By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Newly appointed Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Winnie Muchanyuka says she intends to put shoulders to the wheel to achieving set targets.
Ms Winnie as she is affectionately known in the tourism industry asked for support from all stakeholders in order to deliver on her mandate which includes the 2030 agenda of attaining the upper-middle income economy status and the US$5 billion economy by 2025.
Speaking after the announcement of her appointment in Harare Wednesday, Ms Winnie promised to work as a team.
“I can only ask for your support I cannot do this alone and I don’t even pretend that I know everything that is to be done in this capacity but really it would come from teamwork and dedication.
“And my favourite saying is lots of blood, sweat and tears to be able to achieve that we have been called to serve and this is what I intend on doing.
“I’m looking forward to working with the fourth estate we can be as much the face of the country and the voice of the country we can’t but if that message is not going out through the fourth estate then I think our efforts will be fruitless,” Ms Winnie said.
She also acknowledged the successes by the ZTA made so far despite the Covid-19 pandemic which hampered growth of the tourism sector.
“The work being done by the ZTA during Covid is amazing. In my other portfolio, as you heard, I am the immediate Vice-President of the Tourism council.
“I had an opportunity to work very closely with the Ministry and to the ZTA and the collaboration was just something else. I think the Minister is really proud of the industry and the work that we did together during that period. It is my hope that we continue in that trajectory,” she said.
Ms Winnie also said she was raring to build on the good work by former acting CEO Mr Givemore Chidzidzi.
“Talking earlier to colleagues here, I can see that the platform that we are launching is very high. Let me borrow from the industry that I am coming from, the runway is very long.
“So, take-off will be of no difficulty at all. I think my role has been made easier from that respect, and work that Mr. Chidzidzi and team are doing really make it easy for me to be able to launch,” she said.
“I really need to acknowledge and praise the team for the work they have done. I pledge my support to the mandate that has been given to me and the mandate that has come from the principal and what they expect me to deliver in achieving a five billion dollar economy by 2025.”
ZTA board chairman Mr Raynold Mawerera commended Mr Chidzidzi for holding forte in the past months.
Mr Mawerera, commended Mr Chidzidzi under whose leadership and guidance he steered ZTA on a positive trajectory.
He mentioned the successful launch of ZimBho domestic tourism campaign and the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) initiative as some of Mr Chidzidzi’s career highlights.
Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu hailed the appointment of Ms Winnie as she is affectionately known in the tourism sector, as a step in the right direction.
“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.
Ms Winnie 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 an air hostess for Air Zimbabwe and Swiss Air. She also worked as an executive for the South African Airways
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