Zimbabwe has appointed Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu Acting Minister of Environment Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pending the finalisation of the incumbent, Prisca Mupfumira’s court processes.

Mupfumira, who is currently in custody, is facing a litany of corruption charges in Zimbabwe’s courts.

Ndlovu is also Zimbabwe’s Industry and Commerce Minister.

Langton Masunda, a conservationist from Gwayi, near Hwange National Park, says the appointment of an acting minister is a move in the right direction.

“The arrest of Mupfumira is one way of stopping rot in government ministries. Given the nature of tourism, it cannot be run by someone facing corruption allegations. The appointment of Ndlovu will restore credibility of the Tourism Ministry, its parastatals and the industry in general,” Masunda says.

The acting minister, he says, may not immediately change things in the Ministry but sanity and confidence will be restored.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe President, Innocent Manyera, says: “We appreciate as an industry the fact that we have been given an acting minister to ensure government business continues in the meantime. I believe due diligence was done to pick the Honourable Minister in acting capacity.”

Manyera says business at the Tourism Ministry is likely to continue as the acting minister will be guided by plans and officers already in the Ministry.