‘…World Government Summit positioning Zim as destination of choice’

Ngoni Dapira

A VIDEO posted yesterday (Monday) by Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba in Dubai during  the second session of the World Government Summit has gone viral on social media receiving mixed feelings from people as the comical politician once again stunned audiences with his shallow intellectual depth of the Queens language.

In a few hours after being posted on Facebook the video reached over 2k (2000 views) being shared like hot cakes, with people laughing at his broken English and gestures that are hard to not express amusement at. Last year Honourable Chinotimba attended the same event which was funded by the host country and ran under the theme of ‘Global Dialogue for Happiness’. His video post of him swimming in sky blue waters at a beach again went viral on social media, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook.

The Buhera South legislator popularly known as Chinoz who is currently serving his second term in Parliament since being elected in 2013 had been invited after he was named the Ambassador of Happiness in 2017 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in honour of his cheerful and humorous character. In 2012, the United Nations (UN) adopted the International Day of Happiness through a resolution 66/281 and the day is celebrated on the 20th of March each year. Zimbabwe last year staged its inaugural International Day of Happiness commemorations citing that the concept of promoting happiness was key especially at the workplace where the majority of people spend most of their time.

L-R: ZTA COO Givemore Chidzidzi and Head Corporate Affairs Gofrey Koti in Dubai during the World Government Summit.

Hon Chinotimba is part of the eight member delegation led by the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Priscah Mupfumira that is attending the three-day World Government Summit in Dubai that started on Sunday.

The World Government Summit is a global platform dedicated to shaping the future of governments worldwide. Each year, the Summit sets the agenda for the next generation of governments and brings together prominent leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as international thought leaders and pioneers. They engage in inspirational, thought-provoking, and future-focused dialogues that aim to shape the future of governments and help improve the lives of citizens worldwide.

The Zimbabwean delegation comprises of the Deputy Minister of Labour and Public Services Lovemore Matuke, the Public Service Commission Representative Commissioner Dr Tsitsi Choruma who is with the Commission’s, Human Resources Director Simon Masanga and Dr Precious Sibiya a Director in the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Television personality Dr Rebecca Chisamba affectionately known as Mai Chisamba who is also a Happiness Ambassador is part of the entourage.

According to the press release by the country’s tourism marketing arm, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), it is using the summit to position and market Zimbabwe as a destination of choice especially among Asian countries. ZTA chief operating officer Givemore Chidzidzi and head of corporate affairs Godfrey Koti are also part of the delegation.

“The World Government Summit is a neutral, non-profit organization at the intersection of government and innovation. It functions as a knowledge exchange platform for leaders in the public and private sectors to convene and collaborate with world-renowned experts to create a positive impact for citizens worldwide. We believe as a country and in particular as a Ministry we can benefit from the sessions and above all this is a great platform to market Destination Zimbabwe” said Mupfumira in the press release.

“Zimbabwe’s economy is ready for take-off. The country’s fiscal deficit is being taken care of by the government and the people of the Republic, Zimbabwe is ready for international investment and to once again foster an environment for people to prosper and make money. Now is the time to invest in the Zimbabwean tourism sector, I dare say, don’t miss the boat,” adding that the country’s tourism industry is ripe for success.

The Annual Gathering of the World Government Summit, held in February in Dubai, hosts over 4000 participants and invites world leaders, international organizations’ representatives, thinkers, and experts from over 150 countries.

This year’s highlight of the Summit was Pope Francis’ attendance and he urged policymakers and government leaders at the World Government Summit to think about not only economic but social and moral interests when tackling global challenges.

Love him or hate him, Hon Chinotimba is one politician who has remained unperturbed by public opinion over his orthodox way of doing things. The former Harare municipal council chief inspector often mocked for his lack of education, has however proved to be a capable Member of Parliament through catering for his constituency needs and supporting motions meant to ‘pragmatically’ improve the welfare of the majority.

Though marred with his own political controversies especially during the agrarian land reform era early 2000 during the prime of his activism as a war veteran, Chinotimba is one affable politician and Zimbabwean that has quite often proven to have the nation at heart, especially when it comes to delivering on his election promises to his rural constituency in Buhera South, no matter how trivial the issue is.

Although most people consider him comical, ironically the task as Ambassador of Happiness to market happiness works as his posts often thrill many who can not help but laugh at the 68-year old’s broken English but commendable attempts to speak the Queen’s language.