THE Inter-ministerial Committee on the 2013 UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly to be held in Victoria Falls has officially launched the Local Organising Committee. An official in the Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity, Dr Ivanhoe Gurira said in a statement last week that the inter-ministerial committee chaired by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Rtd Col Christian Katsande outlined the mandate of the local committee. The committee would have its sub-committees.

"Mainstream and align local development plans of Victoria Falls with works and programmes towards the hosting of the UN WTO General Assembly and to familiarise the inter-ministerial committee members with the site recommended for the construction of the Convention Centre and its integral ancillary facilities," said Dr Gurira.

In its first meeting on December 13 last year, Dr Gurira said the inter-ministerial committee constituted eight sub-committees to carry out preparations for the co-hosting of the 2013 UN WTO General Assembly.

There would be a committee on resource mobilisation chaired by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.

The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development will chair the sub-committee on infrastructure.

The sub-committee on Environmental Management (Green Issues) will be chaired by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Standards, Marketing and Promotion will be chaired by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry. The Ministry of Media, Information and Publicity will chair the sub-committee on Media, Information and Communication while the President's Department will chair the one on Security and Accreditation. The sub-committee on Protocol will be chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Local Area (Victoria Falls) Organising sub-committee will be chaired by Matabeleland North Governor Tholozile Mathuthu or by the Provincial Administrator in her absence. The District Administrator will chair the local area organisation committee at district level while the Mayor of Victoria Falls will chair it at Local Authority level.

Dr Gurira said the working party of the inter-ministerial committee had already held meetings and dispatched small specialist teams to Victoria Falls.

The teams will come up with recommendations to ensure the successful completion of projects and programmes necessary for the hosting of the 2013 event.

"Following the inter-ministerial committee's familiarisation visit and the launch of the Victoria Falls local sub-committee, the recommendations of the inter-ministerial committee are being consolidated for forwarding to the committee of ministers for consideration and decision-making," Dr Gurira said.

Zimbabwe will co-host the 2013 UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly with Zambia.