The ground is littered with fallen leaves. A boardwalk has been erected to protect the sponge from tramping feet. Courtesy Zambezi Traveller
Senior Chief Kanongesha of the Lunda people in Mwinilunga district in North-Western province has challenged Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo to consider visiting the source of the famous mighty Zambezi River before the United World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference takes place.
Senior Chief Kanongesha observed that Ms Masebo has concentrated too much on going to the Victoria Falls situated in the tourist capital Livingstone leaving out other significant tourist sites like the Zambezi source which is situated in the remote place.
“I’m appealing to Ms Masebo not to concentrate on the Victoria falls but instead she should also deliberately visit other tourist sites like the Zambezi source which we have here. She should conduct a fact finding mission and come and see for herself what we are talking about,” Senior Chief Kanongesha said.
Senior Chief Kanongesha whose chiefdom is spread from Mwinilunga to newly created Ikelengi district boasted that other tourist sites included the Zambezi rapids, Zambezi thick forest and the Chisemwa Cha-Lunda traditional ceremony which is held annually.
He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka.
He observed that Zambezi source has been neglected by the Minister including other government officials and the media hence the need to highlight stories about it.
Efforts to get a comment from Ms Masebo proved futile by press time.
The traditional leader however, disclosed that KR500,000 which was allocated to improve the Zambezi source has gone missing and called on government to immediately prosecute the corrupt officers.
Inspectors from the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain came to conduct and completed their mission to check on the progress of the UNWTO preparations by Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Recently, Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya reiterated and declared that Zambia is read to co-host the event.
The Zambian government has among other measures assured the delegates who will come to attend the conference that there will be fast and reliable internet services so as to improve connectivity in the host cities of Livingstone and Victoria Falls town.
It is also expected that the local mobile telephone operators in the country namely Zamtel, Airtel and MTN will increase visibility in the resort town during the conference.
The successful co-hosting of the event by Zambia and Zimbabwe in August this year would tremendously impact on the promotion of tourism.
Zambia and Zimbabwe are co-hosting the 20th UNWTO General Assembly from 24th August to 29th August, 2013 in Livingstone and Victoria Falls towns.
This is the second time the General Assembly is being hosted in Africa. Senegal was the first African country to host the similar tourism event.
More than 5 000 delegates are expected at the event which is one of the biggest tourism gatherings in the world.
thats a good and honest appeal to the minister.
this country is endowed with natural beauty in various locations around the country which need to be marketed.
lets not concetrate on victoria falls alone.
good plea my chief.
The Minister of Finance honorable Alexander Chikwanda MP is the best witness on the beauty of the Source of the Zambezi river as he was a governor of Mwinilunga under KK in the early 60ties. He fell in love with with the source of the river. Ms Masebo will do well to consult with Alex.
Here is one chief fond of heritage