Cholera no threat to tourist arrivals, Banda

 Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Romeo Banda

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka

MINISTER of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda has assured that the cholera outbreak was not a threat to tourist arrivals as Government through the Ministry of Health has put adequate measures in place to combat the scourge.

That assurance came timely as the tourism sector is a very sensitive sector that reacts quickly to any negative reports or developments.

Mr. Banda in his latest assurance has gone further to state that Lusaka is once more viable as a tourism product worth visiting following the cleanup campaign.

“The city of Lusaka which looked like a village within a city is looking very clean and there is a lot room to manoeuvre. Lusaka is a very attractive city and with the works done by Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Local Government is highly commendable,” he says.

He was speaking when he toured the Central Business District (CBD) this week to acquaint himself with the cleaning works that are being carried out in the capital city following President Edgar Lungu’s directives to fight the cholera outbreak through cleaning the city.

Lusaka with an estimated population of approximately 1.743 million as per October 2009 census, boasts of having a good share of attractive tourism sites.

The capital City is home to tourism sites of international repute such as the resting place for one former and two late Presidents, Frederick Chiluba (1943–2011), Levy Mwanawasa (1948–2008) and Michael Sata (1937–2014), the Embassy Park, as well as the Oliver Tambo house on Great East road in Avondale.

Others are the Kaunda Chilenje house, Chinyunyu hot spring, Lusaka National Museum, Parliament Building, former Lusaka Boys School now housing the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) headquarters, Lusaka National Park and the Munda Wanga Botanical Gardens just to list a few.

There is also the vintage site of art, the Kabwata Culture Centre, Kalimba Reptile Park, Chaminuka Game Reserve, Freedom Statue, the Henry Tayali Visual Arts Centre, Lusaka Play House, and Namwandwe Gallery passionately described as the hands-down and the best in the country for contemporary Zambian art.

Mr. Banda said the city is looking very attractive and good enough for any tourist to stay and enjoy their being in Lusaka.

He has since commended President Lungu for the initiative to clean the city adding that it has returned its actual position of cleanliness.

Mr. Banda said the overcrowding and the unregulated street vending made Lusaka appear like a village in city but is glad that now with the cleaning up and clearing of garbage the City is regaining its Garden City status.

He said there is now room for everyone to manoeuvre in town unlike during the congestion that was in shop corridors that created some negativity about the City.

A visibly excited Mr. Banda conducted an on-the-spot check on Pick N Pay mall situated at Society Business Park where he urged staff to continue maintaining a clean environment as it was a source of food for many people that visit Lusaka including foreign and domestic tourists.

Mr. Banda said it will be a very important to sustain the cleanliness even after the Ministry of Health would have declared Lusaka a cholera free zone because in so far as tourism is concerned, a clean environment enables the sector to thrive.

Tourism by nature thrives on a clean environment and government’s move towards the prioritisation of a clean and safe environment just catapults the massive gains that will be accrued from the sector.

HPCZ gets tough on discipline in the health sector

HPCZ Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka

MANY  a given times, during the end or beginning of the year, various institutions of learning from nursery, primary, secondary, college and university announce the recruitment of new learners.

And this is done through various media outlets be it radio, television or print, giving out the best offers their respective institutions of learning are ready to offer.

Therefore, in the quest to getting the best education for their siblings, some parents or guardians have ended up being disappointed after spending colossal sums of money.

It is for this same reason that the Health Professional Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has decided to make an early warning to all parents or guardians to be on the lookout for nothing but genuine and authenticated or certified institutions of learning when it comes to the offer of health training.

HPCZ Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati is very optimistic and categorical that the exercise his Council has embarked on is meant to instill discipline in the health profession thereby raising the bar higher and to acceptable international standards.

He says the need for quality service delivery has to start with the genesis which is at recruitment stage of learners whom he says needed to be in possession of proper qualifications that are verified and certified by the Examination Council of Zambia.

“Before they apply, prospective students should make sure that they have certified qualifications required for different courses in the health profession. Even guardians or parents, they should help their children in making sure that they have the required qualification,” he says.

He also cautioned the would-be learners and guardians to the learners to be worry of fake institutions purporting to be offering courses in the field of health that they should endeavour to verify with the Council.

The HPCZ, in its latest public announcement, is alerting parents, would be students and the general public that it is an offence for any training institutions to offer health related training programmes without an approval and recognition certificate from HPCZ.

The Health Profession Act No. 24 of 2009 (iv) Section 32(1) of the Laws of Zambia provides that a training institution shall not provide training to prepare students for a health profession, unless the training programme is approved by the HPCZ.

“Parents and would-be students in particular and the general public are therefore advised not to be seeking any training services from training institutions that are not licensed by the HPCZ,” says Dr Mujajti.

He says parents and would-be students are also advised to cross-check with the HPCZ before enrolling for any health related training programmes at any training institutions adding that the action will not only prevent loss of time but also hard earned financial resources.

“Further, the HPCZ wishes to caution training institutions against enrolling would-be students who do not meet the admission criteria for various health related training programmes,” he says.

He further says some schools tend to have lecturers who are not qualified to take classes, for instance, a person with a diploma cannot take up a class offering a degree course, describing such an act as criminal.

Dr Mujajti is however, encouraging all training institutions offering approved health training programmes to follow the prescribed admission criteria.

He says failure to complying with the laid down provision, will be recipe for facing disciplinary action including prosecution before the courts of law.

“The HPCZ further wishes to alert the parents, would-be students and the general public seeking training services to be demanding for valid 2018 recognised and approved HPCZ certificate,” he says.

Armed with the mandate of providing quality health care Dr Mujajati says the Council will remain committed to “Promoting Quality Healthcare and Safeguarding Public Safety, as its Prime Concern.”

Zambia Gears Up for ITB 2018

 Zambia Tourism Agency Chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila meets with Zambia's Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka
THE word and expression is loud and clear judging from what Zambia Tourism Agency Chief Executive Officer stated while in Berlin, Germany during an on-the-spot check on how Europe’s largest travel and tourism fair is progressing in terms of preparations.
“Its official—ITB Berlin Zambia ‘sold-out,’ …. ZTA Chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila tells Ambassador Anthony Mukwita, and Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Dr Liya Mutale.
In what may be coined as “ITB Berlin Countdown” , First Secretary for Press Kellys Kaunda says with about 50 days to go before Europe’s largest travel and tourism fair kicks off in Berlin, Ambassador Mukwita is a happy man after receiving the good news that The fair is “sold out!”
The news was delivered at his Axel Springer Office during an update on the travel showpiece when Mr Chaila paid him a courtesy call over the weekend in the company of Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Dr Mutale.
“Normally we would have about 11 exhibitors but we have so far signed up a total of 30 who have confirmed participation and half of that number has already paid up exhibition fees in full,” a visibly delighted Mr. Chaila said.
Calling it “a good problem”, Mr Chaila says the overwhelming response from the private sector provides Zambia with a perfect opportunity to fully utilize the historical moment in the country’s engagement with Europe in terms of tourism.
And overjoyed by the news Ambassador Mukwita says, “over subscription of the event does not mean more Zambians cannot sign up because the more, the merrier”.
And Dr Mutale says the German market was opening and presenting Zambia with good opportunities for expansion into Europe.
“There may be language barriers but there are tour operators with the ability to speak other languages such as French and Chinese and Germany could be considered,” she said.
Dr. Mutale informed Ambassador Mukwita that while the Zambian Government through the ZTA was marketing its tourism potential to the rest of the world, it has also embarked on local or domestic tourism marketing.
“For Zambians to sell the country’s tourism potential, they must have knowledge of their country. So we are offering a domestic tourism package to the public servants,” she said.
And speaking during the same meeting, Zambia’s Honorary Consul and ITB organizer Jorrit Plambeck called for comprehensive messaging.
“While it is important that you share the country’s traditional and natural heritage, it is equally important to tell them about such practical things as the availability of Internet services that will enable tourists to instantly send images of what they see on the ground back to their places of origin,” advised Mr. Plambeck.
And an ITB official Bettina Badon recently said Zambia stands to reap full benefits of being a Cultural Partner at the forthcoming travel show.
Ms. Badon was speaking when she presented the ITB Berlin news, the official publication of ITB to Ambassador Mukwita at his Axel-Springer office.
“The event is covered by more than 7000 journalists from around the world every year. This means Zambia as a Cultural partner stands to gain maximum exposure during the event,” she said.
She said tourists around the world, tour operators and investors are always looking for a new “wow” destination and Zambia could just be that destination of choice.
Zambia is for the first time set to be Cultural and Convention Partners at the event attended by more than 10,000 organisations from 180 countries and attracting more than 100,000 visitors daily in Berlin.
Ambassador Mukwita said businessmen community in Zambia must exploit the opportunity to market themselves, their products and forge new business relations for the future and also appealed to the Zambian media, private and public, to heighten attention around the event in order to encourage more participation.
President Edgar Lungu has recently increased calls to diversify the Zambian economy and increase the GDP earnings via sectors such as tourism and agriculture instead of copper alone.
He recently declared the tourism sector as second from agriculture, relegating copper to the third position, a situation that Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Romeo Banda says is a positive move towards making Zambia the best tourism destination of choice.
However, Mr Kaunda says Zambia’s position as ITB 2018 Culture and Convention Partner is the first since the country started exhibiting at the prestigious event that attracts 100,000 visitors daily during the show and exhibitors from 180 countries annually.
Mr Kaunda says this is the time for Zambia to shine and it shall do just that.

Zambia's Ambassador to Sweden Rose Salukatula after presenting her credentials.

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka.
UNDER the ambit of international relations, there is what is known as Economic diplomacy which deals with the nexus between power and wealth in international affairs.
Many a countries the world over have now shifted their attention and interest from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy which happens to be more sustaining the former.
Some think tanks say economic diplomacy not only promotes the State’s prosperity but also, as occasion demands and opportunity permits, manipulates its foreign commercial and financial relations in support of its foreign policy.
Accordingly, economic diplomacy is a major theme of the external relations of virtually all countries.
At home, economic ministries, trade and investment promotion bodies, chambers of commerce, and of course foreign ministries, are all participants in economic work which they undertake diligently.
Current trends include increasing collaboration between state and non-official agencies, and increased importance given to the World Trade Organisation issues, the negotiation of free trade and preferential trade agreements, and accords covering investments, double taxation avoidance, financial services and the like.
In this vain, Zambia is not sitting with arms akimbo as through its missions abroad a lot of interactions are being carried out by all diplomats in all the economic sectors of the country’s economy such as health, tourism, education, agriculture, technology to itemise just a few.
A visit to Sweden, at the Zambian Embassy, reveals that that country has embarked on the preparation of a Strategy Paper on Development Cooperation with Zambia for 2018-2023.
Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of African Department Helena Rietz, says the document which will spell out areas of cooperation would be concluded soon.
This came to light when Zambia's Ambassador to Sweden Rose Salukatula called on Ms Rietz in Stockholm, Sweden.
And Ambassador Salukatula is also on a marathon tour to meet stakeholders in order to woo investments to Zambia, following the presentation of her Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustav on 9th November, 2017.
According to a media release by First Secretary Political and Administration at the Zambian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden Patrick Lubundo says following Ambassador Salukatula’s arrival in that country a series of meetings have been lined up all for the purpose of strengthening economic bonds.
He says already, a team of business people from various sectors in Sweden are set to travel to Zambia in April next year 2018.
Mr Lubundo says the Swedish delegation is expected to meet officials from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) as well as the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI).
This was disclosed when Swedish-Southern African Chamber of Commerce (SSACC) President Åsa Jarskog and her Vice President Eva Hytenget paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Salukatula at the Zambian Chancery in Stockholm, Sweden.
And Ambassador Salukatula says the move to meet Government officials, the business community and stakeholders such as the Chambers of commerce is in a bid to woo investors to Zambia.
She says her Embassy is interested in investments particularly in the agriculture, energy, fisheries and waste management sectors, as well as value addition as major areas of investment interest for Zambia.
Ambassador also met with officials from Sorokours of Trust Group AB and Industrial Frontiers who all agreed to partner with the Embassy to woo investment in various sectors to Zambia.
“Earlier, she met the Dean of the SADC Group, H.E. Mrs. Frances Victória Rodrigues, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Mozambique to Sweden, Ambassadors of Botswana, Angola and Namibia before meeting the Dean of the Africa Group, H.E. Mr. André Hombessa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Congo to Sweden,” he says.
During her engagements with her counterparts, the Ambassador called for continued cooperation at Ambassadorial level to enhance the good relations that are enjoyed at State level.
Abroad, embassies, consulates, and trade offices handle economic diplomacy with the main focus being on promotion, to attract foreign business, investments, technology and tourists.
Therefore, economic diplomacy connects closely with political, public and other segments of diplomatic work.
Ends.

Zambia to host region's largest vaccine plant

Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya in a high level meeting Chinese counterpart Bin Li in Beijing. Picture By Stanslous Ngosa.

By NDUBI MVULA
THE Chinese Government will construct a dedicated National Public Health Laboratory that will serve both as a national and southern African regional reference laboratory.
The facility will enhance the detection of high risk pathogens (infections) using modern techniques.
Chinese Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission Dr Li Bin said establishing the National Public Health Laboratory will serve as reference facility for the Africa CDC Southern Africa
Regional Collaborating Centre.
This came to light when Dr Li held bilateral health cooperation meeting with her Zambian counterpart Dr Chitalu Chilufya.
In a media release obtained from Ministry of Health Head of Communications and External Relations Stanslous Ngosa, Dr Li believes that close collaboration between the two countries will assist the building of Africa CDC and strengthen African countries capacity for public health services.
She said China will provide experts to work with Zambian counterparts over a period of time to transfer skills and knowledge to technical staff at the National Public Health Institute.
Dr Li said China will help Zambia attain one of her legacy goals of eliminating Malaria by 2030 and will also provide the expertise to fight malaria, as doing so will further enhance the bilateral health cooperation between the two countries.
And Dr Chilufya expressed gratitude at the Chinese Government’s gesture to help Zambia strengthen her health systems adding that the move will cement and take bilateral relations to another level beyond business but brotherhood.
Dr Chilufya said the support to the health sector will contribute to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
He said capacity building in emergency response and surgery as well as provision of surgical equipment and supplies will significantly improve the health systems.
Dr Chilufya has thanked the Chinese for showing interest to support various fields of nuclear science to improve electricity supply, medical treatment, irradiation processing and manufacturing of medical supplies among others.
Meanwhile, one of Chinese leading pharmaceutical companies, China Sinopharm International Corporation has partnered with the Ministry of Health to construct Vaccines and Medicines Company in Zambia.
The construction works will start as soon as the technical discussions are concluded and Memorandum of Understanding signed.
Some of the vaccines to be produced includes yellow, bOPV, HepB (birth Dose), IPV, Sabin Strain, Rota (3-Valent) Measles and HPV.
A Zambian delegation led by Zambia National Public Health Institute Director Dr Victor Mukonka are on a 10 day bilateral technical discussions on areas of collaboration and cooperation with the China
CDC.
Those in the delegation include Dr Kunda Musonda Head Laboratory Systems and Networking, Dr Muzala Kapina Head National Surveillance and Disease Intelligence and Dr Andrew Silumesi Director Public Health MoH.
The rest are Prof Aaron Mweene University of Zambia School of Veterinary and Dr Modest Mulenga Director Tropical Diseases Research Centre.

Media major player in tourism marketing

Tourism Media Master Class in session at Raddison Blu.

By NDUBI MBULA, Lusaka.
ZAMBIA Tourism Agency (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila says for Zambia to market the tourism to the whole world, the media has to come on board as it holds a pivotal role in the sector.

Mr Chaila said this when he launched the Media Tourism Master Class which he believes will help the Agency develop a cadre of Journalists that would specialise in reporting on the sector.

"Media must always play its significant role in the marketing of tourism to the outside world as well as at local level. Our desire is to expect that this Media Master Class touches you all, " he said.

Mr Chaila also added that his Agency decided to come up with this Class so as to create long lasting relatonship with the media.

He said the idea for a Media Tourism Master Class is to effectivelly market the sector and articulate issues ably well.

Mr Chaila was speaking yesterday when he officially opened the two-day Media Tourism Master Class workshop at Radisson Blu.

Mr Chaila added that tourism on the world map has been elevated to second position from the chemical industry in similar manner that the Zambian Govrnment has re-classified the sector as second from agriculture.

He said this was plus to the organisation and commended President Edgar Lungu for upgrading the sector.

Mr Chaila also noted that it was for this reason that the Agency decuded to have the media on board.

"The Zambia Tourism Agency has taken a deliberate effort to engage and form strong bonds with the media for purposes of enhancing our relationships. Media are playing an important role in the growth and development and promotion by creating a better awareness and understanding to cater for the needs and requirements of domestic and international tourist," he said.

He said every traveller is a potential tourist be it local or foreign and it depends upon the campaign of professionals who are the media of the industry to top the potential and convert the potential into actual clients.

Mr Chaila stated that the role of the Agency is not to develop tourism centres but instead to market the tourism sites dotted around the country.

He has encouraged journalists to develop interest in various sectors of tourism such as bird watching, safari walks and drives which stand out as the best in the world.

Mr Chaila also noted that there is a new policy shift by governmemt in the sector from the previous stand of Government led private sector driven to the current government participation.

He also added that above all, a country's people and traditional ceremonies also make up the full package.

Mr Chaila however, noted that the Agency faces challenges such as in staffing which is supposed to be 55 but there is only 22 to cover the entire country.

Also noted was the fact that the Agency does not have adequate official representation in the overseas market and locally based regional offices as well as lowest tourism budget in the region.

He said border crossing challenges and airline connectivity is very cardinal.

Mr Chaila added that the nature of police road blocks dotted in many parts of the country also deter tourists from frequenting the country.