By Nigel Pfunde
HARARE- Government is set to establish an Advisory Council to ‘oversee’ the management of the Tourism Fund, Express Mail Zim can report .
The landmark resolution was revealed at the historic inaugural Zimbabwe Tourism Authority AGM convened in Harare on Wednesday, for the first time since the Authority’s inception in 1996.
The proposed Advisory Council is a hybrid body comprising both private and public sector players and will advise the Tourism Minister in her capacity as Trustee of the Fund.
The measure is one of several critical interventions aimed at closing systemic gaps that had previously undermined public confidence in the previous dispensation.
“We are awaiting the new Tourism Bill to be signed by President Mnangagwa, and in our quest to restore accountability of the Tourism Fund, we will set up a Council to advise the Trustee,” revealed Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry, who stood proxy for Minister Barbara Rwodzi at the meeting. “The advisory council will be a hybrid consisting of both private and public sector players.”
The announcement came in response to concerns raised by legislator Joana Mamombe (who was in the house) , Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Environment, Climate and Wildlife, signaling a new era of stakeholder engagement and parliamentary oversight.
Dr Munyanyiwa made it unequivocally clear that the AGM was not merely a procedural formality but a fundamental reset for ZTA, founded on stakeholder confidence, performance excellence and uncompromising accountability.
In a candid appraisal of past failures, Dr Munyanyiwa subtly but firmly pointed to systemic accountability lapses under the stewardship of the late chief executive Karikoga Kaseke, revealing that proper financial protocols had been routinely bypassed.
“The procedure is the collected levies belong to the State and the Trustee is the minister; it’s not ZTA money,” he explained. “The chief executive then awaits authority from the minister after submitting budgets, and it seems such was not the case.”
The Advisory Council, alongside other governance reforms, is designed to permanently seal such loopholes, ensuring that the Trustee’s authority is respected and that public funds are subjected to rigorous scrutiny and oversight.
Delivering Minister Rwodzi’s formal address, Dr Munyanyiwa said that the raft of measures adopted at the AGM, from the Advisory Council to enhanced financial protocols and board restructuring, constitutes a comprehensive governance overhaul.
“This gathering marks a significant milestone in strengthening governance, accountability, transparency and stakeholder engagement within our tourism sector,” he said. “The convening of this inaugural AGM reflects the Authority’s commitment to sound corporate governance, institutional renewal and responsible leadership.”
The minister acknowledged the governance challenges that necessitated the suspension of the previous Board, revealing that Government had undertaken a comprehensive reform process aimed at restoring accountability, institutional credibility, and public confidence which is a process that has now culminated in the appointment of a substantive Board and Chief Executive Officer.
“We are pleased that this process has culminated in the appointment of a substantive Board and Chief Executive Officer, laying a firm foundation for a stronger and more effective Authority,” Munyanyiwa said.
The Board Chairperson, Mr. Farai Chimba, Management led by Dr George M. Manyaya, and the entire ZTA team were commended for their “commitment to rebuilding systems, strengthening governance structures, and restoring stakeholder confidence.”
The minister emphasised that good governance remains the cornerstone of sustainable institutions, urging the Board and Management to continue fostering a culture of professionalism, integrity, ethical leadership, and prudent stewardship of public resources. With the Advisory Council now poised to become a reality upon the signing of the new Tourism Bill, the inaugural AGM has effectively served as the launchpad for a new era where the old systems of unchecked authority and opaque management are definitively swept aside in favor of a transparent, accountable and stakeholder-driven future.
