Breaking News: Mzembi loses UNWTO secretary General Post

Apparently it is NOT time for Africa!

In a hotly contested plebiscite in the Spanish Capital Madrid yesterday, the Zimbabwean Hospitality and Tourism Industry Walter Mzembi minister succumbed to a narrow loss as an electoral college voted on the next leader of the 42-year-old body.

The Zimbabwean lost 15 votes to the Georgian candidate’s 18 in the run-off.

The conclave went into a second round after the first round which had seen a shocking lagging behind of another hot favourite in the Brazilian candidate with the results putting Zimbabwe ahead with 11 votes, Georgia with 8, South Korea with 7, Brazil with and Colombia bringing up the rear with 3.

Nothing to smile about...UNWTO secretary general loser Walter Mzembi.

Even a unilateral African Union directive to Seychelles to have them drop their candidacy failed to cushion Mzembi to a win with the reluctant pulling out by the Seychelles perhaps contributing to Mzembi being torpedoed in round two with the Vanilla Islands perhaps unhappy with the directive from the African Union.

After what was a whirlwind campaign event and tour of the world to drum up support, Mzembi will have to leave the Melia Castilla Hotel venue of the vote and come back home to his portfolio as minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry in the Zimbabwean government, a post he has held since February 2009.

Dr. Eng. Walter Mzembi (MP) has held various positions in both the Public and Private Sectors in Zimbabwe, including: Inspector of Mines in Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines, Sales Engineer, Mitchel Cotts, General Manager Stewart and Lloyds, Marketing Director, Ag Venture and Chief Executive Officer in various private companies. He is the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa Chairperson, having been re-elected unanimously in September 2015 in Madeline, Colombia.
Mzembi still has a sterling record back home since his elevation as tourism minister; he has championed tourism development in his country expertly, and advanced tourism policy consummation at the African Union level for mainstreaming in the AU Agenda 2063. He is the driving force for his Vision 5:5:15:2020 interpreted to mean 5 Million arrivals, 5 Billion revenue contribution and 15% contribution to GDP by year 2020.
But no amount of ‘Command Electoral Politics’ could command Mzembi to a win in what became an organic secret ballot.