Press Release
Minister Sikumba Charts New National Mandate for ZITHS as Anchor of Tourism Human Capital Development
LSAKA, 6th January, 2026
The Minister of Tourism, Honourable Rodney Sikumba, has called on the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) to rise into a national leadership role as the anchor institution for tourism and hospitality human capital development, coordination and data management.
Speaking during the exit meeting of the ZITHS Governing Council, Honourable Sikumba underscored the critical need for ZITHS to support Government with credible, comprehensive and up-to-date national data on training institutions, enrolments, skills outputs and labour market needs. He emphasized that such data is essential for informed policy formulation, targeted investment decisions and the sustainable growth of the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Minister further highlighted the importance of strengthening quality assurance frameworks, certification systems and occupational standards, including the enhancement of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanisms, to ensure industry relevance, competitiveness and international credibility.
Honourable Sikumba also stressed that the integration of tourism and hospitality education into the school curriculum must be complemented by deliberate teacher capacity building, effective coordination with the Ministry of Education and sustained monitoring and evaluation to deliver lasting impact.
Reaffirming Government’s commitment to education, the Minister quoted the Republican President of Zambia, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, noting that the President has consistently emphasized and demonstrated that an educated populace is the foundation upon which national development is built.
In this regard, Honourable Sikumba directed that the ZITHS Act be reviewed to address gaps in governance, institutional autonomy, certification authority, asset management and accountability, while carefully balancing ZITHS’ social mandate with commercial sustainability.
“ZITHS must firmly position itself as the national anchor institution for tourism and hospitality human capital development, coordination and data management, underpinned by financial transparency, accountability and sustainable business models,” the Minister said.
Presenting the 2022–2025 Exit Report, ZITHS Governing Council Chairperson, Ms. Mulemwa Moongwa, stated that the Council’s tenure was guided by a strong focus on institutional recovery, governance reforms and the strategic repositioning of ZITHS as a national centre of excellence for tourism human capital development and coordination.
She noted that at the commencement of the Council’s tenure, ZITHS was grappling with significant financial, governance and infrastructure challenges, which necessitated a comprehensive transformation agenda.
Ms. Moongwa reported notable achievements, including strengthened financial controls, increased student enrolment to over 1,000, adoption of the UN Tourism Education Guidelines, reintroduction of apprenticeship programmes and enhanced industry partnerships. However, she acknowledged that infrastructure constraints and legacy financial obligations remain key challenges.
“This Exit Report stands as a comprehensive accountability document, capturing the transformation achieved, the lessons learnt and the strategic priorities required to secure ZITHS’ long-term sustainability,” Ms. Moongwa concluded.
(Original signed)
Public Relations Unit
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
+260978717111
