Kenya’s Tourism Minister, The Honorable Najib Balala was brought back. After a brief time drifting to mining, Kenya’s president Kenyatta last week moved him back to where he was before. Najib again is now the minister of tourism for the Republic of Kenya.

Mining, by broad consensus, was the wrong portfolio given his vast experience in the sector and after serving already as Tourism Minister during the Kibaki presidency.

Balala took over at a time when sectoral competence was key to reviving the Kenyan tourism industry after a string of poor performers in this, for Kenya, crucial portfolio.

President Kenyatta only nominated nine Cabinet Secretaries at the time and notably dropped Balala’s predecessor Phyllis Kandie from the cabinet, as he did also with Prof. Judi Wakhungu who held the Environment and Natural Resources portfolio.

More cabinet positions will be announced over the coming days it is understood but for now it is a moment for the country’s tourism industry to look into the next years with renewed confidence now that their main ally in government has made a comeback.

Former Seychelles tourism minister Alain St. Ange, who now operates a tourism consulting company and together with this publication is a member of the TravelMarketingNetwork in New York, was one of the first to congratulate Najib Bala on his re-appointment.

The announcement of Principal Secretaries of Tourism for Kenya is expected in due course and like with Balala himself is the tourism sector rooting for Mrs. Fatuma Hirsi to serve a second term in the tourism ministry too

Najib Balala has retained his tourism portfolio in the new Cabinet announced by President Kenyatta.

Balala is also the Chair of the Regional Commission for Africa the UNWTO. He is the Tourism Minister who has the responsibility to oversee the rewriting of the Brand Africa narrative as Africa moves forward to claim a greater share of the tourism market.

Kenya also has a seat at the UNWTO Executive Council until 2019.

Alain St. Ange said: “I know Najib Balala and have always appreciated his professionalism and dedication to tourism. He has always been one to raise the Kenya flag and, in so doing, raise that of Africa as a whole. Congratulations Najib Balala, indeed a great choice by President Kenyatta.”

As time and age advance, and with it one’s private and professional life progresses, one might come to the conclusion that most things we do in life, in business or even in politics are just a bunch of nonsense. What is worse that we keep doing it for no good reason at all, and are continuing to create more nonsense. Some will put the blame on the boss or the government, some on the weather, others on their childhood, their mother-in-law or a recession. Great arguments that underline some of the nonsense even more. Climate change and resilience are trendy right now. It is almost like wanting to blame Nature for what Nature is and how it functions.

I’ve got some news for you. Extremely old news. It may take at least 10 digits to put a number on it. There is scientific evidence that forms of life on Earth appeared about 3.5 billion years ago. One year more or less doesn’t make a difference. There are people who may believe that it is what it took to create true human perfection. Just imagine that it took an evolution that long to inspire some members of the human species to decide on putting together committees to figure climate resilience out. That’s a main topic in the headlines nowadays. Just as a side remark, did you know that French soft cheese takes about 4 weeks to ripen? Anyway, to describe the mission of such committees in some straight forward wording: find out what we recently messed up and how we can quickly fix it again.

The answer is so darn simple that it almost insane: any material or process that was not created or influenced by man, and still exists, has proven to be resilient, in some cases over millions of years. The next question may be, what would have survived or flourished if it wasn’t affected by human action or influence? There you will find some valid answers of what to keep, copy and protect, and what to avoid.

Some prefer looking for an easier solution, like we need more insurance and more financial assistance, or handouts to survive when catastrophes happen. The correct answer is again so senseless simple. One is provided with two features for the use: brains and hands. As for the hands, we all know that some hands are bigger than others, and that some are used to do work, and some are used to be held up and receive. As for the brain sizes and functions, let’s not even get started discussing it. The answers to problems are usually quite simple and straight forward. But in order for them to be recognized and accepted, human brains and behavior have an annoying delaying effect.

In 1997, I was asked by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO to promote “1998, The International Year of The Oceans of the UN”. The mission was to create awareness for the world’s oceans. At that time, climate change was already discussed. Scientists had recognized all the indications. They had computer models of the effects of rising sea levels. Why wasn’t something done about it already at that time?

For one, scientists typically have to prove things first and beyond any doubt; reasonable doubt is not even good enough. One cannot prove something when it didn’t actually happen. That is like wisdom from the law and order professions. Politicians will not take action unless scientists can prove something. They fear for their credibility and to be fried to a crisp if they cannot justify their decision without proper evidence. Now, after those 20 years, one can at least say that tremendous progress is made, and climate change is about to be proven. The time has now come to think about action for becoming climate resilient. And of course, on a smaller scale, like here in the Caribbean, a committee may be assembled of persons who must start thinking first, about what they actually need to be thinking about. Keep your fingers crossed for #1 seeing a plan of action and #2 enjoy experiencing the implementation.

If I would ask Mother Nature for her opinion about all this, she might respond with: “You people think you are ‘Living the life of Riley’ and you believe you are ‘Hot Stuff’. In my eyes you are really only lallygagging and dilldallying along through your limited time of life. From my overall perspective, you are as unimportant as a miniature ship in a bottle. Mama Nature will adapt and survive. I always did. And you? So, listen to Mama Nature and learn from Mama Nature and don’t try to have things your way.” Ding-dong!

“It is all over for Walter Mzembi. They are so many cameras here. This is high profile and highly political”, a bystander told eTN from outside the  Harare courtroom where Walter Mzembi had his bail hearing Saturday Morning. Bail was granted and set for  $400 by the court at 10.45 am Saturday morning. The trial date was set for January 22, 2018.

Still facing Prison, the former Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism Walter Mzembi is accused by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).  Mzembi was arrested in Harare on Friday morning. Believing in the system and in his country even after the recent power change Mzembi just told eTN: “There was nothing to fear in Zimbabwe.”

Well respected among ministers of tourism from around the globe, liked and highly educated and seen as a global leader also within people in the inner circle of the World Tourism Organization, WTTC and many other tourism organizations, the Hon. Walter Mzembi was known and seen by everyone as someone who was carrying the Zimbabwe flag high and proud. He honorably represented his country as a minister of tourism since February 13, 2009  with pride and dignity under a government and president who was disliked in many parts of the world.

He was instrumental to bring the UNWTO General Assembly in August 2013 to Zimbabwe.  The event was co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia and still seen as one of the most effective and best events  UNWTO ever concluded.

In 2017 Mzembi was the candidate of the African Union for the position of the 2018-21 Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization and lost second against Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia.  Many say it was not Mzembi’s qualification and vision for World Tourism what cost him the election, but the association with the country he stood for.

Mzembi served under the Mugabe presidency as the minister of tourism since February 13, 2009. This was not an easy task but well done under the condition faced.

It waits to be seen if UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili who just started his term 5 days ago will use his new influence to push for the dismissel of these charges against Mr. Mzembi.

At the recent UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China, Mzembi was invited to the stage and seen hugging Zurab Pololikashvili to congratulate him after a bitter fight for the position.

Mzembi was appointed as the foreign minister of Zimbabwe by ailing president Mugabe and only served 6 weeks before the government changes in this African country in November 2017.

Mzembi was well aware of the risk to not leave Zimbabwe, but as a patriot and believer in a new democracy stayed put. Mzembi tried to meet Emmerson Mnangagwa, the new president. He spent all day in his office in December but wasn’t able to shake hands.

Mzembi went to South Africa over Christmas and New Years in search for a job but returned to his country on Friday morning when he was arrested.

“This is hard to swallow knowing Walter Mzembi truly loves his country”, a person close to Mzembi told eTN. The charges of corruption are somewhat strange. A first reaction to the charges: “You want us to believe this? The truth will prevail and it is the truth that will set Mzembi free.”

“Already, I have been told that the case is weak. They want to shame Walter because he is much loved by most people and it’s obviously related to the preparation for elections next year.”

Mzembi’s lawyer Mr. Job Sikhala said his client was facing allegations of donating four government owned TV sets  to churches. The Zimbabwe government bought TVs for a 2010 World Cup promotion. After the World Cup, former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi donated 4 of the TV’s to churches. This was led by led by Emmanuel Makandiwa, Walter Magaya and Bishop Mutendi This has been the official version and reason for his arrest.

His attorney Job Wiwa Sikhala was one of the most vocal opposition leaders in Zimbabwe. He was known for his scathing criticism against the Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party. He belongs to the first crop of opposition leaders who were influential in the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change.

Job Sikhala has become well known in Africa after claiming to have been tortured by the Mugabe regime. Job, who was an MP with the Movement for Democratic Change said he had to endure severe torture after being arrested in January.

Also detained was former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge. Undenge is alleged to have abused his position as the former Minister of Energy and Power Development to influence ZESA to illegally parcel out tenders to those he may have favored.

New UNWTO chief, Zurab Pololikashvili, issued the following New Year message – his first, after assuming the post of Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization for the period of 2018-2021:

Dear all

It is with a sense of pride and humility that I assume my post as Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2018-2021.

I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my strong commitment to make of UNWTO an ever more relevant Organization for the benefit of the sector, our Member States and its people.

Tourism is a people’s sector. 1 in 10 people in the world are directly or indirectly employed by tourism. Ours is the responsibility to ensure that tourism benefits each and every community, leaving no one behind.

Tourism’s sustained growth generates immense opportunities for economic welfare and development. Yet, it also brings in many challenges. Adapting our sector to the challenges of safety and security, evolving market changes, growing digitalization and the limits of our natural resources should be priorities in our common action.

As we move towards a future guided by the universal 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), I take upon me to lead UNWTO with a strong focus on building strong partnerships with public and private sector, fostering jobs and opportunities for all, mastering technology and innovation and advancing sustainability and the fight against climate change.

I trust that, together with our Member States and our partners from around the world, we can build a more competitive and responsible tourism sector for the benefit of all people.

I wish you a very happy 2018.

UNWTO Secretary-General
Zurab Pololikashvili