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Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry today endorsed the appointment of Winnie Muchanyuka as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) with the latter promising to put hands on the deck to ensure a positive turnaround of the state-owned enterprise.
“The appointment of Winnie Muchanyuka to the ZTA as CEO is apt in that she is not a stranger to the tourism industry. The industry awaited such an appointment with comfort. There are high hopes for tourism amid clear signs of recovery in the sector. Statistically, the first quarter of 2022 has been quite promising and there is a need to maintain that trajectory.
“Tourism inflows increased by 10o percent to register US$214 million this quarter. As we are opening up the sector, the tourism industry should grow bigger and bigger. ZTA is the critical bridge between the private sector and policymaking. Despite the fact that tourism struggled under COVID-19, there is hope for it to grow bigger. The US$5 billion tourism sector target is achievable if we work together collectively. We seek to review the targets only upwards. Tourism is the face of the country, the key voice of our country. The ZTA and the tourism sector should forge close ties with the media. Next week on Wednesday I will announce the new members of the ZTA Board. To the ZTA CEO and entire management, I urge your dedication towards growing the industry and to embrace success as we march towards the 2025 target of a US$5 billion tourism economy,” Hon Ndlovu said.
Mr. Ray Mawerera, the ZTA Chairman announced the appointment of a new CEO and paid tribute to the leadership and stewardship of Mr. Givemore Chidzidzi under whose guidance a local tourism campaign ZimBho was launched so were the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) initiative.
In her acceptance speech, Winnie Muchanyuka said the groundwork for success had been laid before her by her predecessors hence takeoff is going to be easy.
“The ZTA Team has done and continues to do tremendous work towards growing the tourism industry. I pledge my support to the mandate given to me by the Principal, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu, the tourism minister and the US$5 billion tourism target he alluded to is not changing. In fact, we can surpass it. Zimbabwe needs to achieve a middle-income economy by 2030 and tourism plays a key role in achieving that goal. I also looking forward to a close partnership with the media in telling the good story of this country. I am excited to be starting on this journey,” Muchanyuka said.
Hon Barbra Rwodzi, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry congratulates the new CEO of the ZTA and alluded to the full stakeholder representation at the announcement of her appointment as a clear sign of endorsement of her new role.
She encouraged stakeholders to open doors for ZTA through collaboration, and partnerships while working closely with the media as well. This, she said, should be done in the spirit of the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra through tourism.
Muchanyuka brings a wealth of experience to the ZTA. She was on the board of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe and the Chinhoyi University School of Tourism. She has vast experience in the aviation industry with a stint as a salesperson for Air Zimbabwe and air hostess for Swiss Air. She also worked as an executive for South African Airways.