Zim, Malawi could benefit from promoting tourism: VP Mohadi

Roselyne Sachiti in LILONGWE, Malawi

VICE PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi has emphasised the importance of Zimbabwe and Malawi jointly promoting tourism products for mutual economic benefit.

In an interview on the sidelines of his visit to Croc-Nile Crocodile Farm and Lake Malawi in Salima here yesterday, VP Mohadi said tourism had the potential to enhance the economies of both countries if effectively promoted in regional and global markets.

“Where we are standing here in Salima; just a few metres away is Lake Malawi. It is an asset. Many people in Zimbabwe do not know that there is such an asset here in Malawi.

“They do not even know they can come here, get on the boats and go wherever they want. This lake stretches more than 300 kilometres,” said VP Mohadi.

He highlighted the potential for mutual benefit between the two countries through existing bilateral agreements.

“When we talk about such things in Zimbabwe, we are talking about Lake Kariba compared to Lake Malawi. When we host them (tourists), we can take them on sunset cruises along the Zambezi River.

“It is not only Victoria Falls that we have in Zimbabwe. We have other tourist attraction centres like Great Zimbabwe, from which the country’s name is derived, and many other places like Matopos . . . ,” he said.

By combining their unique offerings, he added, stakeholders can create attractive packages that appeal to both local and global audiences, thereby enhancing tourism in the SADC region.

VP Mohadi indicated that Malawi’s Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule has been working with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbra Rwodzi, resulting in the signing of multiple bilateral agreements.

“Quite a number of memoranda have been signed between the two countries. Malawi’s Tourism Minister (Kamtukule) came for the gastronomy tourism events in Nyanga and in Victoria Falls, where the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, showcased gastronomy tourism,” he said.

VP Mohadi said there were opportunities in the field of crocodile farming that could be exploited through an exchange of ideas between Zimbabwe and Malawi.

“We can learn from each other if there is anything to learn, but the difference is that when we do it ourselves, we beneficiate.

“We have many products from crocodile skins back home.

“We have your beautiful bags, clutch bags, belts from the crocodile skins and even the meat,” he said.

“But here (Malawi), they do not eat the meat (crocodile). If we help them through collaboration, we can beneficiate the resource that we have in the crocodiles.

“There is a lot that can be beneficiated from the crocodiles.”

Minister Kamtukule encouraged African countries to engage in collaborative discussions and share their unique tourism narratives.

Malawi and Zimbabwe, she said, were focusing on improving product development and marketing their destinations.

“As Africa, we have everything to offer as far as tourism is concerned.

“We are offering what no one else has in terms of tourism. It is about realising what we have and sharing it with the world,” she added.

She said during her meeting with Minister Rwodzi last year, they reached an agreement to collaborate on cultural initiatives and market tourism destinations as a package, given the numerous similarities between Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Malawi Dr Nancy Saungweme, Secretary in VP Mohadi’s office Dr Benson Martins Dube and other senior Government officials were part of the delegation that toured the two tourism facilities.