News / National
Remove all Zimbabweans from sanctions, Australia told
02 Apr 2012 at 07:11hrs | Views
At the beginning of last month, the Australian government removed some Zimbabweans from its sanctions list following a similar move by the European Union. In recent weeks, the Australian Embassy in Harare has gone on a charm offensive to win over some of the individuals removed from the list.
However, one of the targeted individuals, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, through the authority's head of public relations, Mr Sugar Chagonda, told the Australian Ambassador, Mr Matthew Neuhaus, that all Zimbabweans should be removed from sanctions. Below is a statement on Mr Kaseke's response to his removal from the list.
On March 6 this year the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Mr Karikoga Kaseke, received official correspondence from the Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Matthew E. K. Neuhaus, to the effect that he had been removed from the travel ban and sanctions list crafted by his government with immediate effect.
This development followed a decade-long era of economic, trade, financial, and illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union (EU), alongside Australia, the United States of America, Britain, Switzerland and New Zealand, among others.
Recently, as the relations between the Government of Zimbabwe and the EU thawed, a number of individuals and companies were removed from the sanctions list.
The sanctions, which were meant to be punitive measures by the Western countries to further their desired political and economic outcomes, were imposed in 2002.
It is clear that the sanctions had a wider impact beyond the targeted individuals as they diminished the country's economy at the expense of selfish motives by the Western countries.
Indeed, the imposed ban on Mr Kaseke, who is the head of tourism in Zimbabwe and whose mandate is to promote and market the destination in both the local and international markets, was a cause for concern.
Not only did these embargoes cripple the performance of the tourism sector but the economy at large.
Owing to these sanctions, the challenges of destination access and perception worsened, becoming major hindrances to the growth of tourism in Zimbabwe. For example, prior to the sanctions era, 45 international airlines were flying into Zimbabwe, but these figures dwindled and, currently, there are only 11 airlines.
Naturally, this has impacted negatively on the number of tourists coming to Zimbabwe. At the peak of tourism, Zimbabwe received about 2,5 million tourists every year.
Commenting on this development, Mr Kaseke said he acknowledged the move as positive but will not cease to question the rationale behind these sanctions.
He said: "Tourism is the face of the country and is apolitical.
"It is the first port of call when a person arrives in any country; tourism is what fascinates visitors before they start developing business interests.
"Having been on the sanctions list, as the head of tourism in Zimbabwe, was a clear hindrance to tourism growth in the country.
"I acknowledge my removal from the list by the Australian government with curiosity and astonishment.
"We find solace in that they are now seeing sense in their initial error of putting tourism under sanctions.
"It is now a realisation on their part, which is coming late, and we will not stop to question the legality and wisdom behind these sanctions in the first place.
"Nevertheless, Australia being one of our primary markets, the authority will continue with its aggressive marketing initiatives to tap into this market to ensure that the destination regains its lost market share within the oceanic region."
Mr Kaseke also paid tribute to the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mugabe, who led a nationwide crusade against sanctions through the anti-sanctions campaign, which saw multitudes of Zimbabweans signing a petition in March last year.
"We acknowledge that the anti-sanctions petition that President Mugabe spearheaded last year is bearing fruit as 2012 has witnessed the relaxation of sanctions on a number of individuals and companies that were deemed threats to Western countries.
"It is, however, laudable that these countries are realising their mistakes and do share the same vision with us â€" to make Zimbabwe prosper.
"Repealing these sanctions means Zimbabwe will compete with other tourist destinations on an equal footing. We still urge them to respect our sovereignty and to remove everyone else on the list, including His Excellency, the President, Cde Mugabe," he said.
Australia comes second in lifting the travel ban against the ZTA chief executive after the EU.
Interestingly, while delivering the move to relax the punitive sanctions, which imposed travel bans and the freezing of bank accounts on individuals, Australian Foreign Minister Craig Emmerson said those removed from the list were no longer threats and that he was eager to see Zimbabwe back on its feet so that its economy prospers.
Before the imposition of the sanctions, Zimbabwe was among the top five destinations in Africa alongside Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya. This move is likely to see
Zimbabwe regaining its status in the region.
However, despite all these sanctions, the country's tourism sector has, in recent years, been on the rebound as various strategies, which include aggressive marketing, investor engagements and liberalisation of the sector were employed.
In 2010, the Zimbabwe tourism sector was rated by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) as one of the fastest-growing tourism economies, at number three with potential to be second after China, if properly exploited.
Last year the country recorded an increase of 17 percent in tourist arrivals despite a significant decline in global economic conditions owing to the global economic recession.
Zimbabwe also witnessed a number of traceable developments, which came as endorsements to the country as a favourable tourist destination.
Various international accolades were also received by the destination even from some Western countries where visible traces of hostility and negative perceptions were previously experienced.
However, one of the targeted individuals, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke, through the authority's head of public relations, Mr Sugar Chagonda, told the Australian Ambassador, Mr Matthew Neuhaus, that all Zimbabweans should be removed from sanctions. Below is a statement on Mr Kaseke's response to his removal from the list.
On March 6 this year the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Mr Karikoga Kaseke, received official correspondence from the Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Matthew E. K. Neuhaus, to the effect that he had been removed from the travel ban and sanctions list crafted by his government with immediate effect.
This development followed a decade-long era of economic, trade, financial, and illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union (EU), alongside Australia, the United States of America, Britain, Switzerland and New Zealand, among others.
Recently, as the relations between the Government of Zimbabwe and the EU thawed, a number of individuals and companies were removed from the sanctions list.
The sanctions, which were meant to be punitive measures by the Western countries to further their desired political and economic outcomes, were imposed in 2002.
It is clear that the sanctions had a wider impact beyond the targeted individuals as they diminished the country's economy at the expense of selfish motives by the Western countries.
Indeed, the imposed ban on Mr Kaseke, who is the head of tourism in Zimbabwe and whose mandate is to promote and market the destination in both the local and international markets, was a cause for concern.
Not only did these embargoes cripple the performance of the tourism sector but the economy at large.
Owing to these sanctions, the challenges of destination access and perception worsened, becoming major hindrances to the growth of tourism in Zimbabwe. For example, prior to the sanctions era, 45 international airlines were flying into Zimbabwe, but these figures dwindled and, currently, there are only 11 airlines.
Naturally, this has impacted negatively on the number of tourists coming to Zimbabwe. At the peak of tourism, Zimbabwe received about 2,5 million tourists every year.
Commenting on this development, Mr Kaseke said he acknowledged the move as positive but will not cease to question the rationale behind these sanctions.
He said: "Tourism is the face of the country and is apolitical.
"It is the first port of call when a person arrives in any country; tourism is what fascinates visitors before they start developing business interests.
"Having been on the sanctions list, as the head of tourism in Zimbabwe, was a clear hindrance to tourism growth in the country.
"I acknowledge my removal from the list by the Australian government with curiosity and astonishment.
"We find solace in that they are now seeing sense in their initial error of putting tourism under sanctions.
"It is now a realisation on their part, which is coming late, and we will not stop to question the legality and wisdom behind these sanctions in the first place.
"Nevertheless, Australia being one of our primary markets, the authority will continue with its aggressive marketing initiatives to tap into this market to ensure that the destination regains its lost market share within the oceanic region."
Mr Kaseke also paid tribute to the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mugabe, who led a nationwide crusade against sanctions through the anti-sanctions campaign, which saw multitudes of Zimbabweans signing a petition in March last year.
"We acknowledge that the anti-sanctions petition that President Mugabe spearheaded last year is bearing fruit as 2012 has witnessed the relaxation of sanctions on a number of individuals and companies that were deemed threats to Western countries.
"It is, however, laudable that these countries are realising their mistakes and do share the same vision with us â€" to make Zimbabwe prosper.
"Repealing these sanctions means Zimbabwe will compete with other tourist destinations on an equal footing. We still urge them to respect our sovereignty and to remove everyone else on the list, including His Excellency, the President, Cde Mugabe," he said.
Australia comes second in lifting the travel ban against the ZTA chief executive after the EU.
Interestingly, while delivering the move to relax the punitive sanctions, which imposed travel bans and the freezing of bank accounts on individuals, Australian Foreign Minister Craig Emmerson said those removed from the list were no longer threats and that he was eager to see Zimbabwe back on its feet so that its economy prospers.
Before the imposition of the sanctions, Zimbabwe was among the top five destinations in Africa alongside Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya. This move is likely to see
Zimbabwe regaining its status in the region.
However, despite all these sanctions, the country's tourism sector has, in recent years, been on the rebound as various strategies, which include aggressive marketing, investor engagements and liberalisation of the sector were employed.
In 2010, the Zimbabwe tourism sector was rated by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) as one of the fastest-growing tourism economies, at number three with potential to be second after China, if properly exploited.
Last year the country recorded an increase of 17 percent in tourist arrivals despite a significant decline in global economic conditions owing to the global economic recession.
Zimbabwe also witnessed a number of traceable developments, which came as endorsements to the country as a favourable tourist destination.
Various international accolades were also received by the destination even from some Western countries where visible traces of hostility and negative perceptions were previously experienced.
Source - SM
