By BRIAN HATYOKA? –
THE Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has said Zambian tourism operators who were funded ahead of the 20th session of the United Nations World General Assembly (UNWTO) General Assembly in 2013 are now operating successfully.
CEEC released about K2.4 million of loans in which operators in Livingstone and Kazungula and Sesheke applied to upgrade their facilities including internet facilities, improving power supply, water and sanitation, catering facilities and ventilation among others to enhance their operations.
The Commission was targeting to support between 20 to 30 lodges as well as restaurants in Livingstone and another 10 to 15 lodges and restaurants from Kazungula to Sesheke.
CEEC Director General Likando Mukumbuta said in an interview in Livingstone that the initiative was very successful as the various business entities which were supported were currently operating smoothly.
“We are proud as the Commission as the various businesses which we financed are currently running well. So far, the repayment rate is now running at 81 per cent which is highest in Zambia and we would like to commend the entrepreneurs for that success,” Mr Mukumbuta said.
The commission would in 2015 come up with a fully-fledged tourism programme and franchise activities for operators in Livingstone.
Under the 2013 loan arrangement, each lodge or restaurant was expected to receive about K100, 000 to upgrade its premises to international standards in readiness for the UNWTO conference.
CEEC was expected to maintain the loan repayment rate of 12 per cent which was the lowest in the market.
Operators were not expected to receive the actual money to upgrade their entities but the Commission was expected to pay for works to be done which would be recommended by professionals like contractors and architects.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukumbuta said Zambians would soon start drinking mango juice produced and packaged from Mongu in Western Province from entities which were funded by the CEEC in 2013.
He said the Commission invested K10 million in Western Province last year and another K10 million was expected to be pumped in the same province this year.
“These are high levels of funding not seeing before for rural industrialisation. For 2014, we have included Nalolo, Mwandi and Limulunga districts in addition to Mongu, Kaoma and Sesheke districts which were funded in 2013,” Mr Mukumbuta said.