Tourism players battle overhead costs

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
Tourism operators are battling overhead costs with no new income being generated, as lockdown measures to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19 continue.

One of Victoria Falls’ most upmarket eateries, Lookout Cafe, is going through such an experience, but has high hopes for the future and is working on strategies to reposition its operations beyond the pandemic.

The facility is being operated by Wild Horizons, one of the leading tour operating companies in the country, which employs close to 100 locals. The facility resumed business last year in December following extensive refurbishment after being gutted by fire one Christmas Eve in 2018 where property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed.

With eateries being some of the top facilities on travellers’ shopping list, the ban on international travel dealt a heavy blow to the business, as no tourists are coming since March.

Wild Horizons chief executive Mr Gary Archer said focus has been on clearing all perishable stock, which would have gone to waste because of the lockdown. He said the cafe has, however, managed to maintain its staff at least for now although mostly on reduced salaries.

“The Lookout Café closed its doors at the start of the lockdown period. Since then there has been zero revenue generated while maintaining all overhead costs of the restaurant.

“In the current environment a number of measures have been put in place, which include selling off perishable food and beverage stock items to reduce inventory levels.

“All power supply items in the form of gas lines, water lines and electrical points have been switched off to reduce overhead costs, “ said Mr Archer.

He said the company has come up with comprehensive standard operating procedures for post Covid-19 travel.

“Currently all restaurants are closed countrywide for sit-in diners. While we wait for our ministry to issue the greenlight to open the restaurants, we also look to see when the borders may open with flights returning to Victoria Falls.

“The restaurant will initially look to open for lunch trade, followed by dinner service once the tourism numbers begin to rise. We are conducting in house training programmes with our staff, to ensure we keep them in top form,” Mr Archer said.

To prepare itself for reopening, the business has maintained the evergreen garden with a number of herbs and vegetables planted. Maintenance and décor work has been carried out at the facility along with scheduled deep cleaning cycles and fogging, explained Mr Archer.

“Wild Horizons permanent staff are still employed, albeit on reduced wages. We are in regular discussion with our staff and will react as the environment requires. We are very mindful of the difficult times staff and their families are going through during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our aim is to still provide quality food and beverages at the Lookout Café and while we are confident that the tourism and trade numbers will increase organically, we are fully aware and compliant with the regulations and guidelines stated by Government and the World Health Organisation to provide a safe environment for our diners to enjoy their experience with us, “ he said.— @ncubeleon

Source: Tourism players battle overhead costs (29/06/20)

Covid -19 pandemic mauls Zimparks wildlife operations

The novel coronavirus pandemic has hit hardest all wildlife conservation efforts by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) as its main lifeline earnings from foreign tourism have dwindled to critical levels.

Zimparks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo told the Herald recently that lack of tourism revenues had badly affected his organisation to an extent that the authority would soon fail to pay its more than 2000 workers and meet other financial obligations.

“The situation is bad and very soon we will not be able to pay our rangers,” he said. “Tourism is dead for now and we are appealing to the Government to allow us to open our parks and other income generating activities.

“Zimparks relies heavily from tourism earnings for its operational activities. Wildlife tourism plays a critical role in our foreign currency generation through game viewing and licensed hunting. We also use the proceeds to respond to human wildlife conflicts.”

Tourism in Zimbabwe and most other African countries has been hard hit by coronavirus lockdowns with hotel bookings canceled, safaris postponed and cultural tours stopped.

“Zimparks revenues have fallen drastically – by up to nearly 100 percent,” Farawo said.

“We are struggling to stay afloat and want the Government to allow us to open tourism activities to enable us to pay rangers and meet our mandate. Between January and June this year, we received 973 cases of human wildlife conflict cases and we only managed to respond to only half of the cases.

“We need money to pay rangers allowances, we need money for fuel and patrols. The situation is dire and if we don’t pay rangers and support their operations, this might pose serious problems for the country’s wildlife conservation efforts.”

The Victoria Falls, the country’s premier resort spot, national parks and other recreation sites under Zimparks have closed down as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak which has killed more than 477 000 people out of the over 9,2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus across the world.

Several safari operators have shut down their operations while local communities living close to the conservation areas have also been affected.

Lockdowns have piled financial pressures and strain to tourism operators and communities that depend on wildlife tourism.

“We are appealing to all other stakeholders for support,” Farawo said. “We need help and we appreciate all the assistance we are getting from our partners. It’s not enough and we need help to fill in all the critical gaps.”

Zimparks requires between US$20 million and US$25 million a year to fund its wildlife conservation activities.

“We are in the midst of the hunting season and our revenue is zero due to the Covid – 19 lockdowns. The impact has been severe and more than 40 people have been killed by wild animals while 38 others were wounded,” said Farawo.

“Elephants, crocodiles, lions and buffaloes are still a major problems and we are incapacitated to respond effectively whenever we receive distress calls from local communities living close to wildlife conservation areas.”

The tourism sector in Zimbabwe and most other African countries have suffered badly due to the Covid -19 outbreak.

It is estimated that more than 70 million tourists visited Africa last year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization to enjoy safari tours, game drives and trophy hunting.

But with airports and borders now closed, most of this income has been lost.

Fears abound that the loss of revenue will increase poaching activities as impoverished families search for food to survive and game patrols weaken.

Zimparks does not receive government funding and it largely depends on tourism revenue to run their operations and care for the animals and plants in protected areas.

“Without money we cannot do frequent patrols as we need fuel for rangers. We need food and allowances for rangers to go on patrol,” said Farawo.

“Zimparks needs to patrol about 13 percent of this country to protect our wildlife and ensure the survival of the tourism sector. The Hwange National Park is almost the size of Belgium and we need resources to patrol and protect our wildlife.”

Source: Covid -19 pandemic mauls Zimparks wildlife operations (30/06/20)

Zimbabwe's striking nurses declare total shutdown after govt snub

HEALTH workers in the country's public hospitals Monday declared a complete shutdown of the sector after government continued to pay a deaf ear to their plight.

Zimbabwe nurses downed tools some two weeks in protest over low wages and poor working conditions.

They have further rejected government's 50% salary hike coupled with US$75 monthly allowance.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association, in a Memorandum to all nurses in government-owned health institutions, said health workers had reached a breaking point and could not survive on their meagre monthly earnings equivalent to about US$40.

The association said "every affected member must immediately stay at home".

"Government's lack of action, and more importantly the refusal to engage the membership leadership on the on-going job action suggests to us that it has still not accepted that its workers are incapacitated," the memorandum, dated June 29 reads.

"Had it so accepted, urgent steps to address this situation would have been taken the moment we advised of our intention to withdraw labour."

The nurses said while the government would not want them to make reference to the parallel market rate, reality on the ground was that pricing for goods and services was pegged against parallel market rates, currently at over US$1:100.

"For every US$100.00, a person will get ZW$10,000.00. Using this measure, it means the majority of nurses are earning anything between US$30 – US$40. It is the rate we are faced with when we have to transact even in established supermarkets.

"To put this in perspective, if one is to walk into a supermarket today with ZW$1 ,000 (being one third of the majority of nurses salaries, one would only be able to buy 2 litres cooking oil, two kg of sugar, 2 litres of drink, 2 kg of rice and 2 loaves of bread."

The nurses association said despite having to buy groceries, the health workers were also faced with other expenses including rent, school fees, medical fees and other essentials.

"For those who own cars, they cannot even fuel it up to full tank anymore because it now costs more than their salaries to do so.

"Therefore, the reality which any reasonable person will accept is that we are incapacitated from attending work, even if we wanted to," the nurses said.

The nurses described their salaries as "slave wages" adding that under the circumstances, they were not different from the unemployed.

"Having discussed this with the association's executive, we hereby call upon every nurse in Zimbabwe, from those working at a rural clinic in the most remote parts of the country, all the way up to those working at the central hospitals, to immediately do the following; "For those who have not been going to work, continue withholding your labour. To those who have been subsidising our employer by going to work, mostly because you may have an alternative source of income, we call upon you to reconsider this and withdraw your labour as well."

While nurses in Zimbabwe were getting an average US$40 a month, in South Africa, the same are getting at least R17 000, which translates to more than US$1000.

In Zambia, the least paid nurse gets US$400.

"We have taken this opportunity to write to our constituency of nurses just so as to reinforce what we are all going through.

"Currently, the RBZ trading rate of the Zimbabwean Dollar to the United States Dollar is at $57.30. What this means is that for every US$100, a person would legally get ZW$5,730.00."

"0ur survey has shown us that the majority of workers are not being paid ZW$5,730.00. What this means is that the ordinary nurse is earning far below US$100, even using the already rejected 50% increment offered by the government."

Source: Zimbabwe's striking nurses declare total shutdown after govt snub (30/06/20)

Former football administrators donate to Vic Falls families

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
SOME former football administrators in Victoria Falls have donated mealie-meal to more than 100 vulnerable families in the resort town to help cushion them from effects of the Covid-19 lockdown.

About 130 beneficiaries were identified in Chinotimba suburb’s Railways section where there is a huge population of pensioners and elderly residents as well as in Mkhosana suburb’s Mfelandawonye section.

Former Wankie FC player Nyaro Mumba and former Busy Island player Thembani Sibanda, who are now both visually impaired, Jabulani Ndebele (Busy Island), Andrew Mpala and Dumisani Mathe (12 Stars) were among the beneficiaries.

Chinotimba Old People’s Home also benefitted.

United Kingdom-based Winsen Sibanda, the former Intundla player and manager, Whispher Mpala former Victoria Falls United manager, former 12 Stars coach Dumile Mpofu and former 12 Stars player Dumisani Mathe came up with the initiative.

Intundla, Busy Island and Victoria Falls United were among the first teams to play professional lower division football in Victoria Falls.

Each recipient family received a 10kg packet of mealie meal.

In an interview during the door-to-door delivery of the mealie meal, Mpala said the gesture is a way of giving back to the community that groomed them to become footballers.

"I have retired from football and am currently training to be a full time pastor, while Sibanda also left football when he moved to the UK. Sibanda is a well-known football administrator in this area. We sat down as legends and decided to help our community. We are what we are because of this same community that is now struggling because of Covid-19, hence we decided to give back the little that we can,” said Mpala.

Mpofu said they targeted Railways section because that’s where Sibanda grew up.

Victoria Falls Ward 5 councillor Richard Mguni, who was part of the door-to-door distribution, commended the gesture saying it will go a long way in cushioning the vulnerable and restoring hope among residents.

“We reached 130 families in Railways section as each got 10kg of mealie meal. We also donated to Chinotimba Old People’s Home and we are so grateful to the donors,” Mguni said.

One of the beneficiaries Bekezela Sithole (46), an unemployed widow from Chinotimba, said she was grateful for the donation as she had run out of mealie meal with her three minor children, while a National Railways of Zimbabwe pensioner Lovemore Rabson Jambo (65) said he had been struggling to buy basics for his orphaned grandchildren. – @ncubeleon

Source: Former football administrators donate to Vic Falls families (29/06/20)

Vic Falls flea markets reopen. . . while curio vendors are yet to open

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
FLEA market traders in Victoria Falls have resumed business after the municipality allowed them back to their vending stalls.

Informal traders such as curio vendors and flea market operators are some of the businesses that were closed because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Some were now operating from their homes, displaying clothes on verandas for sale, resulting in raids by municipal police.

A survey by a Chronicle news crew during the week showed that the Victoria Falls Municipality (VFM)-owned Chinotimba Flea Market is now open while Comesa Market, a private facility popularly known as Emaplankeni, has been opened to those running shops, while vending stalls remain closed.

Curio vendors are yet to open probably because their major customers are tourists.

Flea market traders said while they are happy to be back, business is very low as there are few customers.

“I started on Monday but as you can see business is very low. We are displaying stuff that we had ordered between December and January and we can’t restock now since the borders are closed. The tourism industry is closed because of Covid-19 hence people’s buying power is next to zero,” said Ms Gugulethu Sibanda, who sells a variety of clothes.

Chinotimba Flea Market chairman Mr Trynos Taruvinga said the majority of vendors are still struggling to raise $265 which is needed upfront for annual licence renewal as well as rent which is pegged at $331 per month per stall.

“About 37 of the more than 60 members have managed to come back while some are still struggling with licence renewal and money to restock. We are back because of hunger. People couldn’t sell at home because they were being raided by authorities,” said Mr Taruvinga.

He appealed to Government to consider them when giving out grants, saying none of their members had benefited so far.

Each vendor is encouraged to wear a mask and have a sanitiser.

VFM Housing and Community Services director Mr Brian Nyamande said they had fumigated the market places.

“Yes, we have since allowed traders in the informal sector to return to the market but the conditions are that we had to fumigate and disinfect the premises before re-opening. They are under stringent control and guidance of our public health and social services teams as we try to enforce social distancing and other regulations,” said Mr Nyamande.

He said the local authority, together with the Covid-19 taskforce which he chairs in Victoria Falls, considered the economic plight of vendors who had been out of business since start of the lockdown in March.

The disinfection exercise was done last week.

Mr Nyamande said they will be strictly monitoring for adherence to guidelines such as social distancing and sanitising of hands.

“We have put in place sanitisation and other public health measures and hope all will go well. Our main thrust is to strike a balance between health and economic viability of these people whose livelihoods are entirely dependent on vending,” said Mr Nyamande. — @ncubeleon

Source: Vic Falls flea markets reopen. . . while curio vendors are yet to open (27/06/20)

78-year-old villager fined US$20k for killing leopard

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A 78-year-old man from Dete in Hwange District has been ordered by the court to pay the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) US$20 000 after he trapped and killed a leopard.

Amos Moyo of Thuthukani village on the edge of Hwange National Park used an axe to finish off the marauding big cat that had been caught by a trap he had set in Vulamashava bush.

The trapped leopard attacked Moyo on Thursday last week when he went to check the trap, resulting in him sustaining serious injuries on both arms, head and face.

The leopard pounced on Moyo who used his hands to wrestle it after his axe had fallen down.

He later managed to reach for the axe and struck the leopard to death but almost lost his right eye.

Moyo asked his nephew Perfect Ndimande (20) to carry the carcass home where they skinned it with the help of Mr Tayi Moyo and Mr Gudu Justice Moyo.

Moyo and Ndimande were jointly charged with making, possessing or using Class Two traps and another of removing any animal or any part of an animal from any land or from one place to another on the land, when they appeared before Hwange magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje.

Moyo told the court that he decided to trap the big cat after it killed his goat.

“One of my goats was killed sometime in March and I saw some leopard spoors. I was frustrated when nothing was done after I reported to authorities,” said Moyo.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence. He was also ordered to pay ZimParks US$20 000 being the value of the leopard.

The magistrate said she had taken into account Moyo’s advanced age and that he almost lost his life, which was enough punishment.

Ndimande was fined $1 200 or alternatively four months in jail if he fails to pay the fine by July 31 and in addition, he was sentenced to a further two months in prison which were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

Ms Gakanje said she considered that Ndimande did not participate in setting the trap while Tayi and Gudu were not charged because they only assisted in skinning the animal.

The carcass, skin and trap were forfeited to the state.

Prosecuting, Ms Jamesina Makanza said Moyo committed the crime between Thursday last week and Sunday.

“During the period between 18 and 21 June Moyo set a Class Two spring jaw trap in Vulamashava bush and caught the leopard. He found the trapped leopard alive and it attacked him before he killed it.

Investigations by ZimParks rangers who were on patrol led to Moyo’s homestead where they found the leopard carcass hanging from a tree and the skin spread on the ground to dry. Moyo and Ndimande were then arrested. — @ncubeleon.

Source: 78-year-old villager fined US$20k for killing leopard (26/06/20)

Zambia reopens its air borders to boost the economy

Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has announced the reopening of the country’s air borders and airports.

He said the decision was to boost the economy of the country which has been badly hit by restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Zambia will be one of the first countries to reopen its air borders in Africa amid the covid-19 pandemic.

Zambia has registered 1,497 coronavirus cases and 18 deaths, according to President Lungu.

“We have to get back to work (…), including in the tourism sector. I am therefore announcing the immediate reopening of all international airports,” Mr Lungu said in a radio and television address.

According to President Lungu, his country has lost about 1 billion euros as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Zambia’s economy is struggling with the country having $3 billion of Eurobonds outstanding.

It also owes $2 billion to commercial banks, $2 billion to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and a further $3 billion to China.

The country is Africa’s second-largest, copper-producing nation.

Source: Zambia reopens its air borders to boost the economy (25/06/20)