By Deogratias Mmana:
Officials at the Ministry of Tourism, including the minister herself, are busy touring the world.
However, some in the ministry say the many travels are achieving nothing because the ministry itself is failing to implement the department’s own policy documents which were supposed to promote tourism.
And they see the trips as no more than self-enriching schemes for those officials that travel.
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In the month of September alone, and amid the forex crisis that has knocked down many sectors including fuel supply leading to people spending nights on queues, the ministry has spent over K100 million on air tickets and travel needs such as allowances to four foreign destinations.
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While the official exchange rate is at K1,751 to one US dollar, they calculated their external allowances at one US$ to K2,000.
In addition, the officials have been taking the trips to some countries where the government already has tourism attachees who could do some of the errands the officials have been going out for.
Further, Malawi News has learnt that it is usually the same officials who go globetrotting in the name of promoting tourism.
Interestingly, according to our sources, the officials are from administration, when it should have been technical officers who are supposed to implement activities in the ministry.
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On September 25, 2024, Principal Secretary in the ministry, Chancy Simwaka, approved the expenditure plan prepared by the Chief Tourism officer, Ian Musyani.
The plan is dated September 25, 2024.
A loose minute generated by Musyani has a headline: ‘Expenditure plan for September 2024 on tourism marketing fund.’
It reads: “I write to submit expenditure plan for September 2024 for planned activities on tourism marketing fund.
“You may also wish to note that the total budget for the proposed activities on this expenditure plan is amounting to K244, 909, 200.”
Further, Musyani requests approval for a foreign payment to be made from the Reserve Bank Holding Account to Malawi’s South Africa Consulate and service providers as follows:
- [World Travel Market] London stand space GBP 36,211
- World Travel Market London stand construction and branding GBP 24,000
- Magical Kenya stand space USD 2,650
- Tourism attache (South Africa) on production of branded shirts ZAR 281,059.38
This translates to K173 million.
The travel of the 15 officers is shown under facilitation of market access.
WTM London 2024 participation shows air tickets for five officers’ return trip to London costing K28 million; travel insurance at K600,000; visa fees amounting to K2.8 million; business cards for five officers amounting to K150,000 and consumables pegged at K400,000.
For the travel for the Magical Kenya 2024 participation, the breakdown is as follows:
Allowances for four officers at the rate of US$280 per day for 8 days at the exchange rate of K2,000, which translates to K17. 9 million; airfares for four officers at K1.3 million each which translates to K5.2 million; ‘contingency’ funds amounting to K4 million and consumables at K500,000
For the Swahili International Tourism Expo in Tanzania participation, the breakdown is as follows:
Allowances for four officers for eight days at K17.9; air tickets for four officers at K4.8 million; contingency fund (branding, hire of furniture for exhibition stand) at K6 million; consumables (business cards and promotion materials K300,000)
The fourth trip is Malawi’s participation at Eden Africa Workshop in Livingstone Zambia. The breakdown is as follows: Allowances for two officers at K8.9 million; air tickets for two K2.4 million.
The national tourism month of September activities cost K36 million, K30.6 million for the ministry’s participation at the 2024 Blantyre Arts festival, Likoma island festival, Mulhakho wa Alhomwe and beach soccer.
Other expenditures on Malawi’s tourism products promoted in international markets that cost K34.5 million include hike to Sapitwa on Mulanje Mountain at K17.6 million and Gastronomy participation at Gwirize cultural village at K11.8 million.
Further expenditures are shown under domestic tourism campaigns, which include K7.5 million for meetings with radio stations.
The total figure, according to the loose minute is K244.9 million.
Plus the K173 million from the Reserve Bank Holding Account, that comes to K418 million.
An official who asked not to be named said: “This ministry is in a mess.
“We have issues of forex in this country. Instead of applying austerity measures, our seniors are busy flying four times or even five times a year. It is usually the same people that globe-trot. Does the minister or PS really have to attend a trade fair? That is for technocrats.”
The source said two officers were enough to travel to such countries.
The source added that some countries like London have Malawian tourism attachees, hence no need for senior officers to travel there.
The source further said the impact of such trips is not felt because the ministry is struggling to implement its documents such as the National Tourism Policy, the National Ecotourism Strategy and the Domestic Tourism Marketing Strategy. The last one is expiring next year.
We also reached out to Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule Friday.
We asked her to comment on the concerns from her ministry officials some of the top ranks including herself are spending more time touring the world in the name of tourism promotion while ignoring critical issues that hamper the sector.
We also asked her to justify the travel of 15 officials to four foreign destinations within a month blowing K100 million in air tickets and allowance at the time the country is facing forex shortage.
In a WhatsApp response Kamtukule said Friday: “Can we talk later? I am slightly busy now. I propose a conversation first before I tackle the questionnaire.”
We could not reach Simwaka.
Executive Director for Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat) Willy Kambwandira described the developments at the ministry as indicative of extravagant lifestyle.
“We are not surprised as the Presidency itself has not walked the talk in the implementation of the austerity measures.
“While it is important to promote tourism and other sectors of the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining strategy, prudence and efficiency in resource utilisation should always be upheld,” Kambwandira said.
He also said for the ministry to be effective, such trips should include technocrats.
