Livingstone, Zambia - The once "docile" tourism capital of Zambia, Livingstone could be basking in the limelight of Sun International Hotels soon. But only if the Zambian Government manages to meet the hotel group's numerous infrastructural development targets and demands.
Sun International has almost finished Zambia's single biggest hospitality investment since independence 36 years ago at a cost of more than $69 million at the fringes of the famous Victoria falls.
The three resorts built less than 100m from the thunderous falls on the Zambian side comprise a five-star hotel, a three-star hotel and executive upper-class maisonettes.
But the Zambian government seems to have been caught off-guard at the "supersonic" speed the hotels have been built. At least by Zambian standards the structure was completed in a record time of than 18 months.
Sun demanded, among other things, the development of infrastructure such as roads, water reticulation and communication, the refurbishment of the Livingstone international airport, and the upgrading of the road network, sewer and drainage system.
While the Sun structures were taking shape, government failed to meet even a quarter of its pledge. The critical 11km waterline from the reticulation plant to the resort at the falls has not been fully funded and it seems unlikely that the cash-strapped government will manage to do so before 1 April 2001, the official opening day. Only about $400 000 of the estimated $2 million has been paid to the Norwegian contractor Noremco.
The road network remains dotted with enormous potholes and large pools of water along the roads.
Only the Livingstone International Airport has been refurbished at a cost of about $800 000. And this is not from government funding, but the Quasi National Airports Corporation, which runs the country's major national and international airports.
Local government and housing permanent secretary Overs Banda, whose ministry is responsible for the development of the local infrastructure, said the government was doing its best to look for funds.
He said President Chiluba has attached much importance to the project because it is the biggest single investment since he ascended to power nine years ago. He last week appointed a ministerial co-ordinating committee comprising ministers from the Department of Tourism, Local Government and Housing, Works and Supplies and Finance and Economic development to ensure the project received the best possible attention government was able to provide.
Outgoing Tourism Minister Reverend Anoshi Chipawa told Sun Group Divisional Director for Resorts Phillip Gergas while visiting the project in October, that government was very concerned with the Sun Resort project.
"Our tourism promotion has been literally non-existent. Sun Resorts will put Zambia squarely into international tourism spotlight," he said.
The Tourism Council of Zambia chairman Bruce Chapman says his group is worried with the pace at which government has been developing the infrastructure in Livingstone.
Since the construction of the resort a number of South African companies have started pouring resources into the city of Livingstone. Up until 1996 the city had neither an ice-cream machine, nor a bakery.
Within two years a number of major South African companies have opened businesses in the city. Notable among these are Hungry Lion, Shoprite Checkers, Hifi, and Supreme Furniture. Stocks & Stocks has been given prime land in the city centre to build a modern mall at a cost of over $12 million.
Nationwide Airlines is to commence daily flights by April 2001, while Air Namibia, British Airways and SAA may introduce weekly flights by June 2001.
So far no less than $70 million has been directly and indirectly contributed to the gross domestic product (GDP).
Nine months after opening an additional $50 million will flow into the national economy and about $90 million the subsequent year, rising to about $104m by the year 2005.The project will therefore have increased GDP by 3.6 percent by the year 2005.
Over 6 500 jobs have so far been created directly and indirectly through multiplying effects as a result of services rendered to the project. The figure is expected to rise to 9000 by the year 2005.
The resort, which is already fully booked for the first six months after opening in April, will attract over 85 000 tourists a year. Zambia attracted only 80 000 tourists during 1999.
The Sun resort consists of a 216 room three-star hotel with a 350-seater conference facility, a boma for special functions, a kids children's emporium and a small casino.
The architects have been inspired by the simplicity and style of traditional adobe mud buildings that will be in harmony with the African landscape.
"The buildings are at once simple, rustic and welcoming," says hotel general manager Phillip Couvaras.
The adjoining five star 175-room hotel will be upmarket, "offering the same exalted service standards and facilities that distinguish the Table Bay, Sun International's premier hotel in Cape Town. Where the Table Bay is neo-Victorian, the five-star hotel at the Falls is triumphantly Zambian - as interpreted by master architects and designers. Its unique design has been inspired by grand, old Victorian estate houses, many examples of which can be admired in the nearby city of Livingstone," says a Sun International spokesperson.
The Sun hotel is the country's third major hotel by a South African Company, the others being the Lusaka Holiday Inn and the Chisamba Protea Hotel near Lusaka.
The Sun Hotel at the Victoria Falls in Livingstone is the most unique of all, being situated on an International Heritage site - the Falls itself, which is in turn regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world.
Tourists generally believe the Falls are on the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi River, because from the Zimbabwean side one has a view over 500 metres of the 1.7km of spray.
But only from the Zambian side can walk 1,2km to view the falls.
With fewer visitors visiting Zimbabwe due to recent upheavals over land, the Sun resort could help revive ZambiaÆs slugging tourism market.
Zambian Tourism will reach unprecedented growth from links to Sun International's exclusive marketing network which links the Palace of the Lost City at Sun City to the Saint Geran in Mauritius, the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, Table Bay in Cape Town and the Zimbali Lodge in Kwazulu-Natal.
"Sun Hotels will spark the revival of Livingstone and Zambia," says Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) chief executive Agness Seenka.
Sixty-eight-year-old Moffat Ndibali, who was retrenched when a local textile factory closed, and who has been living in Livingstone for 45 years, says: "It is like sleeping and waking up to a changed world. This town was dead. In 1958, there were many flights at the airport. By 1990 there was not a single flight in a week. There were no tourists in town. Now I can see we are back in 1958. If only Sun could open today."
The completion of the hotel has rekindled new hope for people and industry.
"I have reason to start a laundry business. There has been no laundry business in Livingstone for over 20 years. But now, I can bid even for an old machine," says Fred Zimba.
But no matter how much the government is seeking South African investment, Livingstone lacks a deliberate policy to develop the city into a major tourist attraction.
The city possesses the biggest collection of famous explorer David Livingstone's personal belongings. It boasts the biggest museum in the vicinity of the Falls. It is also home to Cecil John Rhodes's first steam engines and major historical facts about the Falls and the Zambezi.
Source: Livingstone to get rebirth? (13/12/00)
