By STEPHEN KAPAMBWE-
The snow caped Mount Kilimanjaro… the indigenous Masai warriors… the world famous long distance marathon champions… These are just a few highlights that make Kenya unique.
The East African country, known for tourism attractions like the wide array of rich wildlife in the Masai Mara, is also known for its tea, which is widely grown on the slopes and foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.
Tea is Kenya’s leading export.
The famous land of the Masai was President Hakainde Hichilema’s latest destination on his continued engagements with regional and global leaders to unlock trade and boost investments to turn around Zambia economy.
President Hichilema was in Kenya last week on a two-day State visit.
This was yet another high profile visit of the President as he continues with his economic diplomacy crusade to enhance relations between Zambia and countries in the region and beyond.
The presidential trip was occasioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta who invited Mr Hichilema to visit Kenya and exploit enhanced trade and investment opportunities between Zambia and the East African country.
At 580,367 square kilometres (224,081 sq mi), Kenya is the world’s 48th largest country by area.
It has a population of more than 47.6 million (according to the 2019 census), and is said to be the 29th most populous country in the world.
Kenya is surrounded by five neighbouring countries namely; Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania.
However, unlike Zambia which is land locked, Kenya has a sea coast on the Indian Ocean extending from the Horn of Africa, halfway down to Mozambique; an approximate distance of 3,000km in the south-eastern region of the country.
Zambia is much larger than Kenya.
It covers a total area of 752,610 km² (290,584 mi²), but it has a much smaller population of just 18 million people compared to Kenya’s 47.6 million people.
Zambia is thus one of the largest countries in Africa, the 39th biggest in the world.
Kenya has a massive tourism industry which attracts far more tourists than Zambia’s.
For example, the Chinese News Agency (Xinhua), quoted a Kenyan government source who said the country’s international tourist arrivals increased by 53.3 per cent to 870,465 in 2021 compared to 567,848 in 2020, with the sector showing recovery amid increased COVID-19 vaccinations across the globe.
Tourism in Kenya is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue, following agriculture.
Beach, eco, cultural and sports tourism are all part of the tourism sector in Kenya.
But during the 1990s, the number of tourists travelling to Kenya decreased, partly due to the well-publicised murders of several tourists.
However, tourism in Kenya is one of the leading sources of foreign exchange, along with coffee.
Following the controversial 2007 presidential election and the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis that followed, tourism revenues plummeted 54 per cent from 2007 in the first quarter of 2008.
It fell to 8.08 billion shillings (US$130.5 million) from 17.5 billion shillings in January–March 2007, and a total of 130,585 tourists arrived in Kenya compared to over 273,000 that year.
Kenya won the Best Leisure Destination award at the World Travel Fair in Shanghai, China, in April 2008.
Kenya is known globally for its scenic and diverse landscapes, set within a relatively small area.
It is possible to take a one-hour flight from Nairobi and arrive in a desert, lush tea estate, alpine forest or savannah, depending on direction of travel.
The tourist infrastructure in Kenya is highly developed with a network of professionally managed national parks, highways, flight connectivity (international and domestic) and an internationally recognized hotel and hospitality industry.
The country offers short and long form adventure activities and experiences, including homestays, hot-air balloon safaris, golfing holidays and special interest holidays.
Zambia can learn from how Kenya has built and successfully operates its tourism infrastructure.
Zambia is said to have a growing tourism industry that thrives on some of the most competitive tourism attractions such as the Victoria Falls, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and unparalleled wildlife comprised of the Big Five (lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, the elephant, and the buffalo).
Zambia has 19 national game parks, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and historic monuments.
Although the Victoria Falls is the country’s most popular tourism attraction which draws the majority of international visitors, Zambia’ northern circuit has over 19 smaller waterfalls, among them the famous Kalamba Falls, which are the highest in Africa.
In terms of exports, tea is Kenya’s leading export, earning the country some $1.2 billion.
Kenya also exports $596 million worth of cut flowers, $308 million with of refined petroleum, $262 million in gold and $229 million in coffee mostly to Uganda ($940 million), Pakistan ($515 million), Netherlands ($503 million), United States ($496 million ), and United Kingdom ($435 million).
However, in 2020, Zambia was the world’s biggest exporter of raw copper worth $5.77 billion, with other exports being refined copper worth $2.03 billion, gold worth $757 million, copper ore worth $195 million and raw tobacco worth $185 million.
These were mostly exported to Switzerland ($3.46 billion), China ($1.53 billion), Namibia ($1.35 billion), Democratic Republic of the Congo ($952 million), and Singapore ($913 million).
A simple analysis of exports between the two countries means Kenya has more agro based exports while Zambia exports more minerals.
Therefore, exchange programmes can be initiated for Zambia to benefit more from Kenya’s advanced agriculture and world famous tourism industries.
In leveraging these strengths, Zambia and Kenya signed memoranda of understanding during President Hichilema’s State visit which was witnessed by the two Presidents.
The memoranda of understanding are aimed achieving a number of objectives, such as enhancing tourism partnerships between the two countries, attaining shared common interests in trade and investment, and integrated peace and unity for development between the two nations.
Among the MoUs signed were: the Enhanced Zambia Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (ZIDIS), and the Foreign Service Academy Institute of Kenya (FSI); promotion of cooperatives between the two nations involving veterinary and animal health; and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) with Kenya Investment Authority.
“We are confident that Zambia and Kenya will in these areas, among others, including the existing friendship lead to the benefit of both the people of Zambia and Kenya,” President Hichilema said.
He described Kenya as one of the friendly countries that Zambia will walk together with in reviving the economy.
President Hichilema appealed to business houses in Zambia to take advantage of the agreements signed by the governments in the two countries and ensure that they boost their trade relations with Kenyan companies.
President Hichilema said his trips are meant to unlock Zambia’s economy that has been severely damaged after so many years of neglect and nothing will distract his administration from meeting its commitment to the Zambian people who elected the United Party for National Development (UPND) into office.
While in Kenya, President Hichilema visited the Ihub Information and Communication Technology company in Nairobi, which is run by young people.
He also visited Maramba Tea Company to appreciate the entire production process.
He said his Government is optimistic that with such knowledge exchange, Zambia will manage to revive its tea companies the New Dawn administration creates a conducive business environment.
“With these partnerships, we are confident that Zambia is going forward and will be turning into an economic epicentre. It is our duty to unlock any bottlenecks that may hinder every business opportunity and this we will do,” President Hichilema said.
It is President strong assertion that African countries stand to gain more benefits by increasing their levels of trade among themselves even before they consider trading with nations beyond the continent.
Zambia and Kenya stand to benefit a lot by building stronger partnerships in economic sectors that will see both countries draw mutual benefits.