By Gift Phiri
Hard-working Tourism minister Walter Mzembi came agonisingly close to winning elections to become secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) which were held in Madrid, Spain yesterday — before losing in the run-off.
In the end, Zurab Pololikashvili of Georgia was elected to become the next UNWTO secretary-general, beating Mzembi by a mere three votes — and despite having lost to the Zimbabwean minister by a similar margin in the first round of voting.
Pololikashvili will replace Taleb Rifai, a Jordanian who is stepping down at the end of the year after serving two five-year terms.
In the first round of voting, Mzembi polled 11 votes to Pololikashvili’s eight. But the little-known Georgian swept to the position after polling 18 votes to the Zimbabwean minister’s 15 in the runoff.
Speaking to the Daily News soon after the poll, a distraught Mzembi said he fully accepted the election result.
“I accept the verdict of the UNWTO’s global membership.
“Of course, I am still reconciling this African loss but it has been an immense and immeasurable branding gain for Zimbabwe, Africa and indeed myself.
“I concede defeat and will continue working for global tourism with the same passion, energy and humility which I exercised during my campaign. The best man won and I pledge my support to him.
“To all my supporters and intercessors, the Lord has spoken loudly . . . next time, another opportunity, not this one! Thank you all and may God bless you immensely for your support,” he said.
No African has led the UNWTO since it came into being in 1975.
However, international media reported yesterday that Mzembi had lost the vote due to his background as a Zanu PF politician.
“Zimbabwe’s political reputation played a major role in the elections and he (Mzembi) simply could not gather the support from enough delegates from other continents to make his dream become reality.
“Whether this is right or wrong — I tend to believe Zimbabwe is wrongly bedevilled in the West and have often said so — it is a fact of life and a fact which must have been known and understood by a man of his intellect,” Wolfgang Thome, a correspondent for global travel and tourism news portal eTN Africa said of Mzembi’s loss.
President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF government have a rocky relationship with the West, although Harare has lately been on a re-engagement mission with the developed world in a bid to normalise ties.
The West accuses Mugabe’s administration of gross human rights and property violations, following documented cases of state-sponsored violence against the opposition and the seizures of white-owned land 18 years ago. Daily News