Shamenda orders probe after Zambian tourists were denied access to Camp Nkwazi because they were black. LABOUR and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has directed Livingstone District Commissioner (DC) Omar Munsanje to probe and firmly deal with Hotels and Lodges in the tourist capital that are allegedly championing racism. Mr Shamenda issued the directive on Tuesday when a Zambian Sanderson Sianjina and his wife as well as a Zambian pastor Haggai Mweene from Lusaka were denied access to Camp Nkwazi because the trio was black. Camp Nkwazi is located about 20 kilometers (Km) from the town centre of the tourist capital near Zambezi River. The trio who were turned back by a security officer from Camp Nkwazi gate under instructions from the lodge manager Jonathan Makaza were angered by the guards response that they could not be allowed in because the company did not allow blacks and the three reported the matter to the Livingstone City Council and the District Commissioner’s office. Mr Shamenda directed Mr Munsanje to seriously curb the issue of racism in the tourist capital which was on the increase as it could affect the country’s tourism. “ I am aware of racism in some hotels and lodges here in Livingstone because I was once a victim at Tongabezi, so I want you Mr Munsanje to clean up this mess because we are not going to allow a situation where Zambians are discriminated in their country,” Mr Shamenda said. He said it was important for Zambians and other visitors to the country to be treated with respect and dignity even by foreign investors because Zambia was a country which fore-fathers fought for to get independence. “As Government, we are not going to allow any form of discrimination of our people by any foreign investor. If I hear that such things have continued, I will have no option but to liaise with my counterpart in Ministry of Foreign affairs so that such investors can be deported to their countries of origin,” Mr Shamenda said. He said it was important for Zambians to enjoy the peace and freedom that the country had and that Government would not tolerate any form of discrimination. And Mr Munsanje advised the Lodge owner Paul Oosthuizen and his managers to desist from promoting racism. Mr Munsanje said there was need for investors to change their approach towards Zambians because the country had embraced everyone. He said he wanted to see a situation where Zambians were given access to tourism facilities because the country was no longer in the colonial days. Meanwhile, Camp Nkwazi Director Pual Oosthuizen said there was a misunderstanding at the gate between the guard and the visitors. Mr Oosthuizen said the lodge also accommodates blacks except that they needed to make bookings on the internet. He said the situation was unfortunate and asked for forgiveness and offered the aggrieved couple and the clergyman to stay on the company’s account but the trio refused.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 06:22:47 +0000