African Sovereignty

by David Ryan

We recently had a visitor to our website that in essence complained about the fact we didn’t represent Zambia very well on the Rhino Africa website, but more importantly we did not take into consideration the Sovereignty of the Zambian Kwacha.

Granted Zambia is very poorly represented on Rhino Africa, and our web-team will make a concerted effort over the coming months to include more Zambian product on the site, in particular the South Luangwa Valley, which is really opening up, another pristine African Wilderness – the debate Victor and I had however, I thought you might find interesting.

I should point out that Victor, is a Zambian living in the United States – so in reply to Victors enquiry, questioning our absence of the Zambian Kwacha on the website, I responded as follows:

Dear Victor,

As a Zambian living in the United States, I am sure you will appreciate that like the Pula and the Rand, most Western Countries - that form the bulk of our clients visiting Southern Africa - would not understand a quotation in either Pula, Kwacha or Rand. The only reason we quote in Rand, is because as a South African based Company, we are legally compelled to do so – we always however give an indication quote in either US $, Euro or GBP. Having returned from Livingstone just last week, the irony to your comment is that, as a tourist it is almost impossible to buy a thing in Kwacha - the only currency that is understood or has any real value in Livingstone in particular is the US $. This even goes as far as our hotel rates for accommodation and food – as a Tour Operator, they are all contracted in US Dollars.

While I understand your attachment to Zambia as a citizen, unfortunately the tourism sector in reality is a far cry from your perception - but I would be the first to agree with you. In fact I would go one further step further, in that all SADC countries have identified Tourism as being the main catalyst for economic growth, and as such should band together to create common destinations under a single tourism banner - such as the greater Vic Falls area.

I trust you will have a great weekend.

Regards,

David

Note: SADC – South African Development Community Countries and includes Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar (membership pending), Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In response to this mail, Victor replied:

Dear David,

Many thanks for this input. Perhaps, it is premature to blame you, which I did not intend to. I will study your comments and use them to engage with the Zambian government and if an opportunity arises at international fora. Though, I maintain, your angle of promotion leaves much to be desired. But again, Zambians should have been in the fore-front. I will separately copy this communication to the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources in Zambia.
Sincerely,

Victor Kawanga, Longview, Washington State, U.S.A

Not one to shy away from controversy, I took the debate to another level.

Hi Victor,

Thank you for your mail - I trust you had a good weekend. In respect to your comments, please understand, that I have an absolute passion for Africa, and I truly believe that Tourism - as the worlds biggest industry - has an enormous role to play in bringing economic prosperity to many Africa countries and regions. Having traveled around Africa and Southern Africa in particular, I struggle to get my head around the thinking of both government and Tourism bodies - in Southern Africa in particular. Every country in Southern Africa has something truly unique to offer in terms of a Tourism destination, whether it be the dunes of Namibia, the Delta in Botswana, the South Luangwa Valley in Zambia or the Victoria Falls - yet every country in Southern Africa, that despises colonial rule of the past, protects the sovereignty of these borders to such a degree, that it ends up stifling economic development through Tourism as opposed to facilitating and enhancing it.

A case in point - I visited - for what to me is the greater Vic Falls and Chobe area just over a week ago - in four days I ended up with 14 passport stamps !!! Now that is certainly not conducive to Tourism promotion - the fact that I was traveling on a South African Passport, meant there was no cost involved - just a lot of paper work and time wasted - had I been an American, British or German Citizen - to name a few - besides the inconvenience it is a costly affair. What I fail to understand, is why the Tourism Ministers of Southern Africa do not see the bigger the picture. When some-one chooses to travel to either Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique or South Africa, does it really which country they visit - so long as the it is Southern Africa - that way the region as a whole benefits.

Which brings me to my point. A prospective client from America, Britain, Germany or Australia will seldom understand the country differences that exist - they see it as Southern Africa - and I have tested this. Clients don't say I want to go to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Zambia - they say I want to go to Vic Falls - it is only because of Bob's antics that Zimbabwe's profile has been raised - and all for the wrong reasons - everyone domestically thinks these antics are isolated to Zimbabwe – largely because we know the situation on the ground - but it affects the entire region. He is not only affecting the economic growth of Zim, but there is a massive knock on effect to all the other countries in the region, especially from a Tourism perspective. Likewise clients don't say I want to do to The Okavango Delta in Botswana - most don't even know what country it is in - my point is, it is the destinations that are known abroad, not the countries - so why the countries of South Africa aren't coming together to market and promote the destinations on the sub-continent I don't understand.

The effects of a massive combined marketing campaign of this nature would be enormous, and I would go as far as to say it could treble the number of visitors to the region over the next couple of years, just by increasing our slice of the global tourism industry. With the infrastructure in South Africa, and particular Johannesburg, the gateway is already there - it needs to be capitalized on from a tourism perspective. The beauty of Africa, is her uniqueness and therefore none of the destinations compete, but rather they compliment one another. The success of every 'first' world country is that they have managed to turn there citizens into a consumer population - I argue that Southern Africa has an opportunity to use this to our advantage in terms of joint marketing and promotion, of the destinations.

If the governments of Southern Africa are truly committed to Tourism becoming the number one economic growth indicator, they should focus their attentions on working together to make sure the infrastructure is there through joint development projects, and that the logistics of traveling through Southern Africa is made easier - in this respect we can learn a lot from the European Union.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the governments are doing nothing - to the contrary there are a lot of positive developments - the creation of the new Peace Park is testament to that - I truly believe however that less emphasis needs to be placed on individual borders, as if everyone is truly committed to the same objectives the bigger picture will ensure that the individual countries will be taken car of.

I trust you will have a great week ahead.

Warm from a Sunny Cape Town,

To complete the debate, Victor replied as follows:

Hallo David,

Thank you for an, otherwise, elaborate response to my concerns. I appreciate it because you have laboured to communicate and give your point of view, which, in essence, is not different from mine. From this stand point, I would like to add a few points. Like you, I am aware of the immense potential that exists idly. One of my biggest arguments on factors impeding the unfolding this sector is political mediocrity. It takes very little effort to become a politician, and likewise, little opportunity to think through development programmes ruthlessly. Just yesterday, I went hiking on the Lower Columbia River Gorge famous for the civilisations it has supported from time immemorial within the United States. The Washington State has used the efforts of the Native Indian Tribes to perpetuate a legacy to the advantage of the world consumer! Taking Zambia as an example, the country has the largest concentration of rivers and lakes giving rise to various waterfalls more spectacular than the known ones. In apparently agreeing with you, in a sense; I have always thought development is a simple process provided the rules of proper planning and adherence are embraced. the example that Zambia gives is a country whose tourism is in a every part of each of the nine provinces represented. As a practical antidote I have began developing a personal master plan to re-orient the tourism industry to the Northern Zambia (Luapula and Northern Provinces). the northern part of Zambia is home to several small and big waterfalls unknown to tourists. I will do this by beginning to apply for licenses and rights to these natural features. In part, this has been started with the creation of a Museum at Mwansabombwe and one to be done at Mansa. From this, my intention is to use cultural values and norms and as a springboard for luring visitors. This understanding is premised on the fact that tourism of today is becoming more scientific than traditional! For instance, visiting the Victoria Falls has become traditional and all countries are identified because of the Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta etc..My approach is to encourage, say a geologist to come and be taken to a part of the country because he has interest in the various spectacular geomophological formations that exist in all provinces. I would like to bring in naturalists and the likes because of the sheer diversity of biological resources and the abundance of plant resources in any particular area. This, too, has began with the coming of my book: Zambian plants and trees: Botany, nomenclature and various uses which is set to interest various plant scientists, ecologists and anthropologists to follow the stand points it is raising. I can see that you have a passion for Africa. And tourism may have also begun in Africa! Every morning an African works up at dusk walking long distances to the field. During this journey he would meander through paths, valleys, mountains, forest thickets, until he or she comes to an open land heralding the famous eco-tourism. During this sojourn he or she will be soothed mentally creating a new self. Then he or she will have some food later unveiling the famous back-camps etc.. This is the type of tourism I need to work on (and have started). I would like to begin tourism where individuals from other countries come to see our way of life showing various survival efforts at village level from an anthropological point of view. Beyond, I am working with the Museum Board of Zambia to see the establishment of at least an all encompassing museum in each of Zambia's 74 districts.

If you think of the little I have traversed on above, you will realise that, I, too (like you), have a passion and we can do a lot in our separate efforts to do the needful. I can also understand why Southern is portrayed as one region beset with spectacular sites etc...The bureaucracy is one such type needing change. How can you have 14 passport stamps in one passport. Quite cumbersome indeed. If you allow me, I will prepare a lengthy article using you as an example (can withhold your name of you wish) in order to bring it to the attention of authorities. To be honest, we appear to have a moribund Zambia National Tourist Board etc..

I appreciate your efforts and God Bless,

Victor, Longview, Washington State, U.S.A

It would be wonderful to read your posts or comments of Tourism in Southern Africa and the sovereignty and protection of borders.

2007/03/15 | permalink |

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African Sovereignty

by David Ryan

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