Zimbabwe and South Africa have agreed on a mode of co-operation that will see Harare providing human resources to its neighbour for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Under the agreement, some members of the Cabinet Taskforce on Tourism will be travelling to South Africa fortnightly to attend meetings on the 2010 football extravaganza and help map the way forward.
South Africa, which hosts the soccer showpiece in June, has asked Zimbabwe to help with drivers, ushers and waiters for the duration of the games.
Sports, Tourism, Image and Communication Ministerial Taskforce chairperson and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said the committee’s success could only be measured by the ability to connect Zimbabweans to the finals, the amount of revenue realised from the period and managing to attract at least three teams to camp in Zimbabwe before, during and after the games.
He said time had come for Zimbabwe to organise itself and look at achievable targets before June.
"Time is running out for the country and we need to put our house in order so that we can reap rewards from the World Cup extravaganza," he said.
Minister Mzembi said the taskforce would decentralise its operations to provinces to increase the participation of local structures.
"We will come up with the same structures in provincial capitals to encourage the participation of local people in preparing for the World Cup. We will be recommending to the ministerial taskforce that provincial governors spearhead the development aimed at attracting visitors for the World Cup in their areas," he said. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary Dr Sylvester Maunganidze said there was need for the taskforce to synchronise its operations with what is being done in South Africa.
"The taskforce will next week come up with teams of technocrats in the field of communication, transportation, accommodation and services to complement those that are operating in South Africa.
"The country has made strides in the telecommunications sector where the country’s tele- density grew from eight percent in February to 24 percent in November last year, with much of the growth being in the mobile telephone sector," he said.
Dr Maunganidze said there was no activity in trying to bring fixed lines to the people as this was heavily linked to the availability of power. Power availability has been erratic in the country. He said work at the Beitbridge Border post was going on at the required pace and there was a need to quickly implement the one stop border post and improve connectivity.
"It is hoped that lead ministries and institutions will in the next few months move with speed to make this happen. This will enable a quick flow of goods and people into and out of the country," he said.
The taskforce’s briefing was yesterday attended by the Environment and Natural Resources Minister Francis Nhema, Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa and Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa. Deputy Ministers of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Lazarus Dokora, Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Tichaona Mudzingwa and Regional Integration and International Co-operation Rueben Marumahoko also attended the briefing.
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