ZAMBIA and Zimbabwe have officially launched the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) uniform visa (Univisa) pilot project to promote uninterrupted movement of tourists between the two countries.
Tourists will now save time and money because they only have to obtain one visa at a cost of US$ 50 to visit both countries for a period of 30 days.
The points of entry where the KAZA Univisa will be available are Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, Victoria Falls International Airport, Harare International Airport as well as Kazungula and Victoria Falls borders.
KAZA TFCA is potentially the world’s largest conservation area, spanning five Southern African countries namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, centred on the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls area.
Zambia’s Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata, Zambia’s Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi and Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Deputy Minister Ziyambi Zimbabwe officially launched the KAZA Univisa during a colorful ceremony at Victoria Falls Bridge yesterday.
Speaking during the long-awaited and historical launch of the event, Ms Kapata said she was glad that the project which was conceived in 1998 had currently become a reality.
She said the KAZA Univisa pilot project had numerous opportunities for the growth of tourism sector not only for Zambia and Zimbabwe but for the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
“Research has shown that countries whose visa regimes focus more on the needs of the tourists have experienced a marked growth in tourist arrivals,” Ms Kapata said.
And Dr Simbyakula reiterated the commitment of his Ministry through the Immigration Department in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
He said tourism was key to accelerated growth and development because of its high potential for rapid employment growth and invariably, poverty reduction.
“We cannot let afford to let down our Heads of State and Government’s unwavering support to this project. For this pilot project, failure is not an option,” Dr Simbyakula said.
Dr Mzembi said the KAZA Univisa project, which would run up to May 2015, would be piloted in Zambia and Zimbabwe before being extended to three other countries in phase two which include Mozambique, Botswana and Angola.
He said the product was intended to provide seamless travel of tourists across international borders of the five KAZA partner countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana and Namibia.
“You may recall that in 2013 their excellences Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and the late Zambian President Michael Sata committed themselves to sustainable tourism development.
The two Presidents clearly identified tourism as the peace-bridge in the people to people diplomacy that should be kept standing even when the nations are in a state of fall out,” he said.
And Mr Ziyambi said the launch was a landmark achievement for the tourism family and a victory for the travelling public as it was step towards opening up the borders of the SADC region.
good move last time i visited zed with my we could see much v falls the zedian side had no water but the zim side had water.
Because u r a clown
Is that what yr mum told u after l bonked her?