By BRIAN HATYOKA –

THE Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) has urged Government to come up with long-term measures that are going to stop the attacks on foreign nationals to safeguard Zambia’s tourism.
TCZ chairperson Alex Mutali said Zambians were known to be friendly and welcoming people, hence there was need to ensure that sporadic attacks targeted at foreign nationals were stopped completely to sustain the country’s tourism sector.
Mr Mutali, who is also Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) chairperson, urged the Government to start educating the communities to desist from attacking foreign nationals as one of the long-term measures.
He was speaking in an interview yesterday in reaction to some cases of attacks on foreign nationals in Lusaka, especially those from Rwanda following speculations that some foreigners were involved in the recent suspected ritual murders.
Mr Mutali said tourism was one of the key economic pillars in Zambia and that it was important that foreign tourists were protected.
“We are very welcoming to foreigners and this is really a very sad development to hear that foreign nationals were attacked in Lusaka.
“Having soldiers on the streets in not sufficient. What should be done is to get out in the communities and sensitise people never do things like that,” Mr Mutali said.
He also counselled Zambians against speculations on matters that were being investigated by the police.
“We need to learn something from this looting. When Zambia Police are investigating something, their investigations should not be given to the public because it tends to make people react spontaneously without a second thought.
“We must counteract this false information on foreign nationals and use the media to send the information out. The media should be truthful and avoid sending information which can set the country on fire,” Mr Mutali said.