The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube —
TOURISM and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi says religious tourism is now thriving in Zimbabwe as more people flock to the country for spiritual purposes.
Officiating at the unveiling of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries Prayer Mountain in Harare recently, Eng Mzembi said Zimbabwe was equipped to tap into religious tourism.
The 2015 United Nations World Tourism Barometer states that religious tourism moves over 300 million people out of 1,2 billion tourists across the globe annually.
Eng Mzembi said, “I commend the work being done by Prophet Walter Magaya. He is providing state-of-the-art infrastructure, a key component in the development of religious tourism in our country.
“(Prophet Magaya) took me on a guided tour where he showed me a state-of-the-art hotel and where 183 executive and 16 presidential suits for visitors are being constructed.
‘‘And as Government we fully support that.”
He said statistics indicated a massive increase in the number of people visiting prophets Walter Magaya and Emmanuel Makandiwa among others.
“Information that we have indicate that in recent years less than 500 people could visit Zimbabwe for religious purposes. But when I arrived here today, I was told that more than 1 800 people visit PHD ministries monthly seeking spiritual assistance, a development that shows growth in the sector.
“The 1 800 people are only those who visit (PHD) guest houses and if we include those who opt for private accommodation and those from other major ministries like United Family International Church and other mainline churches, the numbers will be amazing,” Eng Mzembi enthused.
He pointed to Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Israel as good examples of major players in religious tourism.
Eng Mzembi, who is Africa’s candidate for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary-Generals post, was to soon leave for Saudi Arabia to canvass for support.
The UNWTO elections are in May 2017.
“I am leaving this country for Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where I will meet the king of that holy land. What is more important is that I am going there after meeting the prophet and I will tell them that I was with a bigger prophet , a man who represents God the Most High here in Zimbabwe, Walter Magaya,” Eng Mzembi said.
He said from Saudi Arabia, he would head to Russia, India and China to sell his candidature for the UNWTO top post in which he squares off with Mexican tourism executive, Gloria Guevara, Marcio Favilla Luca de Paula of Brazil, and Georgian diplomat Zurab Pololikashvini, among others.
“The religious tourism boom in Zimbabwe comes at a time when Government is in the process of redefining tourism to encompass all facets of life; among them township tourism, religious tourism, agriculture tourism and community tourism.
‘‘We are moving away from the elitist definition of tourism which encompassed the natural attractions such as the Victoria Falls,” he said.
Churches such as Zion Christian Church, Zaoga Forward In Faith and Jehovah’s Witnesses, to mention some, also contribute significantly to religious tourism in Zimbabwe as they regularly host regional and international meetings in the country.
