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Bulawayo Bureau
Tour operators and hotels in Victoria Falls are offering up to 30 percent discount on activities and accommodation to delegates attending the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference. More than 6 000 delegates are expected to attend the conference which will be officially opened by the party’s First Secretary, President Mugabe on Friday. The conference started on Monday with a Politburo meeting in Harare and the Central Committee meets in the capital today before the great trek to the resort town tomorrow.

At the venue, Elephant Hills Resort Golf Course, service providers are on the ground ready for the conference. President of Employers Association of Safari and Tourism Operators Mr Clement Mukwasi said all activities and accommodation are being offered at 30 percent discount.

“We have offered general discounts of up to 30 percent on all activities to delegates. Our mandate is to give our clients, who are in this case Zanu-PF delegates, fair value for their money. Even the hotels that are getting paid for accommodation are getting the discount,” he said.

Some of the activities that delegates should brace for or usually want to explore when they visit Victoria Falls include sunset cruises, fishing, elephant rides, lion walk, air activities, game drives, white water rafting, gorge swings and bunjee jumping among others.

Activities such as bunjee jumping, rafting, flight of angels, elephant rides and lion walk cost about $150 while some like gorge swing cost less than $100. During the conference, these would cost 30 percent less. Hotel Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chairman Mr John Gwese said the industry is excited about the conference.

“We have extended varying levels of discounts to delegates and some of our members have offered complimentary accommodation to the delegates,” he said. “We are so excited obviously because we are getting business from it.” Mr Gwese added: “Such an opportunity comes once in 10 years and we hope the conference goes well because adequate preparations have been made by the local organising committee and HAZ.”

About operators’ preparedness for the conference, Mr Mukwasi said; “This is not the first time we have hosted conferences of this magnitude in Victoria Falls as you are aware we had the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly two years ago which had equally huge numbers. “We got to know about the conference a year ago and obviously we have been preparing for it and we are ready to host both domestic and international tourists,” said Mr Mukwasi.

Mr Mukwasi said operators were bracing for rich pickings as they were taking this week as an early Christmas. “We expect significant gains from this conference which obviously will have a bearing on the numbers. “We are taking this as an early Christmas for the industry with the main meal coming at the Jameson Carnival at the end of the month,” he said.

Public infrastructure has been upgraded with roads being resurfaced while social amenities such as schools and toilets have also been refurbished. The conference will leave a lasting impression in the city and the business community has expressed satisfaction on the corporate social responsibility the conference has done. The exhibition centre requested by the Women’s League to sell craft ware has been set, together with the clinic and other services have been completed.

At the 10 schools where about 3 000 delegates will be accommodated, rooms have been prepared while truckloads of mattresses and blankets were still being delivered yesterday.