“Visit Zimbabwe instead of Kenya” Smear Campaign Allegation - Zimbabwe’s Response

The tweets by https://twitter.com/zanu_pf on social media this week caused a bit of mayhem in tourism circles with Zimbabwe being accused of lacking in comradeship after Kenya stood by Zimbabwe during the times when it had been hit by severe travel warning by especially the European Union, especially Britain; and also the United States of America. Kenya has had a series of terrorist attacks of late thus seeing the same source markets issuing travel warning against visiting Kenya.

Online publisher http://www.eturbonews.com/47191/dont-risk-your-life-kenya-come-zimbabwe-safe-holiday went on to publish a story titled “ZIMBABWE TOURISM SMEARS KENYA TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN TWITTER CAMPAIGN” which resulted in top government officials from both countries having to meet to clear the air.

3 days ago, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Karikoga Kaseke had to respond to delegates from the Kenya Tourism Board regarding these allegations at the Routes Africa aviation conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

ZTA Chief Executive Karikoga Kaseke

Kaseke made a public statement to the Director of Policy & Research – Kenya Tourism Board – Mr. Micheal Riungu and officials from Kenya Airways attending the same conference stating that the “Tweet” was generated by enemies of the state who intended on severing the good relations shared by Zimbabwe and Kenya.

On Thursday 26 June 2014, Kenya’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe – Her Excellency Ambassador Josephine V. Awuor paid a courtesy visit to Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism & Hospitality Industry - Honourable Walter Mzembi- where he reiterated the same sentiments as Mr. Kaseke that Zimbabwe valued its relations with Kenya.

In the meeting Minister Mzembi sighted the fact that currently Zimbabwe and Kenya do not have a bilateral tourism agreement even though both countries have been independent for over 30 years. He cited the need to have such an agreement as a tool to prevent such trivial allegations that can then be used to strain international relations.

“There is need to have joint tourism promotions between our two countries where we can package our majestic Victoria Falls and the Masai-Mara plains. These products are unique to our countries and packaging appropriately will result in more long haul tourist arrival” said Mzembi.

Hon. Walter Mzembi- Toursim & Hospitality Industry Minister

Mzembi also gave credit to Kenya in making possible the EAC uni-visa a possibility. He said, “Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from Kenya especially since we are in the process of finalizing our own uni-visa with Zambia”.

He also gave credit to Kenya for being able to defy odds by managing to increase it bed nights in a time when their tourism industry was affected by travel warnings because of the terrorism cases they have had to endure.

In response Her Excellency Ambassador Josephine V. Awuor said, “Security is a global concern and our country is working hard to contain its effects and ensure security prevails at all times. I hope we manage to have a Memorandum of Understanding that will see Zimbabwe and Kenya opening up collaborations for tourism promotion.”

Amb Josephine V. Awuor

Minister Mzembi went on to declare that in the soonest possible time, he would be visiting Kenya with a team from Zimbabwe to show his endorsement for Kenya as a safe tourism destination and also to initiate the construction of a Tourism MOU between the two countries.

Regardless of all this, there are issues I need to highlight borne from this incidence:

1.     If the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Ministry of Tourism & Hospitality Industry were properly represented on social media, they would have responded to the tweet in real time thus quashing any ideas that they may have been involved in issuing that blow below the belt.

2.       A quick look at the Twitter account in question @zanu_pf shows that it is a parody account and therefore the publisher of the article wasn’t supposed to even insinuate that Zimbabwe was on a smear campaign brought about by the terrorist attacks Kenya currently has to deal with. In the same month of June the same account made a swipe at South Africa –

ZANU PF @zanu_pf · Jun 24 In South Africa they throw poo at you. Not very nice- Zimbabwe in it's million year history has not seen such things.

ZANU PF @zanu_pf · Jun 24 Crime is so high in SA it's not safe for tourists there

& Nigeria too 

   ZANU PF @zanu_pf · Jun 17 Nigeria, shame, all those violent attacks- much safer to visit Zimbabwe

Evidently, the account holder is airing his/her opinions. S/he even claims to have powers to have closed down #FACEBOOK during their service shutdown, so seriously Eturbonews.com must have taken such into consideration before amplifying the matter.

3.      If we as brands do not create our own content, others will create it for us. This is why the people responsible for marketing Zimbabwe Tourism should take social media seriously. In a period when the new word of mouth is social media it is a huge scare as to why Zimbabwe is refusing to invest in our own platforms.

4.     www.eturbonews.com may have also used the existence of the now almost annual #TWARS - #TwitterWars between Zimbabwe and Kenya to direct traffic to their website which, of it was intentional was a good move at the cost of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority who now have to invest in mending relations.

In conclusion, both Zimbabwe and Kenya are amazingly beautiful countries with almost similar products, but I must say #VisitZimbabwe it is indeed a World of Wonders.

You can also follow me on #Twitter @samtanyaude or look for #VisitZimbabwe on #Twitter