Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Blantyre City Soche East Ward Leonard Chimbanga has spoken again the decision by the Tonse Alliance to ban Lakeshore meetings by Civil Servants, saying this will the Tourism Industry.

The newly appointed Secretary to President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba announced the ban today during a meeting with Principal Secretaries of various government departments in the capital Lilongwe.

According to Zamba, all public office meetings must be held in respective office board rooms.

But writing on his official facebook page, Chimbanga has asked the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Michael Usi to engage Zamba on the dangers of the said order to the Tourism sector in the country.

“To Dr Michael Usi, Minister of Tourism

“Honourable minister this stopping of Lakeshore conferences is shooting ourselves in the foot,” wrote Chimbanga.

He added: “We are pegging tourism as a strategic industry for recovery, especially after covid. This will bring untold suffering to many people in the value chain even revenue collection. Am talking of those employed by the hotels, the suppliers, and the car hires MRA revenue collections from the transport sector. There is a need for cost-based analysis before the implementation of some of these austerity measures. I beg you to approach the madam boss on this.”

Usi is yet to comment on the matter.