New GM for Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino

The Minor Hotels Group has appointed Willem van Heerden GM of Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino, effective immediately.

Van Heerden has been with Minor Hotels for seven years and has worked in the hospitality sector of Southern Africa for more than two decades.

He comes to Avani Gaborone from Avani Lesotho and Maseru with a wealth of experience and expertise in hotel and operations management combined with energy and enthusiasm that he has continued to use in leading his teams to consistently improve sales and increased visitor numbers.

During his tenure at Minor Hotels, Van Heerden has implemented protocols that have improved efficiency in operations and has frequently been recognised for outstanding achievements.

“Growing visitor numbers, elevating Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino’s profile and positioning the teams’ expertise and knowledge to gain visitor confidence, is not a task I am looking to take on alone. I believe in leveraging the support of all our industry stakeholders in Botswana to reap mutual rewards,” said Van Heerden.

New chairperson for Air Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, recently announced the appointment of Chipo Mtasa as Chairperson of Air Zimbabwe.

Mtasa served as head of TelOne for more than 10 years, and is a chartered accountant who holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) degree from the University of Zimbabwe and several other postgraduate qualifications and certifications.

Mtasa will be deputised by Edmund Murambiwa Makona, an aviation expert who has worked in the industry for more than two decades.

Mhona said Mtasa had the pedigree to implement a turnaround strategy for the country’s flagship carrier.

“Mtasa is a top-level executive with more than two decades of experience in devising and executing strategies and leading team efforts that have produced significant business turnaround in telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, tourism, hospitality management and many other sectors.

“I wish Mtasa and her Board, great success as they lead Air Zimbabwe’s recovery process, through the implementation of the six-year Strategic Turnaround Plan, with the view to developing a dependable airline, with a robust hub-and-spoke network; with Harare and Victoria Falls as the main and tourist hubs respectively,” Mhona said.

New tourism minister for Tanzania

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has switched two ministers in a minor cabinet reshuffle, appointing Mohammed Mchengerwa as the new Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism.

Mchengerwa swapped the Tourism Minister position with Dr Pindi Chana who has been appointed to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports to take the ministerial position once held by Mchengerwa.

Chana held the Minister of Tourism portfolio for around 11 months since her appointment in March of last year.

President Hassan has also shifted Dr Hassan Abbasi, Permanent Secretary Culture, Arts and Sports to the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources.

Abbasi, who also worked as Chief Government Spokesperson, then Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Culture, is taking over from Professor Eliamani Sedoyeka in the Ministry of Tourism.

In his new ministerial portfolio, Mchengerwa will supervise the development of tourism in Tanzania, with approximately 1.5 million tourists per annum with earnings of US$2.6bn annually and contributing 17.6% of Tanzania’s GDP.

Wildlife conservation and protection is the key area falling under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; also the conservation and development of heritage sites, including historic, cultural, and geographical sites identified and marked for tourism development.

SANParks Managing Executive Conservation joins intl conservation organisation

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Managing Executive for Conservation Services, Dr Luthando Dziba, has been appointment Regional Director for East Africa, Madagascar and the West Indian Ocean at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Dziba joined SANParks five and half years ago to lead the Conservation Services Division and has been an invaluable member of the SANParks team and the leadership.

He has been the voice of SANParks on matters related to conservation nationally and internationally.

Dziba will continue his passion for conservation at a regional scale and contribute to conservation across the African landscape and beyond.

“We are confident that Dr Dziba will continue to make a positive impact and will advance collaboration between South Africa (especially SANParks) and other international institutions who share the duty of conserving biodiversity across African landscapes,” SANParks said in a statement.

SANParks Acting CEO, Property Mokoena, said: “Dr Dziba’s leadership in SANParks has been felt in our conservation work in all national parks. He and his team have led a number of key initiatives, including rhino and elephant conservation, conservation of large predators, protected area expansion, improved management of cultural heritage, innovative conservation finance and advancing conservation research. He leaves SANParks at a crucial time but his contribution to conservation will continue.”