PF Secretary General Davies Mwila has boasted that the Patriotic Front is a model of intra-party democracy while other parties with “life presidents” are merely tourists of the system because they are not committed to it.

And Mwila says government has recorded increased revenues from the tourism levy which was introduced in 2017, adding that K8.8 million has been raised between January and July, this year.

Meanwhile, Mwila notes that as a result of government’s public-private partnerships in developing the tourism sector, the Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Holdings Limited will next year construct a five-star hotel, golf course and a 600-seater convention centre in Livingstone costing US$165 million.

In PF’s weekly news letter to News Diggers! Mwila boasted about intra-party democracy in PF saying other parties were merely voyeurs that viewed democracy from a distance.

“This article comes to you in the immediate aftermath of the elective conference for the PF Copperbelt Province. Even as we discuss tourism and indeed every sector in the overall development of our blessed nation through the 7NDP, I cannot help but reflect on how intra-party democracy goes with development and how PF is a bastion and model of intra-party democracy while other parties with Life Presidents are merely “Tourists of Democracy”; as they don’t live democracy and they are evidently not committed to it. They are voyeurs that only view it like sightseers from a distance, through their distorted binoculars once in a while!” Mwila stated.

Mwila stated that from the onset, PF recognized the strategic importance of the tourism sector to economic diversification and job creation, as well as, to the attainment of the Vision 2030.

He added that under the 7NDP, the tourism sector had three main focus areas; promoting tourism-related infrastructure, game restocking and improving domestic tourism.

And Mwila noted that government had recorded increased revenues from the tourism levy which was introduced in 2017, adding that K8.8 million had been raised between January and July, this year.

He stated that these funds were used to enhance tourism, marketing and product promotion, as well as, rehabilitation of tourism infrastructure.

“It is worth noting that government has recorded increased revenues from the tourism levy which was introduced in 2017. To this end, government raised over K9.5 million in 2017 and K8.8 million was been raised between January and July this year. These funds are used to enhance tourism, marketing and product promotion as well as rehabilitation of tourism infrastructure. Evidently, the PF government has placed the tourism sector on a sustainable growth trajectory so that the sector can make a more significant contribution to economic diversification and employment creation in Zambia,” Mwila stated.

“In line with the PF manifesto and 7NDP, government has concentrated on the development, upgrade and rehabilitation of tourism-related infrastructure such as roads, viewing loops and airstrips to and within the major national parks such as Kafue, Lower Zambezi and the Mosi-oa-Tunya, to mention but three. The aim is to efficiently interlink the major destinations in the Southern Tourism Circuit and South Luangwa, thereby prolonging the tourism season from seven to 12 months per annum.”

Meanwhile, Mwila stated that the PF government was currently implementing the Tourism Development Fund to support tourism product development, tourism infrastructure and tourism marketing.

He stated that in addition, government had strengthened collaborations with the private sector in order to ensure an integrated approach to developing the tourism sector.

“In addition, the PF government has strengthened collaborations with the private sector in order to ensure an integrated approach to developing the tourism sector. As a result of these public-private partnerships, there have been important positive developments in the sector. For example, Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Holdings Limited, will in June 2019, construct a five-star hotel, golf course and a 600-seater convention centre in Livingstone at the cost of US Dollar 165 million,” he stated.

“The company will sign a 50-year lease agreement with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to construct the hotel in the Mosi-oa-Tunya national park. Indeed, the goal of the PF government since 2017 is to work towards transforming Livingstone into a premier conferencing centre in Southern Africa so that the tourism sector can leverage on infrastructure development to grow sustainably.”

Mwila stated that as of 2016, the tourism sector employed 300,000 people and was set to continue increasing its contributions to the country’s GDP.