Yesterday Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Walter Mzembi lost the elections for Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Mzembi lost 18-15 in the run-off to Zurab Pololikashvilli of Georgia.
Speaking after the loss, Mzembi said he was prepared to work with Pololikashvilli and said that despite the loss it was still a victory for the Zimbabwe and Africa brands.
Said Mzembi:
But it is the brand Zimbabwe and brand Africa that proved that it is seeking a bigger stake in the world.
The election loss should not be seen as the end of everything. The bigger picture is our brand that we have upped through the campaign. Zimbabwe and Africa have never been this high in the matrix of world tourism and you can see the interest it has attracted. There has never been such interest on UNWTO elections.
We should show goodwill and accept the result. We fell short by two votes. That was a good fight.
More: Herald