Interview
Five minutes with...
MTIMBA ZULU
Operations Manager – The BushCamp Company
Where did you grow up? On the Copperbelt in a town called Chambeshi. My father used to work for the mines.
What first brought you to Mfuwe? After my father retired we came to Mambwe, that’s where I did my secondary school and completed Mambwe High School. When did you join Mfuwe lodge? I joined Mfuwe lodge in the year 2000 and I worked as a laundry attendant and housekeeper in 2001. I later moved to the stores department in 2003. Mfuwe lodge sponsored me to study purchasing and supplies and I did a diploma in storage management. I was then appointed to store manager/procurement. They then sponsored me again to study business administration and I obtained a degree from the Univer sity of Wales.
What does an average day involve? Coordinating the staff, checking who is doing pick-ups and drop offs, and making sure guides are assigned. Welcoming guests and making sure their stay is memorable.
How do you see the future of Zambia’s tourism? The tourism sector has huge potential and we can do much better. We are not impacting anything on the environment but preserving it. All we need is more advertisement and government support in selling Zambia to the rest of the world. Most of the people do not even know where Zambia is. Why do Zambians need to know about their tourism products? First we Zambians have to explore and see what we have. We have to start appreciating it and valuing it by getting more involved. Tourism will not be developed by outsiders but by us Zambians. TL Z
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TRAVEL & LEISURE ZAMBIA