The First Lady, Her Excellency (HE) Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa graced the Youth in Tourism Provincial Debates held on 19 July 2019 at the Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE)’s Faculty of Science Education Complex. The event which was held under the theme, Towards Economic Transformation – Product, Positioning, People, Partnerships Making Vision 2030 a Reality was facilitated by BUSE in partnership with the Zimbabwe Youth in Tourism.
The debate’s participants were drawn from Chinhoyi University of Technology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare Institute of Technology, Harare Polytechnic, Hospitality Academy, Madziwa Teachers College, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Chaminuka Training Centre, Shamva Agricultural College, Blackfordy and Bindura University of Science Education. They took turns to showcase their knowledge of the tourism sector through robust debates and public speaking.
In her address, Amai Mnangagwa who is the patron of the programme hailed event organisers for hosting such an important event which she described as an essential component in the sustenance of the economy. She highlighted that though the tourism sector had a fiercely competitive market that required skills, talent and enterprise, it had the ability of aiding the success of the economy.
Amai Mnangagwa urged youths to equip and educate themselves in tourism in order to unlock opportunities which the sector offered for economic transformation. “Tourism is one of the best and fastest in generating jobs we need in Zimbabwe. I am glad the youth are taking the right steps in nationalising issues which were relegated to classroom and certain institutions only,” she said.
In her concluding remarks, Amai Mnangagwa encouraged the youth to dream and to be visionaries to perceive the gaps that should be filled and to be innovative.
Speaking after the event, Amai Mnangagwa said the debate was very educative and that she was impressed by the minds and reasoning by students.
In his welcome address, Professor Eddie Mwenje thanked Amai Mnangagwa for her commitment and passion to help the underprivileged through her Youth in Tourism programme. “I thank you for your unparralled commitment to the cause of the marginalised and less privileged of society,” he said.
Professor Mwenje added that the Youth in Tourism Provincial Debate was a welcome platform which feeds into the university’s mandate and function. “We therefore are pleased to support and capacitate programmes such as these which seek to promote the youth in the economic transformation of our country.”
He added that the Mashonaland Province had a number of tourist attractions including Mbire, Kariba and Muzarabani that were yearning for development and strategic marketing so that the Province would maximise the socio-economic benefits of these centres of attraction. “It is my honest desire and hope that today the debates will interrogate such provincial attractions and come up with innovative ways of marketing the destinations.
Also present at the occasion was the Member of Parliament for Bindura North, Mr KS Musanhi; Public Administrator, Mr C. Chiringa, Principals from teacher’s colleges, provincial heads and Vice Chancellors’ representatives from Chinhoyi University of Technology and Harare Institute of Technology.
