tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72860952785518551612024-03-17T14:16:46.157+00:00Victoria Falls Bits and BlogsTourism, conservation and community news from Victoria Falls and the Zambezi Region.VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.comBlogger1170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-79700143417796861082024-02-21T08:19:00.002+00:002024-03-17T08:23:03.659+00:00City of Victoria Falls finalising master plan ahead of June deadline<p class="MsoNormal">Story by Tichaona Kurewa, ZBC News</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE City of <st1:city w:st="on">Victoria
Falls</st1:city> has made significant progress in crafting a
master plan ahead of the 30 June deadline to restore sanity in local
authorities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A master plan being developed through support from the
International Finance Corporation will act as the blueprint for achieving this
vision by addressing key issues like infrastructure development, responsible
tourism practices, environmental protection, and community engagement.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">City of <st1:city w:st="on">Victoria
Falls</st1:city>, Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said, “We have
started all the preliminary works, field studies and so forth, we are done with
that. Currently, the consultant is working on our report of a study which
should be presented to the council in a week or so.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We are going to meet the end of June deadline. The master
plan is important as it is the long-term planning document, which deals with
zoning issues, land uses and many other issues related to how we use our land so
that we come up with development that is well structured.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Experts outlined the importance of the master plan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A lawyer, Mr Tonderai Mutasa said, “The story does not end
with the development of master plans by the local authority, it ends with the
adherence to the master plan. Only compelling reasons must alter land use if
there is to be order in local authorities. Once the master plan is followed, we
will not have problems like illegal settlements within local authorities.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It is important for local authorities to have master plans
to have proper and orderly development. All towns should have master plans to
avoid haphazard development or unplanned settlements within the town. Without
master plans, there will be sprouting of ugly settlements that will also be
good grounds for diseases like cholera, etc,” said the former Mayor of Victoria
Falls City, Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Victoria Falls Master Plan presents a unique opportunity
to unlock the full potential of the resort city in terms of tourism and other
economic activities.</p>
<p> Source: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/?p=20803" target="_blank">City of Victoria Falls finalising master plan ahead of June deadline</a> (20/02/24)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-5634796247344647462023-12-19T13:46:00.004+00:002023-12-19T14:02:51.506+00:00Controversial Project Proposed for Victoria Falls (Zambia)<p><b><i>'Victoria Falls Live Project' proposes 'Charity Concert' from
Livingstone Island on edge of the World Heritage Wonder - Concerns over Impacts
- Sacred Site</i></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">19th December 2023</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Zambian government has announced its support for an event promoted as a 'ground-breaking charity concert for nature' to be staged at the <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place> in 2024.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Concerns have been expressed, however, over the impact of
the proposed event on the fragile environment of the Falls, which is also a sacred
cultural site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRihtXTDv1g7HH1quS3avLpjRQIcfHCLeuluZ9Zq48WzaSTXsS3LDU5PqkjYFYXgv3Rzm9sNcbdDOwGJDN1SgUWOBMEJkHx9ak6BjEYfgyO6G2baYWyXtDBw9RVCE7e4P7YteyfJubb3t-Q0MVdBcBS69Xua72S0aE9fo4V4TBu5TdDUn3JEPjEJoF2Xj/s2048/410794254_371381225560583_7525659609546258359_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Victoria Falls Live Project Visualisation" border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRihtXTDv1g7HH1quS3avLpjRQIcfHCLeuluZ9Zq48WzaSTXsS3LDU5PqkjYFYXgv3Rzm9sNcbdDOwGJDN1SgUWOBMEJkHx9ak6BjEYfgyO6G2baYWyXtDBw9RVCE7e4P7YteyfJubb3t-Q0MVdBcBS69Xua72S0aE9fo4V4TBu5TdDUn3JEPjEJoF2Xj/w400-h225/410794254_371381225560583_7525659609546258359_n.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Live Project Visualisation" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Digital visualisation of the Victoria Falls Live Project </i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Details of the Victoria Falls Live Project were released in media statement from Diamond TV Zambia on social media on Friday 15th December.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"The <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place>, is set to be the stage for a new charity
concert. The <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place> Live Project, a
collaboration between Global Creative Studio Immersive Intl and Agusta Prod. in
partnership with WWF, will unite music, nature & innovation in support of
saving our planet.</i><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"The concert will
feature renowned Zambian, African, and international artists, all coming
together to perform and celebrate the beauty and importance of the surrounding
nature. A unique musical collaboration between Zambian singer-songwriters James
Sakala, Wezi, and Italian composer Giovanni Agusta is set to open the concert.
More artists and acts are being confirmed and will be announced early next
year."<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project involves using <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Livingstone</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>
as the performance stage for a live music event supported by a light and laser
presentation utilising the Falls as a backdrop as illustrated by digitally enhanced promotional images.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrWC-886dlmptXAPGTt-GFUa3ux1YEJorNll8K0bCQcR4XlvC9TSUYmhuxyvJUqwUGXJ7Vqwpz6FMk_0o2uFKI14Jgr_nnImZUGPOhWBLQvsJ2-KGCvydk8KFRRYF136qZ5kc1rAYNwbetPwB-t92PWwnQ-qQ10P3gIRbZ2FdqnCQuLuvEmA4w66GySUn/s2048/410779384_371381265560579_7485572122868210831_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Visualisation of the Victoria Falls Live Project" border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrWC-886dlmptXAPGTt-GFUa3ux1YEJorNll8K0bCQcR4XlvC9TSUYmhuxyvJUqwUGXJ7Vqwpz6FMk_0o2uFKI14Jgr_nnImZUGPOhWBLQvsJ2-KGCvydk8KFRRYF136qZ5kc1rAYNwbetPwB-t92PWwnQ-qQ10P3gIRbZ2FdqnCQuLuvEmA4w66GySUn/w400-h225/410779384_371381265560579_7485572122868210831_n.jpg" title="Visualisation of the Victoria Falls Live Project" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Digital visualisation of the Victoria Falls Live Project</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Presidential Approval</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A promotional feature released online by Diamond TV Zambia
includes an endorsement by President Hakainde Hichilema and interviews with Tommy
Lexen, Managing Director of Immersive International and Italian composer Giovanni
Agusta Director of Agusta Productions. The two men are also jointly named as Directors
of Victoria Falls Project Live Ltd (incorporated in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> on 8
December 2023).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzJWsBulA72fYUs4d9kHcXBAvbDs3AkE8z5XwHxyFvnTHnSTgqaUiQBmYKdwmBqJV6jF8sNnk-9dKRsgEhKiw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Green Clams</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Zambian Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, claimed the
project is a climate focussed charity concert with a call on saving the planet.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>"This concept for
a climate-focused charity concert has come at the right time. We are excited to
invite the world to see our incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, the
captivating <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place>, in a new and truly
unique way,"</i> he said.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The grand claims of raising awareness of climate change,
and involvement of WWF Zambia, appear to be attempts to give thin veneer of 'green'
credibility to the event, which appears in every other aspect to be totally
incompatible with such a sensitive site.</p><p class="MsoNormal">WWF Zambia have confirmed their involvement in the project on social media,
claiming that the Victoria Falls Live Project will be solely a virtual event. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Unsuitable Impacts</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">While there may not be crowds viewing the event, there will
still be significant disturbance within the fragile area of the Victoria Falls
'rainforest,' supposedly protected within National Parks on both sides of the
river.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nocturnal noise and light pollution from the event are
likely to create significant disturbance to local wildlife.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A spokesperson for <b>Keep Victoria Falls Wild</b>, a campaigning
group raising awareness of tourism development pressures and their impacts at
the Falls, commented: <i>"The
authorities of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Zambia</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> appear
determined to drive away all the wildlife, from bushuck and elephants to
hornbills and owls, from Falls and its surroundings. Whilst it appears there is
a total lack of understanding as to the sensitive ecology of the Falls, they no
doubt hope to develop yet more riverside lodges, restaurants and host yet more
events such as the Victoria Falls Live Project. However it is the stunning
natural landscape and amazing local wildlife which attracts visitors from
around the world. They risk loosing not only the World Heritage Site status,
but also undermining the valuable tourism
upon which their local and national economies depend. Not to mention the desecration of a sacred cultural site."</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Limited Benefits<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Details of the proposed event are vague, although it appears there will
only be limited benefits for the local tourism sector with the event being
promoted as a virtual event to be broadcast to a 'global audience.'</p><p class="MsoNormal">While WWF Zambia are supposedly the charity benefactors of
the event, they have limited involvement with the local community or
conservation initiatives. Local Livingstone residents have been left wondering
who will benefit from the event.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sacred Site</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Livingstone</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place> is also sacred
cultural site, the mists below and ever-present rainbow above the Falls being
associated with the ancestor spirits. </p><p class="MsoNormal">On his first visit Livingstone recorded that three islands
at the lip of the Falls were used by the three local Leya chiefs for offerings
to the ‘Barimo,’ but identifies only one of these sites - now known as
Livingstone Island, recording the following in his 'Missionary Travels' on his
first arrival and sight of the Falls from this island on its very edge in 1855.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“At three spots near
these Falls, one of them the island in the middle, on which we were, three
Batoka chiefs offered up prayers and sacrifices to the Barimo. They chose their
places of prayer within the sound of the roar of the cataract, and in sight of
the bright bows in the cloud...</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“The play of colors of
the double iris on the cloud, seen by them elsewhere only as the rainbow, may
have led them to the idea that this was the abode of Deity. Some of the
Makololo... looked upon the same sign with awe. When seen in the heavens it is
named 'motse oa barimo' - the pestle of the gods.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Here they could
approach the emblem, and see it stand steadily above the blustering uproar
below - a type of Him who sits supreme - alone unchangeable, though ruling over
all changing things. But, not aware of His true character, they had no
admiration of the beautiful and good in their bosoms. They did not imitate His
benevolence, for they were a bloody, imperious crew, and Sebituane performed a
noble service in the expulsion from their fastnesses of these cruel 'Lords of
the Isles' [Sekute and the other Leya chiefs]</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>“Having feasted my
eyes long on the beautiful sight, I returned to my friends at Kalai, and saying
to Sekeletu that he had nothing else worth showing in his country, his
curiosity was excited to visit it the next day." (Livingstone, 1857,
p.523-4)<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>World Heritage Site
in Danger?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place> are globally
known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but perhaps not for much longer. Recent tourism developments on both sides of the Falls have
contravened management plans agreed with UNESCO aimed at projecting the
integrity of the Falls environment and resulted in repeated warnings from the
World Heritage Committee.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The construction of the Zambian <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/motnp/mosioatunyaresort.html" target="_blank">Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort</a>,
developed on the edge of the World Heritage Site (and in a recognised wildlife
movement corridor favoured by Livingstone's local elephant herd) caused
widespread negative reaction and resulted in a site visit by UNESCO
representatives in February 2022 to assess the negative impacts of the
development and combined impacts of tourism development pressures across the site,
the report raising serious concerns over the future viability of the World
Heritage Site:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>"The mission also
observed that the property is facing increasing threats from individual and
cumulative infrastructure developments, whose footprints are inside the
property, its buffer zone or in its wider setting... If the proposed and future
developments proceed without the appropriate level of consideration for the
environment in which the property is located and for which it is inscribed, as
well the cumulative impacts from the different individual developments, the OUV
[Outstanding Universal Values] could be considered to be in danger in the near
future."</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Since the visit a wave of further development proposals have
emerged on the Zimbabwean side of the river, including the construction of the
<a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="_blank">Baines Restaurant</a> on the Zimbabwean side of the river, immediately above
the Falls (opened in mid-2023).</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Supporting
Information</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Livingstone island is leased as a tourism concession to
Tongabezi Safaris, operators of Tongabezi Lodge. who operate tours to the
island and opportunity to swim in the pools on the very lip of the Falls, the
'Devil's Pool.' The lodge is currently managed by Green Safaris.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place> was
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. The site is managed by the National
Heritage Conservation Commission (<st1:country-region w:st="on">Zambia</st1:country-region>)
and Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (<st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region>).</p><p class="MsoNormal">Keep Victoria Falls Wild is a campaigning group raising awareness of tourism development pressures and their impacts at the Falls. Visit <a href="http://www.keepvictoriafallswild.com">www.keepvictoriafallswild.com</a> for more information.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Downloads</b></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Keep Victoria Falls Wild (August 2023) <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/2023VFWHSStateOfDevel(Zimbabwe)final.pdf" target="blank" title="Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Final Report">2023
State of Development Final Report</a> (pdf, 7.2mb, opens in a new window)</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">World Heritage Committee (2023) <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/UNESCO2022MissionReport%5bWHC-IUCN-13FEB22%5d.pdf" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls Mission Report, 2023">Final Joint Mission
Report Mosi-oa-Tunya, Victoria Falls (Zambia/ Zimbabwe) 9-13 February 2022</a> (pdf, 3.3 mb, opens in a new window)</p><br /></div>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-35013991725306426242023-10-28T14:10:00.001+01:002024-03-17T14:13:39.328+00:00Overdevelopment threat to future of tourism<p><strong>Leonard Ncube, The Bulawayo Chronicle</strong></p>
<p>VICTORIA Falls City Council has engaged Pantic Architects, an architectural design firm to prepare for the drafting of a 15-year masterplan amid concerns by residents over the over-development of the city, which is a threat to the future of tourism.</p>
<p>Victoria Falls is a Unesco tourism heritage site and the city’s economy is hinged on tourism backed by wildlife and the Mighty Victoria Falls, a world natural wonder.</p>
<p>There are concerns that there has been over-commercialisation and development along the Zambezi River where a number of restaurants and bars have been constructed thereby blocking animal corridors. Residents also blame the prevalent human-wildlife conflict on the over-development of the place as animal corridors have reportedly been invaded by humans. The local authority on Wednesday held a stakeholders’ meeting to update residents on the consultation and survey that the consultant is set to carry out as the process of crafting the master plan begins.</p>
<p>Residents warned that tourism may be negatively impacted in the next decade if animal corridors are not respected. The local authority is jointly funding the exercise with the World Bank, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which was represented by Ms Emmie Parirenyatwa at the meeting.</p>
<p>Speaking at the same meeting, acting Town Clerk Ms Kholani Mangena said the masterplan will guide the growth of the city, especially in infrastructure development and co-ordination with other institutions such as Government departments.</p>
<p>She said the masterplan will also provide guidance when it comes to decisions on land use development and environmental preservation.</p>
<p>“The masterplan will outline future building projects, break down budget requirements, and assist in securing and allocating funds. As such this is a futuristic document that creates a roadmap to the envisioned outlook of Victoria Falls,” said Ms Mangena.</p>
<p>She said when developing a masterplan, there should be community engagement gathering and analysis of relevant data, recommendations, and proposals for the city’s population, economy, housing, transportation, and community facilities. Ms Mangena said stakeholder engagement marks the start of the process of crafting the document which is central to all other development plans in the local authority including the city’s five-year development strategy.</p>
<p>The council masterplan seeks to expand the city’s development zone to a radius of 30km, which will create the need for collaboration with neighbouring local authorities such as Hwange Rural District Council and the upcoming Masuwe City. Residents said the council should be cognisant of the need to preserve the environment in its natural state. “We have a challenge with organisations such as Zimparks and the National Railways of Zimbabwe since they own vast tracts of land, and they are haphazardly building on animal corridors without consultations,” said Mr Trymore Ndolo, a resident.</p>
<p>“Victoria Falls is what it is because of the Rainforest, the Falls and wildlife hence it is important to consider that when planning.”</p>
<p>Former councillor, Mr John Sianaka noted that Victoria Falls is slowly losing its status as a wildlife heritage site.</p>
<p>“What we have seen lately is that Zimparks and NRZ are not co-ordinating with other stakeholders. There are no more animal corridors and with the developments that are happening it’s like we are literally saying we don’t want tourism anymore because in the next 10 years, there won’t be animals to talk about,” he said.</p>
<p>Mr Sianaka said there is a need to balance between economic growth and a sustainable environment. Another resident implored the local authority to invest in recycling as it implements the masterplan. He said the local authority should make sure that the master plan speaks to SDGs.</p>
<p>“We must be reminded that Victoria Falls is a tourist destination where tourists come to view animals and the Falls. The whole river-front has been blocked by buildings and animals have nowhere to drink water from,” said the resident.</p>
<p>Matabeleland North provincial planning officer in the Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Mr Raymond Nyandoro said the masterplan will not change the city’s boundaries. He said it will only ensure there is maximum use of land within its jurisdiction. Mr Nyandoro said the document will help prevent the haphazard development of infrastructure in the city.</p>
<p>“All departments should come together and the final document should speak to the combined aspirations of the people of Victoria Falls and the environment that will be included.</p>
<p>So, co-ordination is definitely a function of this tool and it’s a legal tool and anything against it is ultra vires where people be charged for going against provisions of the masterplan,” he said.</p>
<p>Ms Innocencia Tigere, a town planner from Pantic Architects, said consultations will target a cross section of the community. -@ncubeleon</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/overdevelopment-threat-to-future-of-tourism/" target="_blank">Overdevelopment threat to future of tourism</a> (27/10/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-2913732912982260872023-10-23T09:29:00.006+01:002023-10-24T09:35:21.962+01:00UNESCO denies Zim Minister's Claim of Approval for Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme<p>UNESCO have denied reports in the Zimbabwe national press that it has given approval to the controversial Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme (BGHES).</p><p>Zimbabwean Energy and Power Development Minister, Edgar Moyo, claimed in news reports published last week that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) gave approval to the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme at its recent 45th Session. </p>
<p><em>“From our Zimbabwean and Zambian side, we were together saying there would be no environmental impact to the extent that the heritage status of the area around the gorge would be affected. What then emerged was that we are now in agreement with UNESCO and all other stakeholders along the Zambezi that the project has to go ahead.”</em> (<a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/batoka-power-project-hurdles-cleared" target="blank" title="Batoka power project hurdles cleared">Sunday Mail, 15th October 2023</a>)</p>
<p>His comments were quickly supported by the Chief Executive officer of the Zambezi River Authority, Munyaradzi Munodawafa, who stated that UNESCO had <em>“looked at the reports and our presentations and agreed that Batoka could go ahead... </em><em>Now we are good to go. We are on solid ground and by the end of next month, I will have an actual date of commencement.”</em> (<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/un-agency-clears-us5bn-batoka-gorge-power-project/" target="blank" title="UN agency clears US$5bn Batoka Gorge power project">The Herald, 19th October 2023</a>)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/batokaplan.png" target="blank" title="Batoka Gorge"><img align="bottom" alt="Batoka Gorge" border="2" hspace="5" src="http://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/batokaplan.png" title="Batoka Gorge" vspace="5" width="400" /></a>
</p>
<p>UNESCO, however, were quick to dismiss the reports.</p>
<p><em>"UNESCO’s response to these claims emphasized serious concerns about the Batoka Gorge project, particularly the unavoidable adverse effects it could have on the designated World Heritage Site... The committee not only recommended a re-evaluation of the environmental and social impact assessment of the planned dam but also called for a reduction in the height of the proposed dam wall. Moreover, it expressed disapproval regarding the construction of a new hotel within the site, which was carried out despite UNESCO’s request for the suspension of such activities. A revised study on the planned dam’s impact must be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the International Union for Conservation of Nature before any further decisions can be made."</em> (<a href="https://bnn.network/world/zimbabwe/unesco-denies-clearance-for-5-billion-zambezi-dam-project-near-victoria-falls/" target="blank" title="UNESCO Denies Clearance for $5 Billion Zambezi Dam Project Near Victoria Falls">BNN, 19th October 2023</a>)</p>
<p>The clarification from UNESCO has yet to be reported in the Zimbabwe press which originally published the claims of approval for the scheme.</p><p>The false claims of approval follow the recent 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee, where South Africa proposed amendments to the Committee's draft decision text regarding the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, effectively diluting the Committee's response to the proposed BGHES and undermining the recommendations from the recent Reactive Monitoring Mission to the site, conducted in early 2022. Both South Africa and Zambia are currently members of the Committee (although their terms expire in November this year).</p><p>Read more - <a href="https://vicfallsbitsnblogs.blogspot.com/2023/09/world-heritage-committee-dilutes.html" target="_blank">World Heritage Committee Dilutes Reaction to Batoka Gorge HydroElectric Scheme</a> (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, 27th September 2023).</p><p>Read more on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/batokagorgehes.html" target="_blank">Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme</a> on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild</a> website.</p>
<p><b>Links</b></p><p>Sunday Mail, <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/batoka-power-project-hurdles-cleared" target="blank" title="Batoka power project hurdles cleared">Batoka power project hurdles cleared</a>, 15th October. [External link, opens in new window.]</p>
<p>The Herald, <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/un-agency-clears-us5bn-batoka-gorge-power-project/" target="blank" title="UN agency clears US$5bn Batoka Gorge power project">UN agency clears US$5bn Batoka Gorge power project</a>, 19th October. [External link, opens in new window.]</p>
<p>BNN, <a href="https://bnn.network/world/zimbabwe/unesco-denies-clearance-for-5-billion-zambezi-dam-project-near-victoria-falls/" target="blank" title="BUNESCO Denies Clearance for $5 Billion Zambezi Dam Project Near Victoria Falls">UNESCO Denies Clearance for $5 Billion Zambezi Dam Project Near Victoria Falls</a>, 19th October. [External link, opens in new window.]</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-40627560169505012412023-10-19T08:43:00.007+01:002023-10-21T11:01:04.441+01:00Yet Another New Hotel Development for Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)<p>A NEW upmarket hotel is on the cards in Victoria Falls as the prime tourism destination continues to attract increased investments in new facilities under the Second Republic.</p>
<p>Property investment company, Mashonaland Holdings, with interests in health, retail and commercial, is spearheading the project after securing a 1,4-ha piece of land near an existing big hotel facility.</p>
<p>Mashonaland Holdings has partnered with Time Hotels, an international premier collection of United Arab Emirates modern and stylish hotels, that visited Victoria Falls last year to scout for investment opportunities.</p>
<p>Addressing tourism stakeholders and buyers at the Zimbabwe Investment Forum that was organised by ZTA as a side event to the recent Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo, Mashonaland Holdings chief finance officer, Mr Kudakwashe Musundire, said concept designs are being done and this will clarify the total investment that will be put into the project which is expected to start in a few months.</p>
<p>Mashonaland Holdings has completed building a US$3 million 20-bed hospital in Milton Park, Harare in partnership with a health service provider. The project is 98 percent complete and plans are underway to start operating in the next few weeks or months, according to Mr Musundire.</p>
<p>Mashonaland Holdings is also into housing projects and looking at opportunities to partner with different local authorities in the country.</p>
<p>“As Mashonaland Holdings we are super excited to be part of the tourism sector in Zimbabwe. We have got a number of projects that we are at the moment working on, some of them not directly related to the tourism sector,” said Mr Musundire.</p>
<p>The hotel will be strategically located to give a view of the Victoria Falls waterfall and Zambezi River from the facility. </p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/new-hotel-for-victoria-falls/" target="_blank">New hotel for Victoria Falls</a> (18/10/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-76783397199827096152023-09-27T09:32:00.019+01:002023-09-27T10:50:52.839+01:00World Heritage Committee Dilutes Reaction to Batoka Gorge HydroElectric Scheme<p align="center" class="ParagraphText" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Keep <st1:place w:st="on">Victoria Falls</st1:place> Wild,
27th September 2023</span></p><p class="MsoSubtitle"><span><i><b>- <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> successfully propose amendments diluting Committee decision</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoSubtitle"><span><i><b>- Committee diverted from recommendations of Reactive Monitoring <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mission</st1:place></st1:city></b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">The World Heritage Committee at its 45th Conference
Session, held at Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over 10th-25th September
2023, turned its attention to issues affecting the Victoria Falls World
Heritage Site (VFWHS) in a discussion held on 13th September (available to view
on the UNESCO World Heritage website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/45COM/records/?day=2023-09-13#tFdgLuGvIViU0">here</a></span>
(1:52:10 to 2:33:25)). </p>
<p class="ParagraphText">Members of the Committee discussed the draft decision
text prepared by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN (UNESCO, July 2023) and
amendments to the text which were proposed by the South African delegation
(UNESCO, August 2023). Both <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
are currently members of the Committee.</p>
<p class="ParagraphText">The Committee’s concerns mainly focussed on the proposed Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES), jointly proposed by the State Parties of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and potential impacts of the project on the Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) of the VFWHS, which includes a section of the gorges extending some 12 km downstream as well as the Falls themselves and a section the river extending some 15 km upstream.</p><p class="ParagraphText"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEhNZh_2e_5PEP4YdPuPtAK8LqyFUiBD-iVtIle6AzxuRENiY2dgahRct_dnvNtFyg-2C77SFmla7b3nNAIzCm3n5gUViBkG5lt0685SKrsh9YTjYQDWADiSymNq-zpk6_buCdoVuNezxmLDNaJIlz0oEJEZWK3fWpa8L5buMVyxbzgkgYMya4wj3TzYW/s1173/bghes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1173" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEhNZh_2e_5PEP4YdPuPtAK8LqyFUiBD-iVtIle6AzxuRENiY2dgahRct_dnvNtFyg-2C77SFmla7b3nNAIzCm3n5gUViBkG5lt0685SKrsh9YTjYQDWADiSymNq-zpk6_buCdoVuNezxmLDNaJIlz0oEJEZWK3fWpa8L5buMVyxbzgkgYMya4wj3TzYW/w400-h289/bghes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="ParagraphQuote" style="text-align: center;">Map showing flooding of the Batoka Gorge from the proposed <br />Hydro-Electric Scheme (click for larger view)</p><p class="ParagraphQuote" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="ParagraphQuote">Before the Committee debated the proposed amendments,
the World Heritage Centre Secretariat presented an opening statement
highlighting direct threats to the Site from the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric
Scheme (BGHES).</p>
<p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>“On the issue of the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme
which is referred in paragraph 4 - we would like to note that following review
of the documentations from the State Parties, the WHC and IUCN have assessed
that the reservoir area of the electric scheme will extend approximately 10.75
km into the property at full supply level which at deepest point will increase
the water level in the property by around 43 m. During the dry season it is
reported that the reservoir level<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will
be lowered, which will reduced the flooded area by 5 km. This means that during
the dry season still 5.75 km of the gorge inside the property will remain with
the higher water level.</i></p>
<p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>“The project will therefore alter the unique gorge
ecosystem and water flow and could potentially impact on the ecological values
of the property as defined in its statement of OUV.</i></p>
<p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>“The World Heritage Centre therefore considers that the
property should not proceed as currently proposed but should be further revised
together with the Environmental Impact Assessment to assess alternative project
designs that would avoid these impacts on the property and include a
comprehensive ecological assessment of the gorge ecosystem.”</i></p><p class="ParagraphQuote">In their statement on their proposed amendments the
representative for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> informed the Committee:</p>
<p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>“The State Party of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zambia</st1:place></st1:country-region> has taken utmost care to
avoid any possible impacts on the OUV through the selection of an alternative
that has no likelihood of undermining the integrity of the site. The chosen
alternative clearly shows the tail of the backflow of the reservoir waters will
only be located in gorges, with a potential water level rise of only 25%
maximum, and as such no flooding of the gorges. And therefore no negative
impact on the attributes of the OUV.”</i></p>
<p class="ParagraphText">The statement appears to contradict itself by saying the
backflow will include the gorges (within the WHS) but that there will be <i>“no
flooding of the gorges,”</i> and the claimed <i>“potential water level rise of
only 25% maximum”</i> appears to make limited sense without further context. </p><p class="ParagraphText">The representative from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region> also encouraged the Committee
to support the project.</p><p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>"The establishment of the BGHES will contribute to
the partial fulfilment of the national obligations under the <st1:city w:st="on">Paris</st1:city> agreement following
the UN... COP decision to encourage third parties to promote clean energy
production whilst reducing and eventually eliminating fossil fuels that are exacerbating
climate change and have negative and significant implications on the hydrology
of the <st1:place w:st="on">Zambezi</st1:place> river.</i></p><p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>"At present the average of 50 percent of our
populations both in Zambia and Zimbabwe lack access to electricity, and ...the
investment in clean energy is necessary, and in joint efforts... our governments remain committed to
religiously implement recommendations of the E S I A prepared for this project.</i></p><p class="ParagraphText">
</p><p class="ParagraphQuote"><i>"Given these submissions, Chair, together with
Zambia we pledge to continue preserving the integrity of the property whilst
ensuring that livelihoods surrounding communities are enhanced through
sustainably designed programmes and ensuring that the ecosystems inhabited are
preserved to protect the OUV of the property."</i></p>
<p class="ParagraphText">The Committee then discussed and considered the various
amendments, with the Japanese delegates, in particular, raising concerns over
the shift of emphasis away from the request for a comprehensive ecological
assessment of the project’s impact on gorge ecosystem environment, instead
placing the emphasis on a geomorphological and/or geological assessment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv44CupxNPsVSUw8l9ZSCU68FjQrB-ddnV_PCe1jX436MBxv1sVl8EnourPCM2qZym5EPODSgOKST0XVLz8gCoCraFC0qjtiiyDOQRNVZbjIHQFWTY6wrR2ZnWgbHWvalrHARNIau_Y3YnsnQW8IycsOeLMIfIcu7qcdsl-HOgoB3y4zU3r1VSxD5BflA6/s2544/batokagorgemosaic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="2544" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv44CupxNPsVSUw8l9ZSCU68FjQrB-ddnV_PCe1jX436MBxv1sVl8EnourPCM2qZym5EPODSgOKST0XVLz8gCoCraFC0qjtiiyDOQRNVZbjIHQFWTY6wrR2ZnWgbHWvalrHARNIau_Y3YnsnQW8IycsOeLMIfIcu7qcdsl-HOgoB3y4zU3r1VSxD5BflA6/w400-h201/batokagorgemosaic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Google satellite image of the Batoka Gorge (click for larger view)</div></span><p class="ParagraphText"><br /></p>
<p class="ParagraphText">A detailed ecological study of the gorge ecosystems is
essential if the impacts of this development are to be understood. For example
the fish communities of the middle Zambezi River system reflect not only the
fast-flowing rapids of the gorge system but also a complex regional
geomorphological history of major river course changes and river captures, with
the Victoria Falls acting as a geographical barrier to the movement of fish and
resulting in geographically isolated fish communities downstream of the Falls.
Geomorphological evidence has resulted in several theories on the time-scales
in the evolution of the Falls and gorge system and the study of comparative
fish faunas and species clines has helped refine these theories (Kramer and Van
der Bank, 2011). There is still potentially much more that can be learned from
the study of the unique fish communities of the Batoka Gorge before they are
lost under the waters of the BGHES.</p>
<p class="ParagraphText">It should be noted that the gorge systems of the middle
Zambezi downstream are already significantly affected by the Kariba Dam, and
that the BGHES will not only affect the natural river-flow above the dam, but
also downstream, effectively modifying the remaining natural sections of the
gorge environments. An alternative location, in the Devil’s Gorge, downstream
from the Batoka Gorge and above Kariba, would at least leave the Batoka Gorge
as a last natural example of the once extensive gorge ecosystems.</p>
<p class="ParagraphText">Despite the issues raised in the joint World Heritage
Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission report, opening statements from the
World Heritage Centre and IUCN and concerns raised by the Japanese delegation,
the Committee adopted the amendments suggested by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>. The amendments removed a specific request <i>“to assess alternative project designs that will not impact the OUV.”</i></p>
<p class="ParagraphText">The amendments effectively remove all the recommendations
resulting from the Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Site, undertaken in February
2022 (UNESCO, June 2023), undermining efforts of their own advisory bodies to
improve the protection of the Site.</p>
<p class="ParagraphText"><b>References</b></p>
<p class="ParagraphText">Kramera and Van der Bank (2011) The Victoria Falls, a species
boundary for the Zambezi Parrotfish, <i>Cyphomyrus discorhynchus</i> (Peters,
1852), and the resurrection of <i>Cyphomyrus cubangoensis</i> (Pellegrin,
1936). Journal of Natural History, Vol.45, Nos.43-44, November 2011, 2669–2699.
[Available to download from the KVFW website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/Kramer&VanderBank(2011)TheVictoriaFallsaspeciesboundary.pdf">here</a></span>.]</p>
<p class="Reftext">UNESCO (June 2023) Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Reactive
Monitoring <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mission</st1:place></st1:city>
(February 2022) Final Report. [Available to download from the UNESCO World
Heritage website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/document/200278">here</a></span>.]</p>
<p class="Reftext">UNESCO (July 2023) Item 7B of the Provisional Agenda: State of
conservation of properties inscribed on the of World Heritage List
(WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add). [Available to download from the UNESCO World Heritage
website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf">here</a></span>.]</p>
<p class="Reftext">UNESCO (August 2023) 7B Amendment/Proposal 45 COM 7B.10
Submitted by the Delegation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South
Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region>, 26th August. [Available to download
from the UNESCO World Heritage website <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://whc.unesco.org/document/201244">here</a></span> (direct
download).]</p><p class="Reftext"><b>Further Information</b></p><p class="Reftext">Read more on the background to the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/batokagorgehes.html" target="_blank">Batoka Gorge HydroElectric Scheme</a> on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild</a> website.</p><p class="Reftext"><br /></p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-58963709641561124182023-09-01T11:30:00.007+01:002023-09-02T09:44:09.381+01:00New Report raises questions over management of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site<p>(1st September 2023)</p><p>A new independent report raises serious questions over the management of Victoria Falls World Heritage Site in advance of the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee, to be held 10-25th September 2023. The <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/2023VFWHSStateOfDevel(Zimbabwe)final.pdf" target="blank" title="Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Report">2023 State of Development Report</a> (7.2mb) has been commissioned by <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild</a>, a group of concerned residents and individuals who are campaigning against a wave of proposed tourism developments which threaten the southern (Zimbabwean) side of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (VFWHS).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6He8hGsae2pAh6wUtlqL_CtY1eWZ_PNr5BNiHtqKRbx6TLlKkwo7zOLsxKR1-4dHdCe-8084mHR7e0m9amSmLTwp3WfeLYNYflx-lDpjRCpjMGLU8mUWBQcTOu0S-BF_7hbY9a2ZD2udSQcFnc9HuXIIp8XtpWLD0q2Th4WykFP7xJ7VzgOMoUptMmEW/s1024/bainesrestfullmoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6He8hGsae2pAh6wUtlqL_CtY1eWZ_PNr5BNiHtqKRbx6TLlKkwo7zOLsxKR1-4dHdCe-8084mHR7e0m9amSmLTwp3WfeLYNYflx-lDpjRCpjMGLU8mUWBQcTOu0S-BF_7hbY9a2ZD2udSQcFnc9HuXIIp8XtpWLD0q2Th4WykFP7xJ7VzgOMoUptMmEW/w400-h300/bainesrestfullmoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lights from the newly constructed Baines Restaurant intrude over the view of </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the </i><i>Devil's Cataract </i><i>in a picture taken at night on a special tour </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to experience the lunar rainbow</i></div><p>The report raises widespread and serious concerns over the management of the Site, with conservation priorities ignored, concerns over the rapidly increasing number of tourism concessions within the area of the WHS, new concerns over the identification or the Site’s boundary, and significant and serious concerns over the boundary of management zones within the Site - with implications for recent developments within the Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone (HESZ) which prevents the development of any new infrastructure (including a new National Park development, the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/zambezidrive.html#rockpool" title="the rock pool">'rock pool'</a>, and the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a>, immediately above the Falls).</p>
<p><i>"We believe the combined mismanagement and increasing tourism development pressures highlighted over the last few years raise serious concerns over the future viability of the World Heritage Site with serious negative impacts on the Site’s Outstanding Universal Values already caused by recent developments along Zambezi Drive ... The management of Site is in urgent need of detailed review and increasing scrutiny is needed to monitor and mitigate the negative impacts and pressures affecting the Site - and in which the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority appear themselves to be complicit by authorising and agreeing concession licenses within the HESZ. Failure to react strongly to the current wave of developments which threaten the Site will be seen as a green light to the State Parties to continue the commercial development, and ecological degradation, of the Site</i><i>."</i></p>
<p><b>UNESCO World Heritage Committee 45th Session (10-25 September 2023)</b></p>
<p>The report concludes by responding to the recent World Heritage Committee draft documents, published in advance of the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in September 2023, calling the current text inadequate to address the serious and urgent problems facing the Site, especially in relation to developments which have already been authorised by Park Authorities on the southern, Zimbabwean, side of the property. The wording of draft decision for Victoria Falls point 5 reads:</p>
<p><em>“5. Reiterates its concern over the increasing pressure from tourism infrastructure within and around the property, exacerbated by the absence of strategic planning and also requests the States Parties to produce a blueprint for infrastructure development in and around the property that ensures the protection of the property’s OUV, and to not approve any further developments until the blueprint is finalized and submitted to the World Heritage Centre, together with an impact assessment for each proposed project in accordance with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, prior to taking any decision that is difficult to reverse;”</em> (<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="_blank">World Heritage Committee, 2023, p.19</a>)</p>
<p>The wording of the current draft request for the ‘blueprint’ overview appears to do nothing in terms of addressing the current wave of unsuitable developments within the WHS HESZ and which have already been authorised and agreed between the Zimbabwean National Park Authority and private tourism operators. The report continues:</p><p><i>"After the delays faced by the monitoring mission to the Site, originally requested in 2019 and only undertaken in February 2022, and the subsequent delays in the dates for the 45th Session, there is an urgent and pressing need for the Committee to further investigate and consider its response to the State Parties, and <strong>we urge the Committee to request an urgent review of all current development proposals within the World Heritage Site and surrounding Buffer Zone, and <u>request that all current as well as further/future developments are immediately suspended</u> pending submission and agreement of the detailed ‘blueprint’ and ESIA documents requested by the Committee.</strong></i></p>
<p><i>"We further believe that the requested suspension on all new tourism developments and activities within the WHS should be maintained until an adequate (and IUCN/UNESCO approved) management plan for the Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks is in place and a new Joint Integrated Management Plan for the Site agreed, including addressing the management of the transport corridor and other areas within the WHS and surrounding Buffer Zone which are outside of National Park control an ignored in current reports presented by State Parties to UNESCO."</i></p>
<p>The report highlights that the World Heritage Committee has already missed the opportunity to influence some of these developments, which are now already completed and operational (including the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/motnp/mosioatunyaresort.html" target="blank" title="Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Development">Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort</a> in Zambia, opened in December 2022, and <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a> in Zimbabwe, opened in mid-2023), and risks that others which are in advanced stages of planning and preparation (for example the <a href="victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversidetreelodge.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Tree Lodge Development">riverside 'tree lodge'</a> development in Zimbabwe among many others) will be completed before it has time to consider them. </p><p>The report concludes:</p>
<p><i>"The Committee must act now to influence these developments and put a stop to the continued degradation and fragmentation of the Site. A clear response to the two already constructed and operational developments is also needed from the Committee."</i></p>
<p><b>Read More</b></p>
<p>Download the Keep Victoria Falls Wild <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/2023VFWHSStateOfDevel(Zimbabwe)final.pdf" target="blank" title="Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Report">2023 State of Development Report</a> (7.2mb) for more details on the extensive tourism development pressures facing the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.</p>
<p>Read more on all these issues and developments on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild website</a>, including the history of the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/motnp/mosioatunyaresort.html" target="blank" title="Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Development">Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort</a> and <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a> developments.</p>
<p>Follow our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067976464684" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild</a> for latest news and updates.</p>
<p>Please sign the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/zimparks-and-methi-zimbabwe-keep-victoria-falls-wild" target="_blank">online petition</a> against the current wave of tourism development proposals which threaten the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.</p>
<p><b>References</b></p>
<p>UNESCO (2023) Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Reactive Monitoring Mission (February 2022) Final Report. [Available to download from the UNESCO World Heritage website <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509/documents/" target="_blank">here</a>.]</p><p>World Heritage Committee (2023) Item 7B of the Provisional Agenda: State of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="blank" title="WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd">WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd</a>) p.16-9.</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-32797597215927903202023-08-31T14:19:00.029+01:002023-09-02T09:45:40.010+01:00Is the World Heritage Committee kicking the can down the road while looking the other way?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(31st August 2023) <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I1NkvsRIFGQk0mC9cEG0GAyeWNGv_ILBKgFPO9bPx3x1Sug0gDy11oDDQvzxny0Bk4MkrsXRMNb7YbrPZXxBZNkDAFPgsaFsThjBlLc_iS9OxC4sKGUKKIES9WcD36ANXxXAvUnqg80Tz0iL9Zd0-jnyY9JmLB8fGfoAAw3S6A6dJX0YdzRSZCoe93WJ/s822/unesco2022missrep.jpg" style="display: block; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I1NkvsRIFGQk0mC9cEG0GAyeWNGv_ILBKgFPO9bPx3x1Sug0gDy11oDDQvzxny0Bk4MkrsXRMNb7YbrPZXxBZNkDAFPgsaFsThjBlLc_iS9OxC4sKGUKKIES9WcD36ANXxXAvUnqg80Tz0iL9Zd0-jnyY9JmLB8fGfoAAw3S6A6dJX0YdzRSZCoe93WJ/s822/unesco2022missrep.jpg" style="display: block; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="822" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I1NkvsRIFGQk0mC9cEG0GAyeWNGv_ILBKgFPO9bPx3x1Sug0gDy11oDDQvzxny0Bk4MkrsXRMNb7YbrPZXxBZNkDAFPgsaFsThjBlLc_iS9OxC4sKGUKKIES9WcD36ANXxXAvUnqg80Tz0iL9Zd0-jnyY9JmLB8fGfoAAw3S6A6dJX0YdzRSZCoe93WJ/w400-h272/unesco2022missrep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (UNESCO, 2023)</i></p><p>The World Heritage Committee have released the provisional agenda and draft documents relating to their forthcoming 45th Session to be held at Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over 10th-25th September 2023. The documents are available online on the UNESCO website <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/45COM/documents" target="blank" title="World Heritage Committee 45th Session 2023">here</a>.</p><p>Among the reports is an update on the State of Conservation for the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="blank" title="WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd">WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd</a>, pages 16-19 - we've pulled the text from this rather lengthy document into a separate pdf available to download <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/WHC-23-45-COM-7BAddp16-9.pdf" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls State of Conservation update 2023">here</a>).</p>
<p>The update includes the following information relating to the development of new tourism facilities within the Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone (HESZ) of the Site, and which prevents all new infrastructure developments in these areas.</p>
<p><em>"In a letter dated 14 March 2023, the World Heritage Centre transmitted to the State Party of Zimbabwe, for comments, third-party information reporting the issuing of a permit for two commercial sites for tourism developments within areas of the property that are recognized as highly sensitive zones according to the JIMP </em>[Joint Integrated Management Plan]<em>. No response has been received from the State Party at the time of writing this report."</em><em> </em>(<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="_blank">World Heritage Committee, 2023, p.17</a>)</p>
<p>The Committee appear to have therefore regrettably missed an opportunity to ensure a response to this issue in time for their 45th Session.</p>
<p>The update continues:</p>
<p><em>"The property continues to face serious threats from individual and cumulative infrastructure developments within the property, its buffer zone and its wider setting... Contrary to the Committee’s request to the State Party of Zambia to halt the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel development, construction has continued, and the 2022 Reactive Monitoring mission identified numerous shortfalls and non-compliance with World Heritage status, the JIMP, and the State Party’s own legal regulations. Other proposed developments in the property and its buffer zone have not been assessed as to their cumulative impacts on the OUV </em>[Outstanding Universal Values]<em>, in response to which the mission has recommended the States Parties produce a blueprint to guide strategic level planning. It should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre, together with the individual ESIAs </em>[Environmental and Social Impact Assessments]<em> of the developments proposed for approval, prior to authorizing any further projects." </em>(<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="_blank">World Heritage Committee, 2023, p.17-8</a>)</p>
<p>The update concludes by requesting a revised State of Conservation Report to be presented to the Committee by 1 February 2024 in advance of the Committee's 46th Session to be held later that year.</p>
<p>We believe the combined mismanagement and increasing tourism development pressures highlighted over the last few years raise serious concerns over the future viability of the World Heritage Site with serious negative impacts on the Site’s Outstanding Universal Values already caused by recent developments along Zambezi Drive (the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/zambezidrive.html#rockpool" target="blank" title="the rock pool">'rock pool'</a> and <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a>). While by the Committee’s own admission the monitoring mission <i>“identified numerous shortfalls and non-compliance with World Heritage status”</i> (World Heritage Committee, 2023) it appears that the Committee is now itself in danger of not acting sufficiently to address these concerns.</p>
<p>The management of Site is in urgent need of detailed review and increasing scrutiny is needed to monitor and mitigate the negative impacts and pressures affecting the Site - and in which the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority appear themselves to be complicit in authorising and agreeing concession licenses within the HESZ. Failure to react strongly to the current wave of developments which threaten the Site will be seen as a green light to the State Parties to continue the commercial development, and ecological degradation, of the Site.</p><p><b>Draft Decision</b></p><p>We believe the Committee’s draft decisions, published in advance of the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in September 2023 are inadequate to address the serious and urgent problems facing the Site from developments which have already been authorised by Park Authorities, especially on the southern, Zimbabwean, side of the property. The wording of decision point 5 is particularly concerning:</p>
<p><em>“5. Reiterates its concern over the increasing pressure from tourism infrastructure within and around the property, exacerbated by the absence of strategic planning and also requests the States Parties to produce a blueprint for infrastructure development in and around the property that ensures the protection of the property’s OUV, and to not approve any further developments until the blueprint is finalized and submitted to the World Heritage Centre, together with an impact assessment for each proposed project in accordance with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, prior to taking any decision that is difficult to reverse;”</em> (<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="_blank">World Heritage Committee, 2023, p.19</a>)</p>
<p>The wording of the current draft request for the ‘blueprint’ overview <em>“together with the individual ESIAs of the developments proposed for approval, prior to authorizing any further projects”</em> appears to do nothing in terms of addressing the current wave of unsuitable developments within the WHS HESZ and identified in this report, which have already been authorised and agreed between the Zimbabwean National Park Authority and private tourism operators. </p>
<p>After the delays faced by the monitoring mission to the Site, originally requested in 2019 and only undertaken in February 2022, and the subsequent delays in the dates for the 45th Session, there is an urgent and pressing need for the Committee to further investigate and consider its response to the State Parties, and <strong>we urge the Committee to request an urgent review of all current development proposals within the World Heritage Site and surrounding Buffer Zone, and <u>request that all current as well as further/future developments are immediately suspended</u> pending submission and agreement of the detailed ‘blueprint’ and ESIA documents requested by the Committee.</strong> </p>
<p>We further believe that the requested suspension on all new tourism developments and activities within the WHS should be maintained until an adequate (and IUCN/UNESCO approved) management plan for the Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks is in place and a new Joint Integrated Management Plan for the Site agreed, including addressing the management of the transport corridor and other areas within the WHS and surrounding Buffer Zone which are outside of National Park control an ignored in current reports.</p>
<p>It should be noted the Committee has already missed the opportunity to influence some of these developments, which are now already completed and operational (including the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/motnp/mosioatunyaresort.html" target="blank" title="Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Development">Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort</a> in Zambia, opened in December 2022, and <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a> in Zimbabwe, opened in mid-2023), and risks that others which are in advanced stages of planning and preparation (for example the <a href="victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversidetreelodge.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Tree Lodge Development">riverside 'tree lodge'</a> development in Zimbabwe among many others) will be completed before it has time to consider them. </p>
<p>The Committee must act now to influence these developments and put a stop to the continued degradation and fragmentation of the Site. A clear response to the two already constructed and operational developments is also needed from the Committee.</p><p><b>Wider Picture</b></p><p>The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site is not alone in being ignored by the World Heritage Committee. Out of eight sites which received monitoring missions during 2022 and 2023 (four of which were in Africa), none have made the draft agenda for discussion. So far only eight sites (including the Okavango Delta, Botswana) have been 'opened' for discussion during the 15 day conference, although there is a long list of sites with many serious issues urgently needing the attention of the Committee - including the flagship sites such as the Acropolis of Athens (Greece), Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania), Historic Cairo (Egypt), Stonehenge (England) and the Doñana National Park (Spain).</p>
<p><b>More</b></p><p>Please sign the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/zimparks-and-methi-zimbabwe-keep-victoria-falls-wild" target="_blank">online petition</a> against the current wave of tourism development proposals which threaten the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.</p><p>Download the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/WHW-Report-2023.pdf" target="_blank">2023 World Heritage Watch Report</a> for more information and background on World Heritage Sites under threat.</p><div>Read more on all these issues and developments on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild website</a>, including the history of the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/motnp/mosioatunyaresort.html" target="blank" title="Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort Development">Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort</a> and <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">Baines Restaurant</a> developments.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Follow our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067976464684" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild </a>for latest news and updates.</div></div><p><b>References</b></p>
<p>UNESCO (2023) Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls Reactive Monitoring Mission (February 2022) Final Report. [Available to download from the UNESCO World Heritage website <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509/documents/" target="_blank">here</a>.]</p><p>World Heritage Committee (2023) Item 7B of the Provisional Agenda: State of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/archive/2023/whc23-45com-7B.Add-en.pdf" target="blank" title="WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd">WHC.23.45.COM.7BAdd</a>) p.16-9.</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-88232642354207434872023-08-04T07:10:00.001+01:002023-09-17T07:12:29.434+01:00Vic Falls cements status as top natural wonder<p> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VICTORIA FALLS</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">,</span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (CAJ News)</em><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> – THE Victoria Falls is among the top three must visit natural wonders in the world.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is according to rankings by Titan Travel.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the travel agency, “Vic Falls” is only behind Arches National Park in Utah, United States which is the most popular site and natural wonder of the world, with an overall wonder score of 8,29 out of 10, and the Iguazu Falls, on the border between Argentina and Brazil, second with an overall wonder score of 8,19.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“In third place as one of the best natural wonders of the world is Victoria Falls, with an overall wonder score of 8,14 out of 10,” Titan Travel stated.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The waterfall forms an awe-inspiring natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, scoring highest for its number of Google searches, with more than 2.5 million over the last 12 months,” read part of the findings.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Farai Chimba, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president, said this was a huge achievement for the country’s top destination.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There is a need for tourism operators to up the game and have activities and services that match the standards set by the natural wonder,” Chimba said.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Named a World Heritage Site in 1989, Victoria Falls is the country’s biggest tourist drawcard.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is one of Southern Africa’s most important tourism resources and one of the main revenue generators for Zambia and Zimbabwe.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stretching 1 708m wide and dropping 99m at its highest point, it is officially one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Behind Victoria Falls in the Titan Travel rankings include fourth- placed Grand Canyon of America in the US (7,91).</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Table Mountain (7,67) in South Africa is fifth.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Other natural wonders in the list top ten are Matterhorn of Switzerland, Mount Everest in Nepal, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, Angel Falls in Venezuela and Milford South in New Zealand.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lake Nakuru in Kenya has the ignominy of being ranked the world’s most overrated natural wonder with a score of 1,38.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The researchers said while there are several spectacular man-made sights like the Egyptian Pyramids, Machu Picchu or the Great Wall of China for people to visit, the natural wonders remain less explored yet they are filled with awe.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Source: <a href="https://www.cajnewsafrica.com/2023/08/03/vic-falls-cements-status-as-top-natural-wonder/" target="_blank">Vic Falls cements status as top natural wonder</a> (03/08/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-22704435342400667212023-07-24T07:55:00.044+01:002023-08-23T08:23:33.874+01:00Zimbabwe and Zambia in joint management of Vic Falls<p>ZIMBABWE and Zambia have stepped up efforts to manage the iconic Victoria Falls and look at possible opportunities for developing the tourist attraction.</p>
<p>Officials from the two countries met in Livingstone, Zambia, recently at the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting to discuss the trans-boundary Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.</p>
<p>Zimbabwe and Zambia share Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World.</p>
<p>Speaking at the meeting, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu hailed joint efforts to protect and develop the site.</p>
<p>“Zimbabwe is remaining committed to the maintenance of the integrity of the World Heritage Site and Zimbabwe will work together with the Republic of Zambia, Unesco and other state parties to ensure the property remains a sought-after Natural Wonder of the World,” Ndhlovu said.</p>
<p>“There are various developments going on at the Victoria Falls, which are critical to the preservation of the outstanding universal values that have seen us maintaining the integrity of the natural heritage.”</p>
<p>Ndhlovu said updating the Strategic Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report, which started in 2021 and work on the updating of the Joint Integrated Management Plan of the property were also crucial.</p>
<p>He called for the two countries to ensure that any development near Victoria Falls did not disturb the site.</p>
<p>“Considering the sensitivity of the area, we need to be conscious on our developments not to disturb the biodiversity, flora and fauna within the property, achieving sustainable environment for the benefit for the future generations,” the minister said.</p>
<p>He said proposed key projects, such as the Batoka George hydroelectric power station, needed to consider and address concerns raised by key stakeholders while maintaining viable and appropriate technical requirements for optimum power generation.</p>
<p>He commended the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) for responding to the concerns and revising specifications to ensure that they meet the minimum technical requirements.</p>
<p>“I urge all parties to take a rational balanced approach to the issues of development and conservation in the property,” Ndhlovu said.</p>
<p>Victoria Falls in 2022 received about 390 000 visitors.</p>
<p>“At this point in time, we may not be able to indicate how much was received as revenue and how many people are employed directly benefiting from the property. However, we need to reflect on what properties of a similar nature are getting for us to set ambitious targets for ourselves.</p>
<p>“More visitors mean more revenue, which translates to economic growth and opportunities for both our peoples. On the other hand, we will need to ensure that as we increase the numbers of visitors, we do not affect the integrity of our property.”</p>
<p>Zambian Tourism minister Rodney Sikumba said the two countries remained committed to managing the Victoria Falls in a manner that sustains its outstanding universal value for prosperity.</p>
<p>“We also realise the great potential the site has to provide an oasis of socio-economic development through well-planned and environmentally friendly developments within and on the periphery of the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls World Heritage Site,” Sikumba said. </p>
<p>He also called on the two countries to maximise the economic returns accruing from Victoria Falls, without lowering its conservation standards.</p>
<p>“This balancing act needs to be buttressed by well-informed processes and empirical evidence that can re-assure global stakeholders that the priority is resource protection and the basis for resource protection is sustainable use and economic benefits within the boundaries of the protected areas,” he said.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/local-news/article/200013098/zimbabwe-and-zambia-in-joint-management-of-vic-falls" target="_blank">Zimbabwe and Zambia in joint management of Vic Falls</a> (23/06/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-72034341697343843152023-07-20T07:40:00.001+01:002023-08-23T07:43:05.368+01:00Joint efforts to maximise Victoria Falls tourism earnings<p>ZIMBABWE and Zambia have renewed their commitment to scaling up collaboration to maximise the economic gains accruing from the mighty Victoria Falls heritage site through enhanced marketing strategies while mainstreaming standard conservation of the resource to ensure future sustainability.</p>
<p>The two neighbouring countries share the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the fascinating seven natural wonders of the entire world due to its outstanding natural beauty.</p>
<p>The facility makes contributions to national income and growth in Zimbabwe and Zambia mainly through tourism and the provision of other related goods and services.</p>
<p>Given the need to conserve and effectively manage the prime world heritage site in a sustainable manner, a Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting between Zambia and Zimbabwe was conducted on Friday at Avani Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia.</p>
<p>Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu, and his Zambian counterpart, Rodney Sikumba, and their delegations participated in key deliberations regarding developments and management of the Victoria Falls site.</p>
<p>While both countries reiterated their commitment to the maintenance of the integrity of the World Heritage Site, and working together with other state parties to ensure the property remains a sought-after natural wonder of the world, the meeting noted with concern the low visitor numbers when compared to other global prime destinations.</p>
<p>“We further note with concern the low combined visitor numbers into the property when compared to sites of similar status elsewhere,” reads a joint communiqué issued after the meeting.<br />
“We agree and commit to jointly market the property as one destination and pursue sustainable development projects that will enhance visitor experience.</p>
<p>“We instruct the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to ensure that Unesco World Heritage Centre is notified whenever there is a new development proposal in and around the property in accordance with existing Operational Guidelines.”</p>
<p>Earlier in his address, Minister Ndlovu stressed the need to reflect on what properties of a similar nature are generating in terms of tourism earnings, which will be critical in guiding the setting up of ambitious targets for both countries.</p>
<p>“On the tourism front, I am reliably informed that the property received about 390 000 visitors in 2022, and at this point in time we may not be able to indicate how much was received as revenue and how many people are employed directly benefiting from the property,” he said.</p>
<p>“More visitors mean more revenue, which translates to economic growth and opportunities for both our peoples. On the other hand, we will need to ensure that as we increase the number of visitors, we do not affect the integrity of our property.”</p>
<p>Minister Sikumba said ensuring sustainable management of Victoria Falls in line with the universal standards was critical for future generations.</p>
<p>“We also realise the great potential the site has to provide an oasis of socio-economic development, through well-planned and environmentally friendly developments within and on the periphery of the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls world heritage site,” he said.</p>
<p>“It is in this vein that this meeting was convened to address issues relating to the current status of the world heritage site and also to consider emerging issues as driven by the need for economic growth, job creation, and tourism growth within this area.</p>
<p>“It is important to maximise the economic returns accruing from the site, without lowering the conservation standards. This balancing act needs to be buttressed by well-informed processes and empirical evidence that can reassure global stakeholders that the priority is resource protection, and the basis for resource protection is the sustainable use and economic benefits within and outside the boundaries of the protected areas.”</p>
<p>The meeting also noted the progress made by the Joint Technical Committee on the completion and submission of the Strategic Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (SESA) for the property and urged the JTC to utilize the findings gathered, and the recommendations.</p>
<p>It, however, noted with concern the inadequate participation of both states’ parties at the International World Heritage Committee meetings, as well as other Unesco Heritage fora.</p>
<p>“We commit to ensuring the participation of experts in all Unesco heritage meetings,” it resolved.<br />
During the two preparatory meetings, technical officials from both states deliberated at length on the welfare of the property and noted the various developments going in the site, which are critical to the preservation of the outstanding universal values.</p>
<p>The ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the state parties in the joint management of the property and affirmed their commitment to upholding the 1972 Unesco World Heritage Convention and Operational Guidelines.</p>
<p>Also in attendance was Zambian permanent secretary for tourism, Mr Evans Muhanga, chief executive for Zambia Tourism Agency, Mr Matongo Matamwandi, director-general for parks and wildlife Zambia Mr Andrew Chomba, chief director tourism and hospitality management in Zimbabwe, Ms Tarirai Musonza, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka, deputy director natural resources Mr Tanyaradzwa Mundoga, Zimparks officials, among others.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/joint-efforts-to-maximise-victoria-falls-tourism-earnings/" target="_blank">Joint efforts to maximise Victoria Falls tourism earnings</a> (19/06/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-85808504026976221642023-06-30T08:30:00.000+01:002023-09-17T08:30:33.629+01:00Call to harmonise Victoria Falls Rainforest entry fees<p>ZIMBABWE should review and harmonise entry fees charged to foreign visitors that want to tour the Victoria Falls Rainforest, which some stakeholders feel are discriminatory and negate efforts towards regional integration.</p>
<p>Speaking during a recent 9th edition of the Africa Public Service Day commemorations here, delegates complained about the uneven entry fees.</p>
<p>The new fees schedule effected in April by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, which manages the Victoria Falls National Park in which the Rainforest and the world natural wonder are located, demands locals to pay US$7 per person while Sadc and international clients pay US$30 and US$50 respectively.</p>
<p>Delegates to the APSD meeting who were drawn from different African Union member states said Africa’s Agenda 2063 ‘The Africa We Want’ will not be achieved if Africans fail to treat each other as equals and love their continent.</p>
<p>They were speaking after touring the Rainforest and implored responsible authorities to charge a uniform fee to all Africans regardless of country of origin or region. Delegates said Africa has the potential to launch its growth and Africans should be proud of their identity instead of identifying themselves in terms of individual countries or regions.</p>
<p>The conference, which sought to find solutions to challenges that affect equity, inclusivity, environment, climate change and economic growth, resolved that issues such as different entry fees into the Rainforest were indicators of failure to unite the continent.</p>
<p>It noted that resolving such issues was critical, especially at a time when the region is implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single continental market with a population of about 1,3 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product of approximately US$3,4 trillion.</p>
<p>The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects under Agenda 2063 and seeks to boost trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa’s economy.</p>
<p>As such, delegates said the entry fees disparity was one of the issues that need to be addressed if the continent is to achieve its set targets. “We went to the Victoria Falls and some were made to pay US$50 because they are international and some were charged US$30 because they are Sadc,” said one of the participants.</p>
<p>“Because of that, we started seeing ourselves as different people. These are some of the things that make us fail to be united, we look at each other as people who are not from the same motherland.” Another delegate had earlier raised the same issue during plenary saying the entry fees were a reflection of lack of unity among Africans. Delegates said the future of Africa calls for futuristic thinking.</p>
<p>Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima who was guest speaker on behalf of President Mnangagwa, said it was imperative for AU member states to follow the principles of the continent’s founding fathers.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/call-to-harmonise-victoria-falls-rainforest-entry-fees/" target="_blank">Call to harmonise Victoria Falls Rainforest entry fees</a> (29/06/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-77419567213682766862023-06-16T10:29:00.004+01:002023-09-27T10:32:19.295+01:00Zambia looks to cancel $5 billion Batoka Gorge HES project<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: LabGrotesque, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">- Zambia cancels a building contract for a 2,400-megawatt power station on the Zambezi River due to high costs and failure to follow proper procurement procedures. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: LabGrotesque, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">- Zambia’s energy minister suggests exploring a hybrid solution combining solar and hydropower, indicating a potential reduction in capacity to around 1,000 megawatts. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: LabGrotesque, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700;">- General Electric and PowerChina remain silent as Zambia seeks to re-advertise the project and address setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and financing challenges.</span></p><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #212529; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Zambia has disclosed that it will cancel a building contract given to General Electric Co. and Power Building Corp. of China because the project to build a 2,400-megawatt power station on the Zambezi River is too expensive.</p><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In remarks aired late Tuesday on the state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corp., and reported by the American news agency, <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">Bloomberg, </span>Zambia's energy minister, Peter Kapala, noted that proper procurement procedures weren't followed when the purchase was made. The dam's development is overseen by the state-run Zambezi River Authority, which predicted last year that the project would cost $5 billion.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“We are disengaging from that contract and we hope to re-advertise it and revisit everything that was agreed to before. Mainly, it was because of the cost, it was just too much,”</em> said Kapala.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“The latest information is that the hydrology of Zambezi might not favor the establishment of a 2,400-megawatt hydro-plant,”</em> the energy minister said.</p><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“We could reach that if maybe we do a hybrid of solar and hydro itself, but the indications are that we could be looking at far much less than the 2,400, it could be maybe even 1,000 megawatts,”</em> he added.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">General Electric declined to respond right away. An email sent outside of regular business hours seeking comment did not immediately receive a response from PowerChina.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The 2,400-megawatt Batoka Gorge project was supposed to get going in 2020, however, there were a number of setbacks, including the coronavirus epidemic and problems obtaining finance.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">General Electric and Power China were chosen to construct the facility jointly by Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both countries in southern Africa are experiencing an electrical shortfall as a result of poorly maintained plants and drought-related production reductions at existing hydroelectric facilities on the Zambezi River.</p></div><div class="ringCommonDetail ringBlockType-paragraph " style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The secretary for energy and power development in Zimbabwe, Gloria Magombo, stated on Wednesday that she was not aware of the statements made by the minister of Zambia and that the ministry will reply later.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Source: <a href="https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/zambia-cancels-dollar5-billion-project-with-china-see-why/w0ffvyd" target="_blank">Zambia cancels $5 billion project with China</a> (16/06/23)</p></div></div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: TiemposText, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p></div>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-53409607099283276762023-05-30T14:13:00.000+01:002023-08-20T12:09:02.245+01:007-star hotel for Vic Falls
<p>VICTORIA Falls City Council has partnered with CBZ Bank and a Swiss developer to build a 7-star hotel in the resort city.</p>
<p>The city’s mayor Councillor Somvelo Dlamini told Chronicle that designs for the ambitious project have been done while a piece of land has been identified.</p>
<p>Work is now underway to finalise some internal processes at central Government and local authority levels.</p>
<p>No budget has been finalized yet as planning is ongoing, according to Cllr Dlamini, who was not at liberty to disclose details about the Swiss company and the partnership.</p>
<p>He, however, said the city was on a rapid development and growth trajectory in line with the country’s drive towards becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.</p>
<p>“There is a lot of development that is coming to the city and as we speak, we have partnered with CBZ and a Swiss company to come and build a 7-star hotel here in Victoria Falls.</p>
<p>“Plans are underway and once approved the project will kickstart and construction of the hotel will begin,” said the Mayor.</p>
<p>He said land was identified behind Victoria Falls Hotel, between the railway line and Zambezi River gorges. At the moment, Victoria Falls, which is Zimbabwe’s tourism capital has only two 5-star hotels.</p>
<p>This comes as Cabinet recently approved the implementation of the Masuwe Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project, which will have state-of-the-art facilities, including 5-star hotel and conference sfacilities, following a feasibility study that found the scheme to be highly profitable.</p>
<p>The Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company was tasked with implementation of the Masuwe SEZ project. The Cabinet approval has paved way for implementation of the Masuwe SEZ project, which Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has said needs to be speedily actioned since a consultant had been engaged.></p>
<p>In terms of Masuwe city scope, Government earmarks to have a multi-million dollar 4-star hotel, a 5 000-seater conference centre, medical centre, a golf estate and shopping mall.</p>
<p>Tourism players have said Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls in particular, faces a critical shortage of rooms and conferencing facilities, which presents a low-hanging fruit for investment.</p>
<p>Since the coming in of the Second Republic, significant developments have been made in tourism infrastructure through partnerships, with a number of hotels and lodges having been built. However, a majority of them have less than 100 rooms each.></p>
<p>Cllr Dlamini said besides creating employment for locals, the project will change the face of the city. He was speaking soon after a recent tour of the Victoria Falls Hospital by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and said the city needs modern infrastructure to attract investors.</p>
<p>“There is a piece of land that has been identified for this hotel and plans are underway. Once approved by Cabinet they will come to council. Designs have been done and have been shown to us as we wait for approval by the department of planning,” said Clr Dlamini.</p>
<p>“For now, we don’t have figures yet because we are still on the planning stages. So, we are going to engage the investor and then engage Government,” he said.</p>
<p>Tourism is one of the key economic drivers in the country alongside mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, and infrastructure development in the sectors is one of the crucial elements as the Government implements the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which builds momentum towards towards Vision 2030. — @ncubeleon</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/7-star-hotel-for-vic-falls/" target="_blank">7-star hotel for Vic Falls</a> (30 May 2023)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-7649661449065679812023-05-06T09:29:00.001+01:002023-09-17T09:30:43.599+01:00Tourism revival exposes Zimbabwe accommodation crisis<p> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VICTORIA FALLS</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(CAJ News)</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– THE policy by Zimbabwe to attract international conferences to boost tourism is proving a double-edged sword.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">While the Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions (MICE) policy is bearing fruit, the country’s tourism sector is struggling to meet demand, especially for accommodation.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last week’s Transform Africa Summit, held in Victoria Falls exposed the deficit.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Around 4 000 delegates from close to 100 countries attended. These included five heads of state and 44 ministers.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The summit ended on Friday, which coincided with the start of the Victoria Falls Carnival, also attracting thousands.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Having several heads of state at the same time in the city proved a challenge in terms of availability of presidential lodgings.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a result, host president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda flew back to Zimbabwe’s capital Harare soon after officiating. Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia drove to Livingstone in his country.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Only Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi and Eswatini’s King Mswati III spent the night in Victoria Falls.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The 4 000 delegates could also not be accommodated in mainstream hotels and lodges. Spillovers especially locals sought accommodation in private homes as shortage of hotel rooms exposed the need to invest in hotel facilities.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite being Zimbabwe’s tourism capital and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls only has two five-star hotels, namely the Victoria Falls Hotel and Palm River Hotel.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zimbabwe has a total room capacity of just over 6 000 rooms. Victoria Falls has around 2 000 rooms.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hospitality authorities have said the country needs an estimated 20 000 rooms by 2030 to match tourism growth.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is also a shortage of conference facilities in Victoria Falls. The biggest conference room at Elephant Hills Hotel takes less than 600 people.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The exit of Kingdom Hotel early in the year exposed the city as the casino conference centre at the facility was the biggest in the city, taking 900 guests.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Farai Chimba, the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) president, said, “Zimbabwe has a huge deficit of rooms. Current stock remains very low.”</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Winnie Muchanyuka, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive, also expressed concern about the lack of big conference facilities.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, said the government is encouraging the private sector to invest in tourism infrastructure.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We can only see a shortage of rooms in the country and here in Victoria Falls when there is demand for those rooms,” Ndlovu said.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We need to have a discussion with industry and see how we can increase the number of rooms we are looking at, especially the increasing number of international business conferences that are coming into Zimbabwe and more importantly into Victoria Falls,” Ndlovu added.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Despite the challenge of facilities, the minister welcomed the revival of the MICE sector.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Zimbabwe is fast becoming a conference destination of choice both locally and internationally,” Ndlovu said.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin: 25px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Source: <a href="https://www.cajnewsafrica.com/2023/05/05/tourism-revival-exposes-zimbabwe-accommodation-crisis/" target="_blank">Tourism revival exposes Zimbabwe accommodation crisis</a> (05/05/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-40068056897613144762023-05-01T13:27:00.001+01:002023-08-20T13:29:05.277+01:00Mnangagwa ally suffers another Victoria Falls blow<p> <span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">A bid by one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's allies to evict a leading tour operator in Victoria Falls suffered another setback after the local municipality withdrew his offer letter for a prime piece of land.</span></p><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Councillors voted against the bid by Scott Sakupwanya, a gold dealer, to evict Wild Horizons from its leased property to pave way for the construction of a US$50 million luxury hotel.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wild Horizons has been operating in the area for three decades and holds rights to the land until 2029.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">According to reports, it is not clear how much Sakupwanya, through his Betterbrands company had offered for the land.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Reports say land prices in the resort town rocketed after it was declared an international financial centre about a decade ago.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In December 2020, it was also granted city status.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In a letter addressed to Wild Horizons dated April 19, Victoria Falls town clerk Ronnie Dube said the local authority was withdrawing its earlier plans to evict the company.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"Further to my letter to you dated 30 December 2022 and the subsequent letter dated February 1, 2023, council in committee No.26 on April 3, 2023 resolved that the letter written by the town clerk on December 30, 2022 be withdrawn," the letter reads.</span><div><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The letter is titled: Withdrawal of notice to relocate the Jetty site from Stand 1392 A to part of the Boat Club.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">On December 30 last year, Dube had allegedly unilaterally directed Wild Horizons to vacate the land.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">He said the council had decided to repurpose the area.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">His move subsequently triggered a fierce dispute between the local authority and Wild Horizons.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wild Horizons argued that it had the right of first refusal on any sale of the land, according to documents seen by Zimbabwe Independent.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sakupwanya did not respond to questions on whether BetterBrands would seek an alternative piece of land.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is not the first time that Dube has been accused of acting unilaterally in important matters relating to public assets.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The property in question sits on over nine hectares and is believed to be worth millions of United States dollars.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Wild Horizons operates a lucrative boat lending business.</span><br style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;" /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #444444; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Source: </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Utkal, sans-serif;"><a href="https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-local-byo-230169.html" target="_blank">Mnangagwa ally suffers another Victoria Falls blow</a> (30/04/23)</span></div>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-8987254467308868912023-04-07T13:29:00.001+01:002023-08-20T13:31:04.367+01:00Zanu PF-linked gold baron loses land tussle<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Periodico; font-size: 20px;">RULING Zanu PF party-linked gold baron Pedzisai “Scott” Sakupwanya has lost a spirited attempt to evict a leading tour operator from prime land in the resort town of Victoria Falls, after the local council this week voted down his controversial bid.</span></p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">If the gold baron’s proposal had sailed through, it would have resulted in the eviction of giant tour operator Wild Horizons from the land, to which it holds the rights until 2029.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="ad" data-google-query-id="CPe4gMme64ADFdvq7Qod0XgFcw" id="div-gpt-ad-1661246195455-0" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin: 20px auto; text-align: center; width: 642.656px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/13427547/N-ARTICLE-3_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; width: 300px;"></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The award-winning tour operator — known for its exciting sunset cruises on the Zambezi River — has operated from the area for three decades, having become one of the country’s most recognised tourism industry players.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In February, Wild Horizons walked away with two important industry trophies at the inaugural Twalumba National Tourism Awards, which were organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Zimbabwe Independent understands that BetterBrands, a firm controlled by Sakupwanya, had planned to construct a US$50 million luxury hotel after the eviction of Wild Horizons.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="ad" data-google-query-id="CJGHgsme64ADFU7E7QodMH0LFw" id="div-gpt-ad-1661246237662-0" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin: 20px auto; text-align: center; width: 642.656px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/13427547/N-ARTICLE-4_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; width: 300px;"></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">It is not clear how much Sakupwanya had offered for the land.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">But land prices in Zimbabwe’s prime resort city have rocketed since it was declared an international financial centre about a decade ago. In December 2020, it was also granted city status.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Sakupwanya, a flamboyant dealer who frequently courts public rebuke for flaunting bullion and wads of United States dollars on social media, has risen to become one of the country’s biggest gold market players.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">He was allegedly unprocedurally given exclusive rights to the land, which is quoted in Victoria Falls council minutes as stand number 1392A.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="ad" data-google-query-id="CLShgcme64ADFdna7QodzTICZQ" id="div-gpt-ad-1661246424409-0" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin: 20px auto; text-align: center; width: 642.656px;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/13427547/N-ARTICLE-5_0__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; width: 300px;"></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: caput; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Victoria Falls City Council did not flight a public notice to dispose of the commercial stand when moves to allocate it to the Zanu PF politician were made as required at law.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Zimbabwe Independent can report that following a full council meeting this week, Victoria Falls town clerk Ronnie Dube was instructed to advise Wild Horizons that its lease would not be cancelled.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The council’s Health, Housing and Community Services committee chairperson Nkanyiso Sibindi told the Independent that councillors unanimously agreed to uphold the lease of Wild Horizons — which employs over 1 000 staff in the resort town.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Regarding stand 1392A, which is under lease by Wild Horizons, we agreed as a committee chaired by the mayor that the town clerk should revoke the letter he wrote to Wild Horizons on December 30, giving Wild Horizons three months to vacate,” Sibindi told the Independent.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“He should revoke that letter and give them a new letter stating that they will be there until their lease expires. It also means they also have the right of first refusal to buy that piece of land if council decides to sell.”</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">A councillor who spoke to the Independent on condition of anonymity said the decision was unanimous.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Council resolved that the town clerk writes a letter to withdraw the letter of relocation that was served to Wild Horizons on December 30. The decision was based on the understanding that the town clerk was not authorised by council to evict Wild Horizons. The essence of that resolution is that BetterBrands Jewellery’s application to buy that same commercial property is no longer valid. BetterBrands Jewellery has been advised that if they are still interested in building a hotel and wellness centre, they should look for another stand,” the source said.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">On December 30 last year, Dube unilaterally directed Wild Horizons to vacate the land.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">He said council had decided to repurpose the area.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">His move subsequently triggered a fierce dispute between the local authority and Wild Horizons, which stood its ground.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Wild Horizons argued that it had the right of first refusal on any sell of the land, according to documents seen by the Independent.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In February, Victoria Falls City Council mayor Somvelo Dhlamini told this publication that the local authority was legally bound to respect its contract with Wild Horizons.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Two months ago, Dhlamini told the Independent that Dube had “acted unilaterally because he should have written the letter after council had met”.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“This is so because council has the final say,” Dhlamini said.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">This week, Dhlamini did not respond to questions sent to him on WhatsApp seeking understanding on the impact of council’s resolution over stand number 1392A.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Questions posed to the Dube had also not been responded to at the time of going to print.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">His mobile phone was not being answered.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The Independent wanted to understand whether Dube had written to Wild Horizons informing the tour operator that its contract with the city was still in force.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">This publication also wanted to understand if the local authority had formally informed BetterBrands that its application had been turned down.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Wild Horizons chief executive officer Gary Archer also turned down a request for comment.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">At the time of going to print, BetterBrands had not indicated how it plans to respond to the council decision.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Sakupwanya did not respond to questions on whether BetterBrands would seek an alternative piece of land.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">This is not the first time that Dube has been accused of acting unilaterally in important matters relating to public assets.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Last year, he was accused by council of single-handedly giving Jackelberry Investments the green light to buy Chinotimba Brewery, which is owned by the local authority.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">In another dispute relating to the disposal of Victoria Falls City Council assets, which is before the courts, the local authority is being sued by various stakeholders for granting permits to Adage Success Private Limited and Scanner Investments Private Limited to set up commercial interests at the heart of the Victoria Falls rain forest.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The property in question sits on over nine hectares and is believed to be worth millions of United States dollars. Wild Horizons operates a lucrative boat landing business known on the site.</p><p class="paragraph-style" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Periodico !important; font-size: 20px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Source: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/local-news/article/200009814/zanu-pf-linked-gold-baron-loses-land-tussle" target="_blank">Zanu PF-linked gold baron loses land tussle</a> (06/04/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-59675312277814182562023-04-01T14:50:00.001+01:002023-08-22T16:04:40.383+01:00Victoria Falls US$5 car park opens<p class="MsoNormal">MOTORISTS, tourism players included, will from tomorrow, 1 April, start paying US$5 per vehicle per day to use the car park next to the entrance of the Victoria Falls Rainforest after the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) who own the land, leased the property.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NRZ leased out idle land including the existing car park in Victoria Falls for development into eco-tourism properties and businesses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This will be the first car park to have pre-paid parking system in Victoria Falls.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The car park is currently used largely by tourism players’ transfer vehicles and buses carrying tourists to the Rainforest and Victoria Falls Bridge, and hundreds of curio and souvenirs vendors, and dance groups also operate within the premises.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NRZ owns significant amounts of land in and around Victoria Falls City and has leased some to hotels, tour operators, property developers and individuals who have ventured into various kinds of businesses.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the leases is Across Zimbabwe Private Limited, an indigenous company formed in 2016 with interests in the lower tourism value chain where it is working with curio vendors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The company was offered a five-year lease to operate the pre-paid car park and a nearby recreational park.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Responding to questions, NRZ spokesperson Mr Andrew Kunambura said the leases are valid for five years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He could not be drawn into revealing other beneficiaries, but the Chronicle understands two big tour operators and a property developer have been offered land near the gorges.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“As railways the thrust is to grow the real estates’ portfolio and in this regard we have been leasing out land that has been lying idle for a long time. We have seen people applying to lease land and as a result they are developing it into eco-tourism and some are developing tourism tents for their clients,” he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said the leases being issued are five year leases renewable subject to the lessee paying diligently on the agreed rental among other conditions.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Victoria Falls was designated a Special Economic Zone and Government wants to make the city its conference capital with state-of-the-art facilities and products and activities that meet international best tourism standards to make Victoria Falls a destination of choice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cabinet recently approved the implementation of the Masuwe Special Economic Zone project following a feasibility study that found the scheme to be highly profitable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Masuwe is a piece of land 10km outside Victoria Falls city and is earmarked for development into a new satellite city for the Victoria Falls.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Across Zimbabwe is one of our clients who have applied for land and wants to do eco-tourism at the park. They also want to preserve the park and keep it as natural as possible,” said Mr Kunambura.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In an interview, Across Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd director Mr Mathew Muleya said vendors will not be evicted from the car park.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said the company’s objective is to empower citizens with income generating projects.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We have been leased the Victoria Falls Rainforest car park by NRZ and from April 1, 2023 the car park will be a pre-paid parking zone charged US$5 per vehicle for the whole day,” said Mr Muleya.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“People will not be evicted. This is a business and if we remove those operating there how will we make money and how will the people benefit. It’s only in Victoria Falls where we don’t have pre-paid parking and we are just introducing a concept that is inevitable.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said part of the money that will be generated from the car park will be ploughed into pristine Victoria Falls activities and community programmes such as taking care of the elderly at the Old People’s Home.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr Mulaye said Across Zimbabwe has also started sprucing up the image of the premises which will see new shops being built for convenience of tourists.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said Across Zimbabwe aims to promote youths and the elderly in the city of Victoria Falls through employment creation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That land should benefit ordinary citizens and we look forward to create space for youths at the car park where they can sell their wares. We have 120 curio vendors operating under Across Zimbabwe at the Big Tree where we are working on repairing the shade and we are also engaging the Victoria Falls City Council to allocate alternative land to vendors that operate illegally at Comesa Market as it is our aim to protect their interests.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr Muleya said Across Zimbabwe also supports vendors operating at Truck Stop and has helped the local authority clear illegal vendors form the streets.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said efforts are being made to engage tour operators on implementation of the pre-paid parking systems.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Employers Association for the Tourism and Safari Operators president Mr Clement Mukwasi said the industry is not opposed to the pre-paid parking system as long as there is clarity on operational issues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said tour operating companies would be comfortable with paying over a certain period of time such as quarterly or half yearly. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Source: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/victoria-falls-us5-car-park-opens/" target="_blank">Victoria Falls US$5 car park opens</a> (31/3/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-78690203275929133282023-02-15T12:41:00.001+00:002023-08-20T12:48:32.012+01:00Land dispute stalls construction of US$50 million Vic Falls hotel<p>A boat landing company that was leasing a jetty from Victoria Falls City Council is stalling the construction of a US$50 million 5-star hotel by local investor Better Brands after refusing to move off the land although it was given 90 days notice laid down in its lease, and even though the council had offered a new jetty site 200m away.</p>
<p>The new hotel will be employing more than 200 employees, most of them locals.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons was given the required notice by Victoria Falls council through the town clerk Mr Ronnie Dube to vacate stand number 1392A, where it operates a boat jetty after Better Brands owned by Mr Pedzisai Scott Sakupwanya applied to buy the land for the purpose of building the new major hotel.</p>
<p>Tourism in Zimbabwe is expected to continue its strong growth from 2022 in the first quarter of 2023, signalling a recovery from the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. International arrivals surged in 2022, recovering from a decline in 2021, and this growth looks set to continue in 2023.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons have been leasing the property from council for some time but was just using it as a jetty where boats could be tied.</p>
<p>The council gave the required notice to its tenant under Section 18 of their lease agreement, which states: “Either party can terminate this agreement at any time upon giving the other party ninety (90) days’ notice in writing of such intention. Upon early termination of this Agreement, all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall cease, except such rights and obligations as may have accrued on the date of termination and such rights and obligations as are expressed to survive beyond termination; and neither party shall be liable to claim for loss of revenue as a result of such early termination.”</p>
<p>Mr Dube said Wild Horizons responded by rejecting council’s position and they claimed that the move would cost 700 employees their jobs, but the council can only see around 10 people employed and has offered a new jetty site about 200m away.</p>
<p>“It is council’s considered view that the new applicants would add value in the development trajectory in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS)1, which calls for employment creation,” Mr Dube said.</p>
<p>“This will also imply that council will be able to charge rates unlike the US$7 000 lease rental being paid now. The relocation on its own would even create more employment with the beginning of construction which will benefit most businesses in Victoria Falls.</p>
<p>“When council held its full council meeting on February 3, 2023, Wild Horizons brought a bus load of people to try and force council into submission and that type of bullying is unprofessional, unacceptable and as council we will remain resolute to make an informed decision that will benefit our residents and country at large.”</p>
<p>In a letter dated January 30, 2023, Wild Horizon’s corporate affairs and business development director Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa-Hughes said the company was opposed to the proposal to terminate their current lease agreement and relocate them to an alternative venue.</p>
<p>“Wild Horizons has a valid lease which expires in March 2029. We have always paid lease fees timeously, going as far as pre-paying lease fees for the next 5 years in order to assist council with cash flow difficulties they are experiencing. We constantly strive to foster the great partnership we have always shared with the council.</p>
<p>“Wild Horizons has leased and maintained the area for more than 25 years, and are a sitting tenant with senior employees having lived in the city for between 33 and 50 years, showing long term commitment to the municipality. Wild Horizons has applied on numerous occasions to purchase the land but to no avail as the land was said to be not for sale,” she said.</p>
<p>Mrs Murasiranwa-Hughes said Wild Horizons would like due process legally followed by council where a full council resolution was made on the notice to terminate their lease agreement.</p>
<p>Better Brands Jewellery in May last year submitted an application to Victoria Falls City Council to buy the commercial stand and the application was approved.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/land-dispute-stalls-construction-of-us50-million-vic-falls-hotel/" target="_blank">Land dispute stalls construction of US$50 million Vic Falls hotel</a> (14/02/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-63790520895239154502023-02-14T13:25:00.014+00:002023-09-02T09:46:24.988+01:00Tourism Development Pressures Threaten Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (Zimbabwe)<h1><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">(14th February 2023)</span></h1>
<p>A new independent report produced for <strong><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild</a></strong> highlights urgent concerns over the management of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (WHS) and recent allocation of leases and concessions by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, threatening the vulnerable riverine fringe along the upstream river corridor above the Victoria Falls. </p>
<p>Download the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/KVFW2023StateofDevelopmentSummaryReport.pdf" target="blank" title="Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Summary Report">Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Summary Report</a> (pdf, 887kb)</p>
<p>A series of new tourism developments have been authorised within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' of the Victoria Falls National Park (VFNP), a long-standing 'no new infrastructure' zone, including a proposed riverside <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversidetreelodge.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Tree Lodge Development">'tree lodge'</a> development (a significant new 57-room development on a 40 hectare concession stretched along the riverside fringe within the VFNP and already widely promoted within the tourism industry) as well as a <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">riverside restaurant</a> development, currently under construction immediately above the Falls.</p><p><br /></p>
<p id="images"><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfriversidedeveljan23.jpg" title="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant"><img alt="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant" src="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfriversidedeveljan23.jpg" title="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant" width="500" /></a></p>
<h4>Site of riverside restaurant construction (January 2023) </h4>
<p>There are also concerns over the allocation of Zambezi National Park <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/znp/kandaharcamp.html" target="blank" title="Kandahar Camp Development">Kandahar Camp</a> for development as a lodge concession as this site is also recently identified in management documents as within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone.'</p>
<p>The report calls for an immediate halt to construction of the riverside restaurant and 'tree lodge' developments, all impacts on the sites mitigated and their lease concessions with National Parks rescinded, and further recommends that the World Heritage Committee requests a total moratorium on all developments in and surrounding the WHS until suitable management plans and maps are in place and agreed by all parties and all issues relating to the World Heritage Site management zone boundaries are confirmed and clarified.</p>
<p id="images"><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfwhsoutlinedevel5.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Tourism Development Pressures"><img alt="Victoria Falls Tourism Development Pressures" src="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfwhsoutlinedevel5.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Tourism Development Pressures" width="500" /></a></p>
<h4>Sketch outline of World Heritage Site boundary superimposed over satellite image and showing the location of existing and proposed developments in the south bank upper river corridor of the World Heritage Site (Satellite image: Google Maps) </h4>
<br />
<h1>Conservation Concerns</h1>
<p>The riverine forest fringe is a protected feature of the WHS and noted for its importance to wildlife and wider scenic value. The vulnerability of this habitat is also recognised in the 2016-2021 Joint Integrated Management Plan:</p>
<p><em>"The Zambezi River, in common with all rivers in tropical Africa, has a distinct fringing vegetation of gallery or riparian woodland. The Riverine Forest is found along the banks of the Zambezi, Songwe and Maramba Rivers and on some islands. On the riverbanks it is with a width rarely more than 20-100m wide from the high water mark (Fanshawe, 1975, Meynell et al., 1996). At its best development, riparian forest is a three storeyed forest with a closed evergreen canopy attaining 21m in height... This habitat houses the highest concentration of animals and is the most sought and threatened by human developments."</em> (State Parties, 2016, p.18-9)</p>
<p>The draft Management Plan, circulated in November 2022, identifies the forested riverine fringe as being particularly at risk from tourism developments, the river, islands and gorges, together with the springs and drainage lines which flow into the river, being under very high risk from development (ZPWMA, November 2022, p.19). Yet despite the vulnerability to this habitat being widely recognised in management documents, tourism developments continue to impact and threaten the river corridor, especially in the upstream section of the site, the draft report of the recent <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/victoriafalls/vfworldheritagesite.html#Report" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls World Heritage Site">Reactive Monitoring Mission</a> concluding:</p>
<p><em>"For the area upstream from the Falls, the mission observed that the rationale for the 1989 recommendation to focus on the riverine strip of the National Parks remains justified, with most pressure actually felt by the NP areas near the river that are most relevant to the integrity of the site. While MoTNP and ZNP have been identified as buffer zones, the tourism developments have shown that the status of National Park has not provided the envisaged protection"</em> (UNESCO, 2022).</p>
<br />
<h1>Zoning Issues</h1>
<p>The text of the 2007-12 JIMP clearly identifies the riparian vegetation above the Victoria Falls as within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (State Parties, 2007, p.39). The supporting map (State Parties 2007, p.38) is unclear in showing the zonation of the property in the upstream river corridor. </p>
<p>The 2016-21 JIMP detailed revised zones for the property, although the text description again indicates that the riverine vegetation is included in the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (Block 6) and is described as <em>“...following the Victoria Falls Rainforest, thence up the Zambezi River covering the riverine vegetation strip to where it joins the Zambezi National Park boundary”</em> (State Parties, 2016, p.29).</p>
<p>The 2016-21 JIMP identifies the boundary with ‘Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone’ (Block 7) as extending along Zambezi Drive road.</p>
<p><em>"The zone covers the Victoria Falls border and the Rainforest car park area and continues from the Victoria Falls Rainforest VIP entrance gate, thence along the Zambezi Drive Road to beacon R11, thence westwards following the boundary beacons to where it joints Zambezi National Park boundary"</em> (State Parties, 2016, p.29).</p>
<p id="images"><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/cataractcorrner9.jpg" title="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant"><img alt="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant" src="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/cataractcorrner9.jpg" title="Victoria Falls riverside restaurant" width="500" /></a></p>
<h4>Map showing boundary line of Victoria Falls National Park and site of riverside restaurant development (Satellite image: Google Maps)</h4>
<p>This clearly indicates that the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' includes the entire area of the land between Zambezi Drive road and the river - the area commonly known as the riverine fringe or strip - extending along this whole section of the river immediately above the Falls. This interpretation is also consistent with the historical management of this area which has been part of a strict ‘no new infrastructure’ policy since its management was taken over by National Parks in the early 1950s.</p>
<p>It follows that the land from the road away from the river is considered to be within the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone,' an area which is described in the 2016-21 JIMP as including the road and rail transport corridor which dissects the site below the Falls.</p>
<p>The supporting map presented in the 2016-21 JIMP (State Parties, 2016, p.27) confuses the issue by not clearly showing the line of the river above the Falls and appears to incorrectly show the riverside fringe within the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (yellow area). The confusion, or error, is more clearly apparent in the map presented in the 2012 Retrospective Inventory (Image 6), which while clearly indicating the line of the river and area of the upstream riverine fringe covered within the VFNP and WHS, mistakenly identifies the area as being in the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone,' an error which is repeated in the most recent map of the property, presented in the 2021 State of Conservation Report (State Parties, 2021, Appendix 2a, p.2). </p>
<p id="images"><a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/2021SoC(amended)v4.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Management Zones 2021"><img alt="Victoria Falls Management Zones 2021" src="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/2021SoC(amended)v4.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Management Zones 2021" width="500" /></a></p>
<h4>Map showing management zones and proposed tourism
developments within WHS, (Adapted from State Parties, 2021, Appendix 2a).</h4>
<p>We believe that all these maps are clearly incorrect in not showing the area of riparian fringe as protected within the VFNP and WHS as being within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone,' as indicated by the text of the JIMP documents. For this section of the riverine fringe to be in anything other than the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' would be a significant shortcoming in the administration and management of the site. For it to be within the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone' - the same zone as the rail and road transport corridor and visitor car parking area - would be a serious neglect of Parks core conservation aims and its international obligations under the 1972 World Heritage Convention.</p>
<p>It should also be noted no management zonation is detailed for the upstream area of the ZNP which is included in the WHS in either of the JIMP documents - a significant omission which subsequently allowed the development of two lodges along this section of riverine fringe, the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newdevelopments/znp/vfriverlodge.html" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls River Lodge">Victoria Falls River Lodge</a> (opened in 2012) and the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newdevelopments/znp/olddriftlodge.html" target="blank" title="Old Drift Lodge">Old Drift Lodge</a> (opened in 2018). Although the river upstream to Kandahar Island is identified as being within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (State Parties 2007, p.39) this still did not prevent the development of lodge units on Kandahar Island (opened in 2017, part of the Victoria Falls River Lodge development). The revised zonation map subsequently presented in the 2021 State of Conservation Report shows the whole WHS area of the ZNP within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (State Parties, 2021).</p>
<p>The 2016-21 JIMP also presented revised guidelines for permitted activities and developments allowed within the management zones. The original 2007-12 JIMP prohibited all new infrastructure developments (with the exception of existing facilities) the both the High and Medium management zones (State Parties, 2007, p.39-41). The 2016-21 JIMP, while still prohibiting all new infrastructure development within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone,' permits the development of 'semi-permanent facilities' within the 'Medium Ecologically Sensitive Zone' (State Parties, 2016, p.32).</p>
<br />
<h1>Urgent Implications</h1>
<p>The errors and discrepancies shown in the management zonation maps are of particular concern in relation to three developments along this stretch of the river - the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">riverside restaurant</a> (with on-site construction well under-way), the new <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/zambezidrive.html#rockpool" target="_blank" title="Zambezi Drive Developments">National Park structure</a> (constructed in early 2022) and the proposed <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversidetreelodge.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Tree Lodge Development">riverside 'tree lodge'</a> (again with preparatory work already underway on the ground). The developers of the riverside restaurant are falsely claiming that their site is located within the ‘Orange’ (Medium) management zone and therefore an allowable development. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfnpwhsupstreamalt8.jpg" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls Zambezi Drive"><img align="bottom" alt="Victoria Falls Zambezi Drive" border="2" hspace="5" src="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls-images/vfnpwhsupstreamalt8.jpg" title="Victoria Falls Zambezi Drive" vspace="5" width="500" /></a>
</p>
<h4>Image showing approximate lines of VFNP and WHS boundary<br /> and management zones [click for larger view]</h4>
<p>As it appears certain that the area of the VFNP upstream river corridor and riverine fringe is within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' which prohibits all new infrastructure construction there must be an immediate halt to construction of the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversiderestaurant.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Restaurant">riverside restaurant</a> (and also by implication the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/vfnp/riversidetreelodge.html" target="blank" title="Riverside Tree Lodge Development">'tree lodge'</a> development), all impacts on the sites mitigated and their lease concessions with National Parks rescinded. </p>
<p>There are also questions over the allocation of <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/victoria-falls/newthreats/znp/kandaharcamp.html" target="blank" title="Kandahar Camp Development">Kandahar Camp</a> for development as a lodge concession as the 2021 State of Conservation zonation map shows this site within the 'Highly Ecologically Sensitive Zone' - where no new infrastructure or facilities are allowed.</p>
<p>Download the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/KVFW2023StateofDevelopmentSummaryReport.pdf" target="blank" title="Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Summary Report">Keep Victoria Falls Wild 2023 State of Development Summary Report</a> (pdf, 887kb)</p>
Please sign the <a href="https://www.change.org/p/zimparks-and-methi-zimbabwe-keep-victoria-falls-wild" target="_blank">online petition</a> against the current wave of tourism development proposals which threaten the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.<div><br /></div><div>Read more on all these issues and developments on the <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/index.html" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild website</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Follow our Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067976464684" target="_blank">Keep Victoria Falls Wild </a>for latest news and updates.<br />
<br />
<h1>References</h1>
<p>State Parties (2007) <a href="https://chm.cbd.int/api/v2013/documents/A646FE23-2BB1-2597-F004-3CB7ED2492F6/attachments/207475/The%20Joint%20Management%20Plan%20Final%20Zambia%20Zimbabwe%202014.pdf" target="blank" title="2007-2012 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya Joint Integrated Management Plan">2007-2012 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site Joint Integrated Management Plan</a> (external download, opens in a new window).</p>
<p>State Parties (2016) <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/document/155127" target="blank" title="2016-2021 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya Joint Integrated Management Plan">2016-2021 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site Joint Integrated Management Plan</a> (external download, opens in a new window).</p>
<p>State Parties (2021) <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/document/192030" target="blank" title="2021 Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya State of Conservation Report">Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site State of Conservation Report.</a> (external download, opens in a new window).</p>
<p>UNESCO (2022) <a href="https://keepvictoriafallswild.com/downloads/2022Mosi-oa-TunyaReactiveMonitoringMissionReport.pdf" target="blank" title="Victoria Falls Mission Report, 2022">Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site Reactive Monitoring Mission (February 2022) Draft Report.</a> (pdf download [3.16 mb], opens in a new window)</p>
<p>Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (1996) Parks and Wild Life Act.</p>
<p>Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (November 2022) Victoria Falls-Zambezi National Park Draft Management Plan.</p>
</div></div>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-22896290805452231492023-02-06T13:06:00.001+00:002023-08-20T13:09:49.084+01:00Victoria Falls City Council in ultimatum tiff with Wild Horizons<p>BATTLELINES have been drawn between the Victoria Falls City Council and a tourism operator, Wild Horizons, after council issued the latter with a 90-day ultimatum to vacate the jetty site along the Zambezi River.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons, owned by local and foreign investors, operates boat cruises on stand 1392A and have a lease that is running until 2029. Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube on 30 December 2022 wrote to the tour operator advising them about the need for the company to relocate to the Boat Club in the same area.</p>
<p>“Reference is made to your lease agreement with council which is current, however, council now wants to utilise stand 1392A for other purposes and therefore gives you in terms of Section 18 of the agreement 90 days to relocate to your new site. Council will meet your relocation expenses which among others include setting up your jetty site infrastructure.</p>
<p>The lease rentals that were paid in advance will be credited to your new site. Kindly liaise with the undersigned for clarification,” said Mr Dube.</p>
<p>In response, Wild Horizons corporate affairs and business development director Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa-Hughes said the company was opposed to the decision.</p>
<p>“Please be advised that Wild Horizons is opposed to any such proposal to terminate our current lease agreement and relocate us to an alternative venue for the following reasons: Wild Horizons have a valid lease which expires in March 2029. We have always paid lease fees timeously going as far as prepaying lease fees for the next five years in order to assist council with cash flow difficulties they are facing,” said Mrs Murasiranwa-Hughes.</p>
<p>She said the company strives to foster great partnership with council and have leased and maintained the area for more than 25 years with senior employees having lived in the area for between 33 years and 50 years, showing long term commitment to the municipality. She said the company had applied on numerous occasions to purchase the land but to no avail as the land was said to be not for sale.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons also hold a separate licence with Zimparks for river frontage. The company said the notice was invalid as due process was not legally followed by council as there was no full council resolution on the notice to terminate the lease agreement.</p>
<p>“If the land is now available for purchase from the council, Wild Horizons as the sitting tenant should be given the first right of refusal and have the option to purchase the land before it being offered to investors from outside our city limits. We have indicated in past applications that we will develop this land appropriately and have a clean track record of the ability to do so in numerous other investments we have made on the City of Victoria Falls,” said Mrs Murasiranwa-Hughes.</p>
<p>She said while it has been highlighted that an alternative site exists at the current Victoria Falls Boat Club, Wild Horizons was not willing to go there as the Boat Club also holds a valid lease with council. The company argues that the Boat Club site was not convenient for launching boat cruises because of the nature of the river there, hence it is used as an access point to the river for recreational purposes.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons employs 700 staff, a majority of them locals and pays school fees for 129 disadvantaged children among other numerous corporate social responsibilities, the company said.</p>
<p>Wild Horizons top management attended a full council meeting on Friday expecting the matter to be discussed and left disappointed when it was deferred.</p>
<p>“Having attended the full council meeting of today, it was disappointing to listen to the chair deferring the issue of stand 1392A from the agenda to another date, reason being the matter must be discussed at committee level before its presented back to full council.</p>
<p>We would like to put on record that we believe this move has rendered your letter null and void as we feel Wild Horizons was given notice illegally before all due processes were followed with council. We await advice from council on next full council meeting where we will eagerly attend to defend our position,” she said.</p>
<p>Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chair Mr Kelvin Moyo said residents were concerned about the matter since Wild Horizons is part of Victoria Falls community and biggest employer.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/victoria-falls-city-council-in-ultimatum-tiff-with-wild-horizons/" target="_blank">Victoria Falls City Council in ultimatum tiff with Wild Horizons</a> (05/02/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-70944959186887011552023-01-23T21:28:00.000+00:002023-03-01T21:29:02.022+00:00Sunset cruise becomes flagship activity in Victoria Falls<p>THE sunset cruise has become one of the leading tourist activities in the resort city of Victoria Falls with 90 percent of the domestic and international tourists going for the activity, a tour operator has revealed.</p>
<p>Victoria Falls boasts of numerous adventure, water activities, day trips, and game drive activities that complement one of the seven wonders of the world; the majestic Victoria Falls. Employers Association of Tour and Safari Operators president, who is also Shearwater Adventures public relations manager Mr Clement Mukwasi said the sunset cruise has been one of the most subscribed activities in Victoria Falls.</p>
<p>“The sunset cruise has become a flagship activity for Victoria Falls. About 90 percent of people who come into Victoria Falls do the sunset cruise and 100 percent of those that sleep over in Victoria Falls actually do the sunset cruise,” said Mr Mukwasi.</p>
<p>He said one of the major reasons why people want to do the sunset cruise is because of the natural environment that they find themselves in, giving them time to harmonise with nature.</p>
<p>“The water body is unpolluted; they are no buildings that are along the river. The activity itself which is a two-hour activity has actually become very popular among not only the international tourists but also the domestic tourists,” said Mr Mukwasi.</p>
<p>An estimated 40 boat cruises are operated by different tour operators along the Zambezi River. The sunset cruise accommodates all age groups, an attribute that Mr Mukwasi believes could be one of the attracting factors.</p>
<p>“It accommodates the youngest people of any group, be it a one-year-old or less, be it an elderly person they are able to do the sunset cruise. This could be the reason why it has appealed more to every spectrum across the tourist social divide. We have actually seen that because of its price levels everybody wants to do the sunset cruise,” said Mr Mukwasi.</p>
<p>The Zambezi River has got several boats on the river and these are operated both on the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides.</p>
<p>Mr Mukwasi said the activity has become one of the survival activities that has helped to take the tourism industry spring back to life.</p>
<p>“The sunset cruise can only compete with entry into the rain forest. After the entry into the falls the second and the most popular activity then becomes the sunset cruise so you actually would realise that the surge levels of the sunset cruise in Victoria Falls are actually very high it has actually a touch between the tourist and the guides.</p>
<p>“There is also an educational element to the people who actually do the activity. Remember the activity is done on the Zambezi River on the upper part of the falls. It is one and a half kilometres above the main falls so one can actually see the steam from the sunset cruise, you can see the steam of falls from where the activity actually occurs,” said Mr Mukwasi.</p>
<p>The Zambezi River is the fourth longest river in Africa after the Naija, the Nile and Congo. That makes cruise legendary activities because of the place where it is being done. — @nyeve14.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sourece: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/sunset-cruise-becomes-flagship-activity-in-victoria-falls/" target="_blank">Sunset cruise becomes flagship activity in Victoria Falls</a> (22/01/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-3648229085161845782023-01-12T12:51:00.004+00:002023-09-16T14:29:19.749+01:00Tourism sector attracts US$300m investment<p>ABOUT US$300 million was invested in the tourism sector last year, an official said, putting the industry badly affected by coronavirus on a solid footing.</p>
<p>The money was largely spent on the construction of new hospitality facilities such as lodges and hotels as well as renovations, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka, told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) recently.</p>
<p>The investment, from both foreign and local investors, was largely concentrated in Victoria Falls and Ganarezhou National Park, she said.</p>
<p>“A total of US$300 million was poured in the sector with new facilities in restaurants, hotels, lodges, safaris and game parks dominating,” Ms Muchanyuka.</p>
<p>The ban on travel and public conferences significantly suffocated the global tourism industry and in 2020, international arrivals plunged by 73 percent from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, causing estimated losses of US$2,4 trillion in tourism and related sectors, according to the report by the UN’s World Tourism Organisation.</p>
<p>However, the industry is recovering from the effects of the pandemic after many countries eased the restrictions.</p>
<p>Tourism Business Council (TBC) chairman, Mr Paul Matamisa, said there had been “huge” investment in the sector as operators prepare for the anticipated post-Covid-19 boom.</p>
<p>“We surely have seen a number of investments in the sector; be it new resorts or the upgrade of the existing facilities in order to stay abreast with the current trends,” he said.</p>
<p>“We have seen new lodges around the country and many game parks have been upgraded.</p>
<p>This week, a 40-roomed Insika Lodge in Victoria Falls will officially open. According to media reports, the ZESA Pension Fund is currently building a four– star hotel and a conference centre in the resort town and will be run by Cresta Hotels.</p>
<p>Chairman of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Matabeleland North chapter, Mr Anald Musonza, confirmed the province saw substantial investments last year.</p>
<p>“The region has been on a recovery path and yes, I can confirm that a lot of investment happened in the just ended year. I cannot quantify the amount but building a four or five-star lodge is no small feat and it is not cheap as well,” said Mr Musonza.</p>
<p>The long-planned, multi-million-dollar refurbishment of Harare’s five-star Meikles Hotel commenced last year.</p>
<p>Meikles Hotel general manager, Mr Tinashe Munjoma, said the three-phased programme to carry out a major redevelopment of selected key areas was ongoing.</p>
<p>The Government expects the tourism industry to continue growing in the outlook, benefiting from the recovery in international tourism, coming in of new players in the aviation sector and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).</p>
<p>Tourists’ arrivals are expected to increase to 1,4 million in 2023, while tourism receipts are projected at US$623 million. This year, the Government is planning to enhance marketing and promotion efforts through the deployment of tourism attachés at embassies to aggressively promote the country in key source markets such as China, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, UAE, the UK and the US.</p>
<p>The deployment of attachés will be complemented by active participation at flagship regional and international tourism meetings, conferences and exhibitions, marketing and promoting Zimbabwe’s tourism to the world through campaign programmes like VisitZimbabwe, MeetInZimbabwe and InvestInZimbabwe.</p>
<p>The sector will also undertake image building and promotion through hosting of tourism opinion leaders and influencers, as well as organising familiarisation tours for media houses from key international source markets. Priority will also be towards intensifying marketing efforts across the various digital marketing platforms.</p>
<p>This is also in sync with the Government’s engagement and re-engagement thrust.</p>
<p>To sustain the resilience of the domestic tourism industry, Government will intensify domestic tourism through campaigns and promotions, such as ZimBho/IZimYami programmes.</p>
<p>Further, the 2023 Budget allocated $725 million towards the capitalisation of Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle created to spearhead tourism infrastructure development in Victoria Falls, particularly focusing on off-site and on-site infrastructure for the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone, that is expected to attract investors.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/tourism-sector-attracts-us300m-investment/" target="_blank">Tourism sector attracts US$300m investment</a> (11/01/23)</p>
VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-11271246354823752622023-01-02T14:47:00.001+00:002023-08-26T14:49:09.012+01:00ZimParks shelves Vic Falls entry fees increase following operators’ outcry<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">VICTORIA Falls: Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has shelved the Rainforest entry fees increase that was set to begin next month and deferred the review to April.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">Tourism operators had raised objection through the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) over the lack of consultation.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">They argued the short-notice increase had set players on a collision course with tourists who had received 2023 schedules and made advance payments.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">ZimParks spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the increase had been put on hold.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">“As Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority we would like to confirm the postponement of the increase in Rainforest entry fees,” he said.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">“We were supposed to effect the increases on the 1st of January 2023 and after consulting players in the tourism industry we have agreed to postpone until the 1st of April.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">He said after consulting and considering that the country seeks to promote domestic tourism, ZimParks saw it prudent to allow easy access to the resort by locals upon payment of US$7 per person, which remains unchanged until April.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">“So, the new charges for international tourists or regional tourists are going to be effected on the 1st of April 2023,” said Farawo, adding that wildlife management and conservation was being funded by tourism directly.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">‘We are Victoria Falls Initiative’ coordinator, Shelley Cox, commended ZimParks for responding positively.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">She said engagements among stakeholders will minimise any negative impact of the increase in fees and allow trade partners and travellers to understand some of the reasons behind the increases.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">“While we await feedback on outstanding requests, it has been agreed that the Victoria Falls Destination Management partnership will work with all stakeholders to come up with an effective communication campaign strategy announcing the increases, which will be implemented in the second quarter of 2023,” she said.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">The new fees schedule proposed by ZimParks will see locals paying US$10 to enter through the ordinary gate up from US$7 per person while Sadc and international clients will pay US$30 and US$50, up from US$20 and US$30 respectively.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">To enter through the VIP gate, locals will pay US$30 per person, US$75 for SADC and US$150 for international clients.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">Locals who want to tour the rainforest under the moonlight will be expected to part with US$15 per person while Sadc clients will pay US$70 and US$100 for international clients.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">Visiting the Zambezi River will now cost US$5 for locals while SADC clients will pay US$12 and those from the international world paying US$15. Children above five years of age will pay half the adult fees.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">Vehicles will be charged between US$5 for small cars and US$20 for buses and lorries while foreign-registered vehicles will pay US$30 each.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5c5c5c; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 24px;">Source: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zimparks-shelves-vic-falls-entry-fees-increase-following-operators-outcry/" target="_blank">ZimParks shelves Vic Falls entry fees increase following operators’ outcry</a> (2/1/23)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7286095278551855161.post-75952174889915125042022-12-20T12:07:00.001+00:002023-08-29T12:09:04.313+01:00Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort<p> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LUSAKA,</strong><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (CAJ News)</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– RADISSON Hotel Group has opened the Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort in Zambia.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nestled on the banks of the Zambezi River, the resort is the group’s first safari resort in Africa and first resort in this Southern African country.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is seen as a key step towards its goal of reaching 150 hotels in operation and under development in Africa by 2025.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, Zambia represents a unique destination for our guests to discover and explore,” said Tim Cordon, Radisson Chief Commercial Officer, Middle East and Africa.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The official believes the expansion in Zambia demonstrates belief in the country’s potential.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This hotel is our second property in Zambia, following the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A third hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Lusaka, Longacres, is due to open in 2023.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort is ideally located near the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, 2km south of the historic city of Livingstone, and 4km northwest of the famous Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a celebrated World Heritage Site.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It features 200 rooms, suites and villas, many with views of the Zambezi, the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Source: <a href="https://www.cajnewsafrica.com/2022/12/19/radisson-hotel-group-opens-first-zambian-resort/" target="_blank">Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort </a>(19/12/22)</p>VFBNBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06329377366688495565noreply@blogger.com0