Harare — ZIMBABWE is geared to cash in on the 2010 Soccer World Cup after South Africa contracted the country to provide 40 000 beds for next year's Soccer World Cup finals.

The task, though Herculean, is a boon to the recently launched Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme that identifies tourism as one of the pillars of economic revival.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair last week, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said South Africa wanted the beds ready for occupation by the time the soccer extravaganza explodes into life about a year from now.

"Fifa (Federation of International Football Associations) has already approved all three- to five-star hotels in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

"We now need even those individuals owning homes to upgrade them to required standards so that we can meet the bedding requirements," said Minister Mzembi.

Zimbabwe has about 12 000 hotel beds throughout the country, of which only about 10 000 are above the three-star benchmark, leaving the country with a tough task to meet the South African quota.

Minister Mzembi said health facilities and the requisite transport system must complement the room requirements.

"We now need to move fast and work on our accommodation as well as our health institutions and health delivery system.

"The soccer players want to know if they can be airlifted to the nearest health facility. They want to know if there are drugs at the clinics -- all those things.

"So our biggest challenge is to ensure that we put our house in order in line with the demands ahead of us," he said.

Minister Mzembi challenged Zimbabwean tour operators to stop whining and come up with innovative strategic planning, marketing and development plans.

"Why do you cry that Victoria Falls is being marketed by South Africa as if it is in South Africa? Why can't you market Cape Town yourself?

"Stop being crybabies. Let us work for the development of our industry and enjoy maximum benefits from the soccer showcase," he said.

Brazilian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Raul de Taunay, recently endorsed Zimbabwe's capacity to host his country's national team saying the facilities in the country are way ahead of most countries in the region.