Elephant tramples two tourists to death in Livingstone, Zambia

Source: ZNTC

Two foreign tourists have been trampled by an elephant at Maramba River lodge in Livingstone. The incident happened around 17 hours on Saturday.

Senior Wildlife Warden Southern Region Lewis Daka has told ZNBC news that Van Griensven 61 from Holland and Sabine Elfride 57 from Belgium met their fate as they were watching elephants that went within the vicinity of the lodge.

Mr. Daka says the lady allegedly went very close to the elephant to get pictures something that made the elephant agitated and charge at her.

Mr. Daka says Mr. Griensven tried to save the lady and in the process the elephant also charged and trampled on him.

He says his department regrets the death of the two tourists and has appealed to lodge owners to provide guides to tourists who visit their lodges.

Mr. Daka says tourists must not be allowed to get too close to the animals like elephants because they are wild and dangerous.

There is an influx of elephants in Livingstone and Mosi-o-tunya National Park.

Just last week, another elephant trampled on a security officer from one of the lodges in Livingstone on his way to work.

Source: Elephant tramples two tourists to death in Livingstone, Zambia (12/11/17)

More: Elephant kills man (03/11/17)

Elephant tramples tourists to death in Zambia (13/11/17)

Zim to oppose Zambia’s plan for a spin wheel at Vic Falls

THE Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management says it will declare “tourism war” against Zambia over its plans to allow a Chinese investor to put up a spin wheel at the Victoria Falls against UNESCO standards governing World Heritage Sites.

And former National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) executive director Nicolas Katanekwa says the development proposals at the Victoria Falls through the construction of a Spin-Sational Ferris Wheel similar to that at Disneyland by a Chinese investor Ju Wenbin, the chief executive officer of China-Africa Cotton Development Limited, will spell an end to tourism in Livingstone.

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZNPWMA) official in Victoria Falls town, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to give interviews to the press, said Zambia should not tamper with the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (WHS).

“Our superiors in Harare have said they will not sit idle and see the Victoria Falls getting deregistered as a WHS. They have informed us that we need to be ready for ‘war’ against Zambia, it’s going to be a tough tourism war and Zambia is bound to lose,” the wildlife official
said.

He said Zimbabwe was not ready to lose the Victoria Falls heritage status due to Chinese developments which would be against UNESCO regulations.

“In 1989, UNESCO declared the Victoria Falls a WHS, bringing the number of WHS’s in Zimbabwe to three after the Matopo Hills and the Zimbabwe Ruins. The falls is a shared WHS with Zambia. Mind you, Zambia has only one WHS which is the Victoria Falls, so the government must tread carefully whenever thinking of developments at the site,” said the Zimbabwean official.

And Katanekwa said the Victoria Falls Eastern Cataract was a gazetted National Monument which needed strict protection.

“A National Monument can’t be sold unless it is de-gazetted; after all, it is also a National Park and a World Heritage Site. I remember during my era that Sun Hotels wanted to build an 2but UNESCO refused this proposal, so any developments such as that of a wheel can only take place if the Victoria Falls is removed from the World Heritage list and Zambia, through parliament, de-gazettes the Eastern Cataract National Monument,” Katanekwa said.

He added that he supported chief Mukuni’s views over the Victoria Falls and appealed to the PF government to listen.

“You can’t sell a National Monument to an individual, that proposal is unacceptable,” said Katanekwa. “The Eastern Cataract National Monument has a lot of historical items there dating a thousand years back and that should not be threatened by massive developments such as that of constructing a wheel. If this goes on, we risk the Victoria Falls being de-listed from the World Heritage Site list by UNESCO.”

Source: Zim to oppose Zambia’s plan for a spin wheel at Vic Falls (06/11/17)

Zambia sells land near Victoria Falls for Chinese to erect observation ferris wheel

A Chinese investor is set to build a spin wheel at the Victoria Falls after buying off land where the Mukuni curio traders conduct business.

And Victoria Falls Mukuni Curio Traders Association chairperson Fabian Siazibola has confirmed being approached by representatives of the Chinese investor who told them that traders will have to vacate the premises in readiness for the wheel construction.

However, tourism minister Charles Banda says he is not aware that a Chinese investor has been give land at the Victoria Falls but confirmed that some investors had made application for the land in question. Government sources have revealed that part of the Victoria Falls would be run by the Chinese who will put up a play park similar to Disneyland.

The Chinese investor has since been given permission to remove traders from the site to pave way for construction works.

“We have been instructed to give land at the Victoria Falls by the government. The instructions were sent to the Ministry of Tourism from State House. The named Chinese investor (Ju Wenbin) the CEO of China-Africa Cotton Development Limited was even taken on a conducted tour of the Vic Falls accompanied by some directors in the Ministry of Tourism recently,” the source said.

The source added that the Department of Wildlife and Zambia Environmental Management Agency had not been involved in the land allocation which would have required an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in normal circumstances.

“We informed the government about the dangers of this development with UNESCO, but it seems the PF leadership is in a compromised situation,” the source added.

When reached for a comment, National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) director Collins Chipote said he was not the best person to give an answer on the issue.

“That you can confirm with the ministry, I may not be the best person to respond to that. Get in touch with the ministry,” said Chipote despite him heading an institution that in charge of heritage sites such as the Victoria Falls.

And Siazibola said the traders would never allow the Chinese to put up the wheel with or without government’s permission.

“Over our dead bodies, we will never allow this to happen. The Victoria Falls is our sacred land as a people of Mukuni village; it is a shrine to us…and it is not for sale even to the highest bidder. We have three shrines here and we will protect them with our lives. Let them take the wheel to the Northern Circuit. I will not be surprised that the PF government will sale Zambia to the Chinese tomorrow,”

Siazibola said.

He said the Chinese investor was likely to take over the management of the Victoria Falls just like what happened to ZNBC through Top Star.

“We the people of Mukuni village will never allow the Falls to be sold…we also hear that the PF has placed the Kafue National Park for sale. For God’s sake, the PF should slowdown on this reckless path of selling Zambia. Anyway, we know that just like Michael Sata reversed RB’s deals, the next government will have a big job to deal with the PF corruption,” said Siazibola.

The Victoria Falls is Zambia’s only World Heritage Site shared with Zimbabwe and UNESCO does not allow any developmental projects that impede the beauty of the site.

A Hungarian investor who had planned to put up a hot air balloon near the Zesco power station was stopped by NHCC a couple of years ago despite having commenced the construction program.

And a hotel project near the old Maramba Cultural Village was also stopped soon after then Republican vice-president Lupando Mwape had laid a foundation stone at the site.

When contacted, Banda said he was not aware that land at the Victoria Falls had been given out, adding that State House had no mandate to allocate land but the Ministry of Lands.

He, however, confirmed that there were applications from some investors for the Victoria Falls land. Asked if a Chinese investor has been allocated land at the site, Banda said he would not be in a position to know.

“I am not aware, at the moment I don’t know who has been given land but applications are there. If anybody has been given, the Ministry of Lands will be able to know. Not State House or my ministry, land is only allocated by the Ministry of Lands,” said Banda.

State House spokesperson Amos Chanda was constantly busy when phoned for a comment while the Commissioner of Lands was reportedly out of office and his mobile phone was switched off by press time.

 Source: PF sells land near Victoria falls, wants chinese to erect spin wheel (02/11/17)

Elephant kills man (Livingstone, Zambia)

An elephant has killed a United Air Charter Zambia Limited security guard in the Mosi-o-Tunya national park in Livingstone.

The man identified as Mulyata Nyumbu aged between fifty and fifty-five was killed by the elephant as he was cycling to work at about 17:00 hours yesterday.

An eye witness, also security guard, told a ZNBC news crew that rushed to the scene that Nyumbu was meters ahead of him cycling when the elephant charged.

Linus Mponda says Nyumbu saw the animal at close range and dropped from the bicycle and ran into the bush but the elephant caught up with him and thereafter Mponda only saw a cloud of dust as the elephant tossed the man in the air several times.

And Department of National Parks and Wildlife Senior Area Warden Lewis Daka who was found at the scene of the attack expressed sadness at the loss of life.

He has however advised companies within the vicinity of the national park to provide suitable transport for their employees to avoid such incidents.

Mr. Daka said walking or cycling in the park especially at this time of the year when the Mosi-o-Tunya national park has a lot of elephants is risky.

But Ronald Mwiinga, a manager at United Air Charter Zambia Limited where Nyumbu used to work said the company provides transport but some employees prefer to cycle to work.

Mr. Mwiinga said the company will with immediate effect ban employees walking or cycling to work through the park to avoid a repeat of the misfortune.

Source: Elephant kills man (Livingstone, Zambia) [03/11/17]

Zimparks in tribalism and nepotism storm

Mthwakazi Republic Party has said it is concerned and disappointed by the Zimbabwe National Parks and wildlife Authority's conduct in regard to their employment policy.

 Mthwakazi Republic Party said it is reliable informed that just last week the authority's management recruited 120 people for a three month training in Hwange, that will subsequently get them employed.

"The authority's bosses only employ Shona relatives at the expense of the local Ndebele people.  A lot of our people in the whole of Matabeleland had applied for the same jobs with the required results but were not considered or ever called for an interview. At Matopo National parks in Matabeleland South there are more than 800 hundred workers there but non-locals.  Mqondisi Moyo the Party's Member of Parliament's candidate for Matobo North yesterday met the disgruntled Youths who declared that they were ready to defend their jobs and their territories against Shona invasion in Matabeleland and Midlands," said the party.

"As a party we are seriously against this provocation that is being done by the Mugabe regime, we will not allow the government to continue side-lining our people treating us as second class citizens, in our own forefathers land. We have noticed that it has become an unwritten law that the government only employs Shona people for all vacancies from the office orderly to directors it is all according to the 1979 Shona grand plan, that says only Shona people must be employed."

The party said recently another government department Zimra to be precise published vacancy notice asking for drivers to work in Matabeleland North yet the applications are addressed to Harare, which is very clear to them  that their people are just wasting time applying since workers will come from Harare.

"We are all aware that 95% of Zimra workers are Shona speaking and all the doubting Thomases can go and prove that at Mhlahlandlela Zimra offices and Customs Duty offices near  Main Post Office in Bulawayo CBD as well as at the border places like Beitbridge, Plumtree, Victoria Falls and other borders like Maitengwe,Matsiloje, Kazungula and the new one in Thuli in Gwanda," said the party.
"Hardly will you find Sothos, Vendas, Kalangas, Nambyas, Xhosas,Jahundas, Chewas,Tongas and among other tribes in these border posts only shonas including the sweepers.Further investigations into the wild life authority saga reveal that the only people who were employed were related to the bosses and to ZANU PF, which is the major reason why this country has been destroyed. Unqualified people are getting jobs ahead of qualified people simple because they are connected to either the system or Shona tribe."

MRP said they condemn this act of tribalism and nepotism by the ZANU PF satanic government.

"We would like to encourage our people to register and VOTE Team MRP in the next coming election period so that we are able to be in charge of our own resources and our future. A situation where there are no Ndebeles,  Khalanga or Venda people at the National parks and wildlife is a clear sign of provocation and Satanism," said the party.

 "MRP President has declared that if the Matopo National parks will continue doing as they are doing now it will rather be closed down. In Matopo more than 80 people tendered their CVs and 20 were called for interviews, out of 20 only 2 were taken. Only two from Matopo were taken, of those  80 there was only 1 from Slozwi and two from Lushumbe.  Honorable Cde Mqondisi Moyo vowed to fight for the locals from Matobo North and South specifically places like Mahlabathini, Gulathi, Njelele, Mabhulawuni, Chap, White waters, Bhazha, Fumugwe, Mazhayimbe, SunyetSen.,Gohole, Nathisa, Maphisa, Ratanyana, Bhalagwe, Tshelanyemba, Nhlapho, Khezi and other nearby places which constitute Matobo  North and South."

 MRP said this madness by these Shona supremists has gone for so long unchecked and the time is now.

"We are a generation that will not sit back and watch while our tormentors continue to capture us, we don't want to be cursed by the forthcoming generations on our graves, they will spit on our graves if we continue like this," said the party.

Source: Zimparks in tribalism and nepotism storm (30/10/17)

Mangwanya new ZimParks director-general

 THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) board appointed Fulton Upenyu Mangwanya as the new director-general with effect from August 1, 2017 for the next five years.

Mangwanya is a committed and self-motivated, adaptable to evolvinAg technologies and resilient, flexible, result-oriented, team player/builder with good communication skills. He is willing to learn new things.

He is a third-year PhD student in the Faculty of Social Studies at the University of Zimbabwe, a holder of MSc in International Relations, a BSc Honours Degree in Politics and Administration from the same university.

He was born on January 13, 1967 and is married, with five children. Mangwanya began his career as a farm manager in the 1980s before joining the President’s Department in January 1988.

Due to hard work, commitment and loyalty to the country, he rose through the ranks to the level of assistant director.

He worked in the department until his appointment as ZimParks director-general. He served the department with distinction in various sections over the years.

Mangwanya is a board member at Air Zimbabwe. His appointment is a sure boost to conservation efforts and will unlock value from the country’s abundant wildlife.

Mangwanya is replacing Edson Chidziya, who left the organisation in 2015.

He went through a rigorous selection process conducted by a private human resources consultancy firm, where he came tops.

The board also did its selection process, where again he came first before his name was submitted to then Environment, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who made further consultancy before his appointment.

Source: Mangwanya new ZimParks director-general (28/10/17)

'100 tourists robbed in Victoria Falls hotels'

ABOUT 100 tourists have been robbed while booked at hotels in Victoria Falls in the last four months.

Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna said this in Parliament on Thursday and called on the Government to strengthen security in resort areas to protect tourists who bring highly sought after foreign currency in the country.

Nduna urged the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development to look into issues of security for tourists, especially in Victoria Falls where about 100 robberies have been recorded in the last four months.

"The Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has done quite well resulting in infrastructure development at Victoria Falls Airport which has seen a rise in tourists arrivals in the resort town.

"Be that as it may, what has now occurred in the past four months is that about 100 tourists were robbed while booked in hotels in Victoria Falls. If this is not attended to, it will have a negative effect on the efforts done in infrastructure development," said Nduna.

He said it was important for the relevant authorities to prioritise strengthening of security in Victoria Falls and other resort towns.

"This is why I stand to ask that relevant authorities look at this scourge that is about to reverse the gains that the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has brought to this country," said Nduna.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mabel Chinomona urged Nduna to bring up the issue as a motion.

Tourist arrivals to Victoria Falls increased by 21 percent in the first six months of this year following the expansion of the airport which can now take 1.5 million visitors a year.

Eight airlines now fly into Victoria Falls after Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South Africa's Airlink started flying into the resort town, joining British Airways, Air Zimbabwe, South African Airways, Fastjet and Air Namibia.

In its latest report, hospitality group, Africa Albida Tourism said the resort town had recorded a 32 percent increase in international visitors to 84 249 between January and June this year from 63 016 during the comparable period last year.


Source: '100 tourists robbed in Victoria Falls hotels' (23/10/17)