Victoria Falls former Mayor Somveli Dhlamini loses appeal against conviction, sentence

 FORMER Victoria Falls Mayor Somveli Dhlamini’s appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence for fraud has been dismissed by the High Court.

Dhlamini was sentenced to 30 months in prison by the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court in October 2023 for defrauding the Victoria Falls Town Council of US$15 000.

He sought to have his conviction quashed, arguing that it was excessively harsh and induced a “sense of shock”.

In his appeal, Dhlamini argued that the council suffered no significant prejudice and a fine of US$500 would have been a more appropriate punishment.

The High Court, however, upheld the lower court’s decision, with Justice Munamato Mutevedzi ruling that both the conviction and sentence were appropriate.

“There is, in our considered view, nothing that induces a sense of shock with the sentence imposed,” Justice Mutevedzi said.

“If anything, what is shocking is the leniency.”

Between August 1 and 6, 2022, Dhlamini fraudulently applied for a residential stand under the Wood Road Residential Scheme using the name of Valentine Munyaradzi Maseko, a close family friend.

Despite knowing that he was ineligible for the scheme, Dhlamini manipulated the process to secure stand number 1771 Wood Road in Victoria Falls.

As a result, the council suffered a direct loss of US$15 000 and faced a potential prejudice of US$66 462.75.

Source: Victoria Falls former Mayor Somveli Dhlamini loses appeal against conviction, sentence (22/01/25)

Gandiwa appointed new ZimParks boss

THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has entered a new era following yesterday’s appointment of Professor Edson Gandiwa as its new director-general.

He succeeds Dr Fulton Mangwanya who was recently appointed Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director-general.

At the handover ceremony in Harare yesterday, Prof Gandiwa expressed appreciation for the opportunity to lead ZimParks.

“I accept this significant leadership role with profound gratitude and humility,” he said.

“It is difficult to fill the void left by such a unique leader, but as we look ahead, we are motivated by his commitment to conservation and his legacy of hard work.”

Dr Mangwanya expressed heartfelt gratitude for his tenure at ZimParks.

He emphasised the broader significance of wildlife conservation, saying ZimParks’ mission extends beyond mere protection, to contributing to sustainable development goals, including poverty eradication.

“It has been a pleasure to serve as director-general alongside you all,” said Dr Mangwanya.

“Our work is not just about conserving for the sake of conserving; it is about ensuring that wildlife conservation benefits all Zimbabweans.”

Mr Edward Samuriwo, Acting Permanent Secretary for Environment, Climate and Wildlife, highlighted the historic nature of this transition.

“This handover is a milestone for ZimParks,” he noted, emphasising Dr Mangwanya’s lasting impact on Zimbabwe’s conservation landscape.

Mrs Sithembile Ncube, acting chairperson of the ZimParks board, expressed her unwavering support for Prof Gandiwa.

Source: Gandiwa appointed new ZimParks boss (15/01/25)

Construction of Vic Falls multi-purpose cricket stadium on course

 Construction of the multi-purpose Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is progressing well, with significant ground having been covered in terms of earthworks and pitch development.

The facility is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s ambitious infrastructure development plan.

This comes at a time when Zimbabwe is preparing to co-host the 2026 under-19 Cricket World Cup alongside Namibia and the 2027 men’s Cricket World Cup with South Africa and Namibia.

The project is on track, with 50% of the main pitch having been constructed.

“We have made significant progress in the earthworks. We’ve levelled Pitch A, the main pitch, and the practice pitch. Planting has commenced on the main square, including the wicket and the 30-yard area. The good news is this planting coincides with the rains. I’m told there’s been good rainfall in Victoria Falls, which is very encouraging. While the rains have temporarily slowed work on the practice pitch due to water logging, overall progress is substantial,” said managing director of Zimbabwe Cricket, Givemore Makoni.

Construction of other facilities is expected to begin soon.

“Construction work on the media centres, players’ changing rooms, and grandstands is scheduled to begin in March this year. We are on course in terms of the field work and adhering to our phased plan. We are confident in meeting all our deadlines,” said Mr Makoni.

Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency, a parastatal under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, is the main contractor.

Designed as a multi-purpose facility, the stadium will host cricket matches and other sporting events.
The cricket stadium, a flagship project within the Masuwe Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Victoria Falls, is expected to boost tourism and economic growth.

Other major developments underway in the Masuwe SEZ include a convention centre with associated hotels and villas, a golf estate, a medical tourism facility, a commercial central business district, an international service centre, and high-end residential units.

Source: Construction of Vic Falls multi-purpose cricket stadium on course (15/01/25)

Victoria Falls Hotel not for sale

 OWNERS of Victoria Falls Hotel have refuted claims that the property had been sold, saying the hotel remained under the ownership of Emerged Railways Properties (ERP) and the lease agreement with Meikles and African Sun remained intact.

This comes as media speculations had raised concerns about the future of the hotel.

A statement published by ERP, Meikles Limited together with African Sun Limited, who are the lessees and operators of the hotel, highlighted no intention to dispose of the hotel by the parties.

Contrary to the widespread rumours, the partnership reassured stakeholders that the lease arrangement is secure and will continue for the foreseeable future.

“The Victoria Falls Hotel has not been disposed of. It remains the property of ERP, and the lease relationship with the Partnership remains intact,” the statement read.

“This is not just a business, it is a heritage property that embodies the history and culture of the region.

“We caution the public against relying on unofficial sources or speculative reports regarding The Victoria Falls Hotel or the partnership.”

The partnership underscored its dedication to ensuring the hotel’s historic status is upheld.

Built in 1904, Victoria Falls Hotel is one of southern Africa’s most cherished landmarks, known for its colonial era charm and unparalleled views of the Victoria Falls, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site.

Over the decades, it has attracted global tourists and dignitaries, contributing significantly to the local economy and the hospitality industry.

The statement also addressed the impact of misinformation, urging media outlets and the public to rely only on official communications for updates.

The partners reassured guests and stakeholders of their commitment to enhancing the hotel experience while preserving its legacy which includes maintaining the property as a key player in the region’s tourism industry and an integral part of Zimbabwe’s cultural and economic fabric.

With the lease intact and the partnership focused on growth, the partners say the property remained a shining example of luxury, heritage and resilience.

Source: Victoria Falls Hotel lease remains intact: Owners (03/01/25)

Vic Falls thunders: Tourists flock despite misleading reports

 VICTORIA Falls, the thunderous heart of Zimbabwe, pulsated with life as the festive season unfolded.

Despite persistent rumours of the majestic falls drying up, tourists from across the globe, along with a wave of returning locals, flocked to witness its awe-inspiring beauty.

The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry anticipated a record-breaking year, with visitor numbers expected to surge close to three million, fuelled largely by the homecoming of Zimbabweans from the Diaspora.

From adrenaline-pumping adventures like bungee jumping, gorge swings, and the Flight of Angels, to serene game drives, wildlife interactions, tours of the Falls, and tranquil moments surrounded by breath-taking beauty—these have been the experiences of tourists this festive season.

Tourists enjoyed an array of experiences, from bungee jumping and gorge swings to the thrilling “Flight of Angels” helicopter ride.

Others took in game drives, interacted with wildlife, or simply marvelled at the magnificent waterfalls.

Victoria Falls delivered something for everyone – whether it was adrenaline or relaxation.

Victoria Falls proved once more why it remains a top destination for holidaymakers seeking both relaxation and adventure.

The resort city welcomed a mix of visitors including groups, families, schools, and individuals.

Home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” (The Smoke That Thunders), Victoria Falls boasts unparalleled natural beauty, wildlife, and adventure opportunities.

In recent months, misleading reports have circulated, claiming the waterfall is drying up.

However, these claims don’t reflect the true picture.

The Zambezi River, which feeds the Victoria Falls, experiences seasonal fluctuations and while water levels are lower between October and January, this is completely natural.

According to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), water levels are expected to rise again in February, bringing the Victoria Falls back to its thunderous grandeur just in time for the rainy season.

Though water levels were lower this season due to the effects of climate change and El Niño, Victoria Falls remained a vibrant, thriving destination.

Despite recent negative publicity suggesting that the Falls are dry, these claims are misleading, considering the Zambezi River’s seasonal flow patterns and the influx of tourists.

Visitors were undeterred by the reduced flow, continuing to flock to the area to enjoy the lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and thrilling experiences.

Victoria Falls continues to draw visitors year-round, offering unforgettable experiences that highlight its enduring magnificence.

According to the ZRA, the amount of water falling down Victoria Falls is low between October and January as part of its natural cycle.

The Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest, flows through Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Victoria Falls, the world’s largest curtain of falling water, sees its flow down the waterfall dip below 1,000 cubic metres per second during the dry season extending between October and January, with levels expected to rise again by late February.

The worst seasons were 2016-2017 and 2023-2024 as a result of the devastating climate change and El Niño-induced drought, with this year’s levels in the same range.

The 2008-2009 season had the highest low levels compared to other years during the period October to January.

Water levels are expected to pick up next month and reach a peak at the end of February when the river will be full until May when it will start falling again.

The long-term mean was highest in the 1961-1962 rainy season when water flowing down the waterfall between March and May reached a peak of more than 8,000 cubic metres per second.

Every year there is less than 1,000 cubic metres per second of water falling the between October and December.

Current water levels on the Zambezi River are 475,83 metres compared to 477,16 metres last year during the same period, according to the ZRA.

The dry season, which occurs annually, is a natural part of the Victoria Falls’ seasonal cycle which tourists flock to witness while enjoying the lush green landscapes and abundant wildlife within the Victoria Falls National Park.

During the rainy season, the waterfall returns to its thundering grandeur, with its mist visible from miles away—an experience that continues to leave visitors in awe.

Despite these natural fluctuations and the misleading reports, Victoria Falls remains a bustling hub of activity.

Visitors have not been deterred as hotels and lodges on either side of the river reported steady bookings, and tour operators were busier than ever, showing that the destination offers much more than just its water levels.

Ephias Mambume, president of the Employers Association for the Tourism and Safari Operators, highlighted the surge in local and regional tourists during the festive season.

“We have experienced a healthy percentage around 80 to 90 percent occupancy,” he said, noting significant bookings in AirBnBs and a bustling rainforest area with regional visitors.

Popular activities included sunset cruises and tours of the Victoria Falls, with operators fully booked, said Mr Mambume.

He implored the Government to urgently rehabilitate the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road for seamless travel.

Elephant and Cheetah Experience marketing manager Janice Ncube noted that the majority of clients this season were locals eager to interact and walk with cheetahs and elephants.

“The local market has been awesome. If it wasn’t for the local market, December would be a low season for us,” she said.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, who spent nearly a week in Victoria Falls until Christmas Eve, affirmed that the influx of visitors was a result of vigorous marketing and President Mnangagwa’s policy of engagement and re-engagement.

“It shows that people love Zimbabwe and they have been waiting to hear what’s good about Zimbabwe.

“The foreign policy that President Mnangagwa has been running with for the past seven years, ‘Zimbabwe is Open to Business,’ is paying dividends,” she said.

The festive season’s vibrancy in Victoria Falls demonstrated the destination’s resilience and enduring appeal, ensuring it remains a top choice for holidaymakers from around the globe.

Source: Vic Falls thunders: Tourists flock despite misleading reports (28/12/2024)

Victoria Falls City Council development 'masterplan' aims to annex conservation areas for development

(Keep Victoria Falls Wild, December 2024)

Victoria Falls City Council development 'masterplan' aims to annex conservation areas for development while claims of corruption raise concerns over process

In October 2024, following stakeholder consultations held in April (VFCC, April 2024), Victoria Falls City Council released details of the proposed new development 'masterplan' for the future expansion and growth of the urban settlement.

"The Victoria Falls City Council, hereby gives notice, in terms of subsection (2) of section 15 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29: 12, as read with section 8 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning (Master and Local Plans) Regulations (RGN 248 of 1977), that the Draft Victoria Falls Master Plan has been Adopted and is now on public exhibition commencing 17th October 2024 and ending 16th December 2024." (VFCC, October 2024)

In November the Draft Plan and supporting documents and maps were made available to download online on the Council's website (VFCC, November 2024).

- Victoria Falls Master Plan - Draft Report of Study (April 2024)

- Victoria Falls Master Plan - Draft Written Statement (July 2024)

- Victoria Falls Master Plan - Main Map (Preferred Option)

- Victoria Falls Master Plan - Supporting Map (insert section)

In media reports Victoria Falls town planner, Ms Ntombizami Ncube, stated

"Our masterplan is now a public exhibition. We have already advertised two issues and we are waiting for the third issue... The masterplan will be on public exhibition for the next two months and we request all stakeholders to visit the Victoria Falls Town Planning offices or our website, all the documents are there for viewing. Issues that came out was the need to balance conservation of nature and development planning needs. We would want to expand, we don’t want to encroach into any restricted zones, especially the World Heritage Site, we are not touching." (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, November 2024)

The Draft Plan proposes to significantly expand the area controlled under the Council from just 22 square km to over 244 square km, including the Victoria Falls National Park and a section of the Zambezi National Park, the Masuwe Special Economic Zone, Nakavango Forest and Fuller Forest areas, all previously protected for conservation (see map below - click to download larger jpg file). The proposal includes the identification of some 12 square km of land protected under the Zambezi National Park for development as part of the Council controlled 'land grab'.

It is unclear why the expanded Council controlled area is proposed to cover the Victoria Falls National Park and a significant section of the Zambezi National Park, beyond that identified for development, and the supporting Plan documents make no reference to this significant expansion into National Park protected areas. These two National Parks are currently under the exclusive responsibility of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority. It is also unclear why such a substantial area of Forestry controlled land to the south of the City is proposed to be included within the new expanded Council controlled area.

The plan offers no trade-off for the loss of the previously protected area of the Zambezi National Park to development expansion. We believe consideration should be given of returning the northern un-developed half of the existing Council controlled area (outlined in white, below) to National Park control, with the tourism concessions within this area also to be transferred to the management of the Park Authority. This area is an important wildlife corridor allowing access to the river above the Falls for elephant, buffalo and other species and was, until the mid-1970s protected as part of the greater Victoria Falls National Park. It is also essential to the integrity of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site which covers the river corridor above and below the Falls. No new development, or expansion of existing developments, should be allowed in this area and the long term aim should be to return as much of this area to nature as possible.

The Plan presents no forecasts or modelling estimates of the projected growth in tourism capacity, which will see increasing peak-season tourist visitor pressures at the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, while the strong seasonality of tourism to the Falls will see hotels and lodges empty for half the year and promised employment opportunities limited to short-term seasonal contracts.

Meanwhile the claims of corruption which surround Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, and who has overseen the development of the Plan, raise serious doubts over the integrity of the Master Plan process (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, December 2024a). The apparent extension of his term of office beyond the maximum two four-year periods is un-procedural and raises yet further questions (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, June 2024), as does his reinstatement by a Government Minister following his suspension pending investigation into the significant and serious corruption claims (Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs, December 2024b).

Map showing proposed expansion of Victoria Falls City Council controlled area, annotated to highlight current area under Council control (white), the area proposed to be annexed from Zambezi National Park (red) and Masuwe Development Zone (purple). Click image for larger (un-annotated) jpg version - 5.37mb. The map clearly shows the Victoria Falls National Park as within proposed new Council Controlled area.

Map showing proposed enlarged section of central Victoria Falls City Council controlled area (click image for larger jpg version - 1.15mb).

References

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (June 2024) Pushback as Victoria Falls council boss clings to power. 15th June.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (November 2024) Victoria Falls masterplan open to scrutiny.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (December 2024a) Corruption and abuse of office: Victoria Falls Town Clerk and 2024 CEO of the year suspended. 5th December.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (December 2024b) Government reverses ‘unprocedural suspension’ of Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube. 8th December.

Victoria Falls City Council (April 2024) City Master Plan: Shaping the Future of Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls City Council (October 2024) Notice of Draft Master Plan on Public Exhibition.

NRZ to dispose of scrap wagons, coaches

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has announced plans to dispose of 422 scrap wagons and some decades-old passenger coaches in Bulawayo, Harare and other locations across the country.

The disposal process will include various metals such as copper, steel, cast iron and aluminium, which will be sold through a tender system advertised in the media this week.

NRZ public relations manager, Mr Andrew Kunambura, said 51 decommissioned passenger coaches that were burnt to shells in a raging fire that razed part of the Bulawayo mechanical workshop will not be part of the scrap to be auctioned.

“We are not disposing of any of the decommissioned coaches that were burnt in September 2024. The reason why the NRZ is disposing of some of the old wagons and coaches as scrap is because the property has outlived its life span and can no longer be used commercially,” he said.

“The value of the old wagons and coaches is now only in scrap form.”

Mr Kunambura said the parastatal does not dispose of any of its property that is still commercially usable. In September, a fire broke out at the NRZ’s Bulawayo mechanical workshop and destroyed 51 decommissioned passenger coaches.

The decommissioned passenger coaches were reduced to shells in a suspected veld fire, which took the Bulawayo Fire Brigade over four hours to extinguish.

Part of the property that will be sold as scrap metal by NRZ includes 346 scrap wagons stationed in various locations around the country.

In Bulawayo and Harare, 76 scrap coaches and cabooses will be disposed of. At the Bulawayo mechanical workshop, 244 tonnes of ungraded steel will be sold while five LPG tankers in Zvishavane, Kadoma, Chegutu, Norton and Harare are set to be auctioned.

About 309 tonnes of graded steel will be sold in Bulawayo while 27 wagons will be sold in Dabuka, Gweru. The NRZ also plans to get rid of 1,58 tonnes of copper from its Bulawayo main stores depot while property such as coach generators and coach rotors from the Bulawayo mechanical workshop will be sold in addition to aluminium weighing three tonnes and two tonnes of cast iron from the same site will be disposed of.

Source: NRZ to dispose of scrap wagons, coaches (17/12/24)