The Sunday Mail Business “We are introducing a train from Harare to Johannesburg in conjunction with a player in the hospitality industry. We are presently refurbishing and upgrading our coaches for this programme. We have the capacity and the expertise in this business and we will be on track to unveil Rail Leisure, come the 2010 World Cup.
“We are not new in this business. We presently have a safari train locally but the Harare-Johannesburg route will cater for visitors to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We have highly trained staff that will be manning the trains. They have been extensively trained by the Bulawayo School of Hospitality.”
According to Masikati, steam locomotives are to be re-introduced early next year as these are an attraction for tourists. “Steam trains are an instant hit with most foreign tourists since Zimbabwe is probably the only country in the world that still has them.”
NRZ says it is rehabilitating rail infrastructure to ensure safe travel.
Source: Railways Africa
Tourists returning to Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Council of Tourism says the number of tourists has more than tripled, but the sector’s full recovery will be linked to the success of the unity government.
Council president Emmanuel Fundira says 362 000 people had visited Zimbabwe by August compared to 100,000 in 2008.
The sector got a boost when several Western countries lifted travel warnings after the formation of the unity government.
Tourism revenues were an estimated $250 million a decade ago but dropped to $40 million in 2005. The revenue has however risen to $100 million since the formation of the coalition government.
Tourism has been touted as one of the first sectors poised to recover as international arrivals increase. It is however in need of recapitalization, with investment opportunities existing in the construction of hotels and lodges, and in operating tourist facilities.
The government has put in place a generous tax regime for tourism investors, especially those operating in areas designated as Tourism Development Zones.
Time to invest in Zimbabwe tourism
THE Minister of Tourism and Hospitality urged Zimbabweans to invest in the tourism sector and reassured them that the government is doing its best to ensure that the right conditions exist in the country to aid such investment.
Speaking on Friday to Zimbabwean reporters and businessmen at the Zimbabwean Embassy in London after the World Travel Market in London, Mzembi said the country was endowed with many natural resources that made it a great tourism catchment area.
He said Zimbabwe had one of the Seven Wonders of the World and hence should be able to attract a significant number of tourists in the country.
“We are blessed to have the Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Many tourists would love to see the falls. Let us all take advantage of that and showcase Zimbabwe,” said the minister.
“This is an area that urgently needs revamping and has the potential to earn the country the much needed foreigh currency.”
Mzembi also urged Zimbabweans living abroad to consider Zimbabwe as a destination of choice for their holidays. This will be an “indirect way of helping your country develop,” he added.
“You can rest assured that your minister is taking his job seriously and soon you should be able to see the fruits of our hard work.”
He added that investors in the tourism sector should take advantage of Statutory Instruments 46 and 50 which give businesses duty free imports and minimal licensing within the tourism sector.
He said investors were given 0-5 year tax breaks and lower tax breaks on 5-15 year periods.
The minister added that Zimbabwe’s participation at the recently held WTM in London is set to yield results for the tourism industry following rekindled interest registered in this country as a tourist destination.
“The fact that despite the global recession that has led to a decline in tourist arrivals worldwide only Africa has been able to register a positive growth in the first nine months of this year is positive news for this country,” said Mzembi.
He also said he would discuss with Cabinet the issue of passport renewals for Zimbabweans based abroad. He said Cabinet was currently discussion the best way to ensure that embassies can renew expired passports for Zimbabweans living abroad without them waiting for over six months as has been the case.
The minister said the inclusive Government of Zimbabwe “was working very well”.
The minister met with a select group of Zimbabwean businesses including airline, media, hospitality and other executives.
Source: Zimbabwe Guardian
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