RENOWNED wildlife and environment painter Larry Benjamin
Norton last week exerted renewed pressure on Zimbabwean and Zambian authorities
to stop more commercial enterprises being set up within the precincts of Victoria Falls, amid growing concern that such
developments could cost the iconic site its world heritage status.
Norton, a Zimbabwean national and Victoria Falls resident,
filed a High Court application in 2022 seeking to stop Adage Success and
Scanner Investments from developing commercial enterprises at the heart of the Victoria Falls, arguing that the business ventures
would disrupt the ecological and aesthetic beauty of the global spectacle.
Judgement on the legal dispute case number, HC3576/22, in
which the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) and the
Environmental Management Authority (Ema) are cited as key respondents among
others, is yet to be handed down.
Last week, Norton presented his fresh concerns to Zambian
and Zimbabwean representatives attending a Joint Technical Committee (JTC)
meeting held at a local hotel in the resort town to deliberate on strategies to
preserve its world heritage status.
Broadly, the JTC meeting was meant to deliberate on the Victoria Falls’ world heritage status.
The Victoria Falls, which is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, was accorded world heritage
status by Unesco in 1989.
In 2022, Unesco warned that Victoria
Falls risked losing its heritage status due to “individual and
cumulative infrastructure developments” in restricted zones within the margins
of the world’s largest waterfall.
In a document seen by the Independent, Norton drew the
attention of Zambian and Zimbabwean delegates to a myriad of commercial
developments which he claimed threatened to discredit Victoria
Falls.
“At the outset we are
all aware that the fragile Mosia Tunya/Victoria Falls world heritage site is
under threat from developments and commercialisation on both sides of the
river,” he said in a presentation to the meeting.
“Over two years ago myself and nine other applicants brought
an urgent application to stop the commercialisation of the Cataract Islands
by Adage Success and Zimparks and the construction of the Baines restaurant by
Victoria Falls Investments.”
In his High Court application Norton, a globally renowned
painter, maintained that the public was not consulted when rights to develop
business sites in the sensitive areas of the Victoria
Falls were granted to a number of firms.
“We maintain that no proper public consultations occurred
with these operations and that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) were
defective.
“For the Cataract
Island operation, a
number of previous operators’ applications were turned down by Zimparks for
environmental reasons,” wrote Norton.
Norton’s written submission was also furnished to Zimparks
Victoria Falls area manager Marvellous Mbikiyana.
Citing a musical concert held in 2023 at the Cataract Island, Norton argued that the show
organisers abused the site while triggering outrage from stakeholders.
“In early December 2023 the operators of Cataract Island
clearly abused the island by facilitating a music event for a well-known
European pop group. Videos of this outrageous abuse of the island went viral
with broad condemnation from stakeholders and agents,” stated Norton.
“How can the authorities allow such an event? We stress the
need to verify coordinates and place beacons around the world heritage site and
we emphasise on the need to develop a blueprint of infrastructure development
for the Victoria Falls. We further direct the
Joint Technical Committee to finalise development of site maps.”
Some of the sites in the resort town which Norton indicated
were under threat from commercial developments include the “Big Tree”, Rock
Pool, Rainforest and Islands.
Norton questioned: “What is the agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the so far untouched
islands upstream of the falls itself? Why is there no transparent discussion on
this? Are they up for grabs? Have they been allocated?”
“It is very difficult to understand why there is no
discussion…on the limits of development of the Mosia Tunya world heritage
site.”
He warned that if corrective remedy is not taken, future
generations will blame authorities for ruining the Victoria
Falls.
“I would ask that these points be noted and added to the
minutes and documentation of the State of Conservation report in the interest of truth
and transparency,” Norton underscored.
“If we fail to draw clear lines that offer absolute and
permanent protection to this(site)…then we fail our own children and all future
generations who will visit here.”
...
The Victoria Falls, known
in vernacular as Mosi a Tunya which translates to “the Smoke that thunders,”
attracts over a million visitors annually.
Source: Battle to protect Vic Falls rages (02/02/24)
