UNWTO preps on schedule

Mr Namachila said the remaining three per cent included final touches to various projects including the construction of a new terminal building at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in the tourist capital.
He was speaking in Livingstone on Wednesday when he received First Lady Christine Kaseba at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport.
“I wish to state that we have now reached 97 per cent completion point of our preparedness for the UNWTO General Assembly.
I want to challenge anybody who is saying that my 97 per cent of completion point is not correct to come out and refute this fact,” he said.
Meanwhile, Livingstone should use the second Zambia International Investment Forum (ZIIT) scheduled for August 20 to August 21, this year to test the city’s preparedness to co-host the UNWTO General Assembly,
Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Steven Mwansa has said.
Mr Mwansa appealed through Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo that people who had been trained in various fields in readiness for the UNWTO conference should test their skills during the Investment Forum.
He was speaking at Chrismar Hotel yesterday during a UNWTO stakeholders’ meeting for the Livingstone business community hosted by Ms Masebo.
“For those who have been trained in fields such as African Cuisines and food preparations, front desk officers, tour guides and protocols among others, let them use the Investment Forum as a test ground for the UNWTO general Assembly.

The forum will give them an opportunity to perfect their mistakes in readiness for the bigger event,” he said.
Bank of Zambia governor Michael Gondwe said the Central Bank had no intentions of introducing exchange controls.
Speaking at the same function, he said Zambia would remain the most liberalised economy in Southern Africa.
“We have been bombarded lately by all manner of interpretation on the Statutory Instrument 55 (SI55) which has now been in operation for a month as it kicked off from July 1, 2013.
“All our neighbours, including South Africa have exchange controls but Zambia doesn’t have exchange controls. Zambia is the only fully liberalised economy in Southern Africa,” he said.
Dr Gondwe also said BoZ would work to resolve long queues in banks in the tourism capital ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly.
Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Miles Daka said the massive infrastructure developments being undertaken in the tourist capital would stimulate economic activities in the city.