By Taiye Olayemi
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, President, World Craft Council, Africa region, has commiserated with Zimbabweans and the family of late Dr Karikoga Kaseke, former Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
Runsewe, in a statement on Sunday, expressed shock at the death of late Kaseke, the longest serving chief tourism officer of Zimbabwe.
He recalled Kaseke’s dedication and commitment to the dream of bringing African countries together to form a huge bloc in marketing African tourism to Africans and the world.
“Together, Kaseke and I were determined to change the perception of African tourism under the African Tourism Initiative.
“He was my deputy, a very great pan Africanist and tourism giant.
“Kaseke was humble and unassuming, willing to see through the dream of Africans visiting Africa and taking the advantage of our rich culture and history to change our narratives at world tourism expositions and which we did together across the world,” he said.
Runsewe urged the government and people of Zimbabwe to immortalise the late tourism pathfinder, as he gave his all not only to tourism development in Zimbabwe but to the entire African continent.
“I will personally miss Kaseke. He was a reliable and dependable partner, a lover of African cultural tourism togetherness.
“May God rest his soul in peace and give his family and the government and people of Zimbabwe the fortitude to bear his passage. Africa has lost a great son,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kaseke, a former army officer and liberation war fighter, died Feb. 29 after a long illness.
He was said to have been unwell after suffering a stroke in 2018
Kaseke was buried on March 7, at his rural home in Matienga Village, Chivero, Mhondoro.
He served as Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development and CEO for the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
