ZANU PF LOOTS TOURISM EXPO FOR PERSONAL GAIN

The ZANU PF government is once again putting personal gain before national interest. The Ministry of Tourism, led by Barbara Rwodzi, has moved the 18th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo from Bulawayo to Mutare for one reason only – to make money for themselves.

This expo was supposed to happen from the 10th to the 12th of September in Bulawayo, where there is proper infrastructure at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. Everything needed for such a big event is already there. In Bulawayo, the event normally costs around US$500,000 to US$700,000. But now, by moving it to Mutare, the cost has gone up to millions. And the people benefiting are the minister, her close friends, and other greedy government officials.

Sources from inside the ministry say Rwodzi is now running the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) like it is her own personal company. ZTA is the organisation that is supposed to plan and manage tourism events like this expo. According to the law, it is ZTA’s job to promote tourism, make sure the industry follows proper rules, license tourist places, and manage the tourism fund. But now Rwodzi is ignoring the law and taking over ZTA’s job, which is illegal.

She has taken control of the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund and is now directly making decisions about where the expo should be held. People in the ministry say this move to Mutare was done to allow officials to eat. There are many infrastructure and supply deals that come with planning such an event, and those deals are now being given to the minister’s friends and allies.

Hosting the expo in Mutare does not bring any extra benefit. Instead, it makes the whole thing more expensive. Mutare does not have the proper venue or facilities needed to host such a big international event. Now they have to buy tents, containers, chairs, and many other things to set up a temporary venue at Mutare Country Club and the CBD.

A team from ZTA was even sent to China to buy equipment for this. This is all unnecessary spending, just so some people can take money from the government for their own use.

While Rwodzi was in Japan with Mnangagwa signing tourism deals, her people were busy making arrangements for this costly expo. She signed an agreement with Japan’s tourism agency while another minister signed a mining deal. Back home, her ministry team was watching the progress in Mutare.

To host an event like this, you need proper halls, meeting rooms, catering services, water and toilets, internet, security, signage, and payment systems. Mutare does not have most of this. So millions will now be spent just to create temporary solutions. Officials are lying and saying it will cost just over a million, but people inside know the truth – it will cost a lot more, and the money will be looted.

This expo used to be in Harare, then it moved to Bulawayo in 2015 because of better infrastructure. Bulawayo has hosted it well for many years, but the problem is that corrupt officials were not eating from it. So they changed it to Mutare.

This year’s expo is also seen as important because it follows the launch of a new tourism policy which gives Rwodzi even more power to control the industry. This new policy is being used to give her even more space to loot and dominate ZTA.

This is how ZANU PF works. They pretend to work for the people, but in reality, they are looting everything they can for themselves. From the ministries to local councils, everything is now about personal gain, not national progress.

Efforts to get a comment from Rwodzi were not successful. But the truth is already clear. Zimbabweans are watching. And we will not stop speaking out. The people will not be silent. Enough is enough.