Zimbabwe moving to secure next UNWTO Secretary General position

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism Walter Mzembi is trying to secure his move to become the next Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nation World Tourism Organization)

The 7th meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of foreign ministers was held in Gaborone, Botswana last week, March 14-15, 2016.

The Council endorsed the candidature and nomination of Hon. Walter Mzembi by the Government of Zimbabwe to the position of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the SADC Council of Ministers said in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier this month at the ITB trade show in Berlin the replacement of Taleb Rifai, the current UNWTO Secretary General was discussed in many forums.

European, Asian and South American Ministers are yet to make up their minds on who they propose as the next secretary general.

Politically Zimbabwe has been controversial in many countries. Does this move indicate drastic changes in Zimbabwe’s policies?

Could Zimbabwe lead the United Nation’s Tourism body and keep in place the unity the UNWTO enjoyed thanks to the tireless efforts Taleb Rifai brought to the UN agency? .

This may be a question to ask for many that will attend the upcoming WTTC Global Summit in Dallas, Texas next month.

With Minister Mzembi expected to attend the WTTC summit in the United States, his move may be on the hidden agenda for leaders of the private tourism sector to discuss.