Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort

 LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – RADISSON Hotel Group has opened the Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort in Zambia.

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.

It is seen as a key step towards its goal of reaching 150 hotels in operation and under development in Africa by 2025.

“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.

The official believes the expansion in Zambia demonstrates belief in the country’s potential.

This hotel is our second property in Zambia, following the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka.

A third hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Lusaka, Longacres, is due to open in 2023.

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.

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.

Source: Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort (19/12/22)

Victoria Falls Safari Spa has Officially Opened in Zimbabwe

 According to AAT Chief Executive Ross Kennedy, the spa is Victoria Falls’ largest and first purpose-built spa, setting a new benchmark in health and wellness. Kennedy said the hospitality group, which operates Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges and The Boma – Dinner & Drum Show, was experiencing its best season yet. Kennedy said the spa, set in indigenous woodland, at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate was built in response to the growing demand for wellness travel, and it was hoped it would extend stays in the destination. The spa’s decor incorporates African tented-safari camp style with bold, colourful Ndebele design elements while drawing from the natural environment to portray the rich textures of Africa.

Source: Victoria Falls Safari Spa has Officially Opened in Zimbabwe (05/12/2022)

African Sun shuts down Victoria Falls Kingdom Hotel

 African Sun Limited has announced it is shutting down its Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls January next year after failing to agree on lease terms with First Capital Bank, owners of the property.

The hotelier said the parties had failed to reach common ground on the length of the lease with the property owner firm on a two-year lease while ASL wanted 10 years, sufficient to recoup its investment.

In a 24 November memo to trading partners, African Sun Limited chief executive Peter Saungweme said the Kingdom hotel would close for business with effect from January 5, 2023.

"Further to the formal announcement which African Sun Limited (African Sun) released to the market on 4 July 2022, we would like to inform you that the Kingdom at Victoria Falls Hotel ("the Hotel") shall be closing for business with effect from 5 January 2023.

"We would like to thank you for your past business and support over the years and look forward to continuing working with you at our other ten hotels, which include the Victoria Falls Hotel and Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre which are also situated in the city of Victoria Falls," he said.

In an interview, African Sun Limited chairman Emmanuel Fundira said it was unfortunate that the two parties did not reach an agreement.

"We said two years does not work for us. For us to recoup the investment of over US$6 million on the hotel, it will require us at least a minimum period of 10 years to operate.

"So, two years will not work for us. That's where the departure began. We negotiated and negotiated and they refused.

"We see that there was really another hand into this," he said.

Africa Sun Limited has been operating the 294-roomed Kingdom Hotel since 1997.

Source: African Sun shuts down Victoria Falls Kingdom Hotel (30/11/22)

High Court seemingly reluctant to stop threats facing Victoria Falls

 More than five months have passed now since the High Court was approached to stop a substantial riverside restaurant development near the Victoria Falls and the commercialisation of Cataract Island in the tourism city.

Earlier this year information emerged that two private companies were about to undertake commercial operations in the vicinity of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.

Adage Success P/L apparently had permission from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZNPWA) to undertake commercial activities on Cataract Island including a natural plunge pool experience on the immediate edge of the Main Falls.

This was subsequently advertised by Zambezi Crescent, Mr Mark Bosch’s company.

On May 30 this year, Larry Norton, an artist based in Victoria Falls filed a case at the High Court in the capital Harare, along with other residents, to stop these developments. The court application was filed on an urgent basis.

But it has been more than five months now and the matter is yet to be heard.

The controversial developments are, however, taking place at one of the seven wonders of the world.

In an open letter aimed at updating the world about the ongoing court case, Norton articulated that the judiciary was yet to hear their matter. He added that they have been writing letters to authorities to act but nothing has yet materialised.

“Despite an urgent application submitted on 30th May 2022, the case has yet to be heard. 149 days have passed with no ruling from the judge on the Urgent Application to stop these activities.

“Three letters to the high court questioning this extraordinary and unheard of delay have been sent. The last letter was acknowledged by the Registrar,” Norton wrote.

He further stated that he was threatened by unnamed government officials who wanted to stop him from challenging the matter.

“At the outset of this process I received a phone call from a government official. I was asked who I represented, ordered to stop enquiries, desist from talking to people about these issues and advised that I was going against the government.

“After the court process had begun another government official approached a number of individuals who had written supporting applications for the case to attempt to persuade them to abandon their applications. He was unsuccessful. I question his interest in two proposed commercial enterprises,” Norton added.

Around 2016 a Victoria Falls tourism company was offered Cataract Island and turned the lease down due to a public outcry. Two other local operators then applied for the same lease. Both offered substantial lease fees. Both were turned down by ZNPWA for environmental reasons.

A lease was later surreptitiously awarded to Adage of Success for US$5,000 per year (as per court papers submitted). This amount is payable in RTGS.

Norton said the restaurant is sited 40 metres from the Rainforest fence, on the water’s edge approaching Devil’s Cataract. The developers have cleared large sections of riverine bush . They are currently concreting foundations.

He added: “These actions, in such a sensitive site, to me, demonstrate a callous disregard for this fragile environment and wild space in exchange for personal profit.”

He appealed to the World Heritage Site monitors to urgently investigate both the proposed riverside restaurant development and the Cataract Island commercial operation on the Zimbabwe side.

Source: High Court seemingly reluctant to stop threats facing Victoria Falls (7/11/22)

Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse plans halted by High Court, Zimbabwe

 The lease agreement between Hwange Rural District Council and Stelix Civils, which intended to build the Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse, for 500 hectares of land was declared null. The decision was made by Bulawayo’s High Court Justice Evangelista Kabasa.

The ruling was made after 100 villagers filed a lawsuit to stop the Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse development. They claimed it would force them from their ancestral land.

After hearing arguments from lawyers, Justice Kabasa said the manner in which they went about it was unlawful. This is despite Hwange RDC’s plans of developing the public land in question.

The verdict was delivered on September 20 but was not made public until recently.

Why the villagers filed a lawsuit against the development of Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse

The argument focused on the legality of a decision made by the local authorities on June 11, 2018. The decision granted Stelix a lease for 500 hectares of land. Stelix then fenced the area off.

The villagers of the communities of Chibode, Kachecheti, and Nemananga argued that the Hwange RDC had surpassed its authority. This was by attempting to grant a business lease to Stelix. The move violates Section 10 of the Communal Lands Act. It specifies that only the local government minister can set aside communal land for other developments. The villagers were represented by lawyer Josphat Tshuma of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

The first respondent, local government minister July Moyo, chose to follow the court’s findings and chose not to file any papers.

Why the judge declared the development invalid

The local government minister was not involved in all the procedures that led to the Hwange RDC’s decision granting a lease to Stelix. This was according to Justice Kabasa’s ruling. Similarly, the Minister, not Hwange RDC, is to undertake the procedures outlined in Section 10.

According to the Administrative Justice Act, the judge said that it was unnecessary to address additional concerns raised by the villagers on the lack of consultation and the unreasonableness of Hwange RDC’s actions. She said that the conduct itself was unlawful and permeated throughout the entire process. She also claimed that it was irrational.

The judge stated she found no reason to impose punishing costs against the local authorities. She also credited the Hwange RDC for being driven by a desire to develop the region.

The judge finally ruled that the leasing agreement between Hwange RDC and Stelix for the purpose of constructing a racecourse was invalid. Additionally, all actions and conduct undertaken by Hwange RDC following the issuing of the lease agreement to Stelix were declared invalid.

The villagers’ demand that Stelix takes down its fence within 48 hours of the ruling was dismissed by the judge in their proposed draft order.

Source: Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse plans halted by High Court, Zimbabwe (15/10/22)

Land scam: Vic Falls Mayor Dhlamini arrested

 Victoria Falls Mayor Somveli Dhlamini has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on a land-related scam after he fraudulently acquired his residential stand.

In a statement, ZACC said Dhlamini is being charged for fraud, alternatively concealing from a principal a personal interest in a transaction as defined in section 173 of the Criminal Law Codification Act

ZACC said the charges are emanating from a fraudulent purchase of a residential stand in the low-density suburb of Victoria Falls by the mayor.

The law enforcement agency said Dhlamini is in police custody and will appear in court tomorrow.

Source: Land scam: Vic Falls Mayor Dhlamini arrested (06/10/22)

Victoria Falls Hotel in US$4.5m upgrade

Hospitality groups, African Sun and Meikles have jointly invested US$4,5 million towards refurbishment of the Victoria Falls Hotel.

This comes as the sector is on a recovery path following the challenges experienced after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which affected global economies.

The tourism and hospitality sector was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic which resulted in operators temporarily closing some of their facilities as economies world over implemented lock down measures to limit the spread of the pandemic.

Recovery has so far been sustained mainly by the domestic market travellers with prospects high for growth from international markets following relaxation of travel restrictions globally.

“Our cash utilisation strategy remains unchanged, focusing mainly on targeted capital expenditure on hotel assets in order to enhance guest experience and to preserve value,” said African Sun chairman Emmanuel Fundira in an update on the group’s refurbishment initiatives.

“Earlier this month, we celebrated the highly anticipated completion of 47 rooms and kitchen refurbishment at the majestic five-star Victoria Falls Hotel, “the Grand Old Lady”.

“The group, together with our partner Meikles Limited, invested over US$4,5 million towards the refurbishment of this property,” he said.

In anticipation of the growth in international arrivals, hospitality groups have also resorted to refurbish their facilities to improve ambience and position themselves for the anticipated tourism rebound.

African Sun has further committed additional millions of dollars this current financial year, towards sprucing the image of its other hotels.

At Troutbeck Resort alone, an investment of US$1,8 million is expected to be made towards refurbishment works which commenced during the past financial year.

The refurbishment, which commenced in 2021 with a complete roof makeover, is expected to be concluded in 2022 when the hotel’s 100 rooms are refurbished.

According to the group, preparatory work to carry out the refurbishment of eight additional rooms at Great Zimbabwe Hotel and remedial works on the Hungwe Conference Centre are at an advanced stage, with actual works scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2022.

Plans are also currently underway to refurbish rooms at Hwange Safari Lodge with mock-up rooms having been started. The first phase of the project, which targets 60 rooms, is expected to be completed in 2022.

The tourism and hospitality sector has been identified as one of the low hanging fruits expected to significantly contribute towards the economy and turn it into an upper middle class economy by 2030.

Source: Victoria Falls Hotel in US$4.5m upgrade (29/09/22)