Zimbabwe, Zambia to launch pilot uni-visa by month end

The government will launch a pilot uni-visa agreement with Zambia at the end of this month to enable t joint marketing as the two countries make initiatives to boost tourist arrivals.

The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi, said the launch of the pilot Zimbabwe-Zambia uni-visa will open up the country's borders and offer an opportunity to market shared national heritage which is expected to boost tourist arrivals for both countries.

"Tourism is measured by arrivals and I am pleased to announce that we will be launching a uni-visa pilot project by the end of this month to ensure that there are increased tourist arrivals.

"For the SADC region we have not launched it owing to security concerns being raised by some countries but those in the eastern part of the continent have benefitted immensely form the uni-visa regime," he said.

The proposal for a uni-visa regime has been on the cards for a long time and the coming to fruition of the pilot project is set to compel other countries in the region to come on board.

Source: Zimbabwe, Zambia to launch pilot uni-visa - Bulawayo News 24 (20/10/14)

'No oil deposits in Zimbabwe'

Zimbabwe has no proven oil deposits, deputy Mines minister Fred Moyo has said.
His remarks come on the back of media reports that the land-locked country could be having oil and gas reserves, according to an exploration exercise performed about two decades ago.
However, Moyo - a former managing director of two Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed mining firms - told Business Live that "…from a technical bias point of view ie. try to zero on scientific facts and less perceptions… from a ministry's point of view, there has been no announcement of an oil find and we have not found any oil".
He said while geologically, Zimbabwe has the Karoo sedimentary basins capable of hosting gas and oil, the basins have not been adequately explored.
Moyo said the Mines and Minerals Development department was interrogating the issue and as such, it will be part of the forthcoming Zimbabwe Mining Indaba agenda.
Oil and natural gas are produced by the same geological process, anaerobic decay of organic matter deep under the earth's surface.
As a consequence, oil and natural gas are often found together.
Moyo said noted that, with oil deposits being discovered in most countries on the continent, and more importantly, considering that sub-Saharan Africa is currently receiving the bulk of the world's gas and oil exploration capital funds, there could be hope for Zimbabwe.
"Countries around us have been and are busy on exploration efforts towards gas and oil registering encouraging results so far," said the seasoned miner.
In the past few years, oil has been discovered in Uganda and Kenya by Tullow Oil while gas deposits found off Tanzania and Mozambique have turned Africa into a frontier for hydrocarbon exploration.
Moyo confirmed that there were coal bed methane gas reserves in Zimbabwe, adding that "the future looks good in this regard".
According to reports, coal bed methane gas mining exploration activities in the country date back more than 10 years.
To date, exploration work done indicates extensive deposits of the resource.
It is estimated that the Hwange and Lupane basins have over 23 billion cubic feet per square mile - equivalent to 27 trillion cubic feet of sulphur-free methane gas.
Source: 'No oil deposits in Zimbabwe' (Bulawayo News24 - 06/10/14)

Tourists in mid-air helicopter scare

A Victoria Falls helicopter carrying six Japanese tourists had to make a hasty landing at Baobab Primary School in the resort town yesterday afternoon after danger-warning signs started flashing on the aircraft.

All tourists on board were evacuated without any injuries from the primary school grounds and taken to their various hotels. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pilot engaged emergency procedures and looked for the nearest open space to land.

“The pilot was cautious in this case and had to find somewhere to land immediately after noticing an instrument light on the dashboard,” the source said.

Employers’ Association for the Tourism and Safari Operators (EATSO) president Clement Mukwasi confirmed the incident and applauded the pilot for taking a quick decision that averted possible danger to the tourists.

“I can confirm that an aircraft incident occurred at about 1545hours yesterday here in Victoria Falls, but all tourists were removed from the scene of the landing uninjured,” he said.

Meanwhile, aviation experts said precautionary landings are very common with helicopters in circumstances where pilots get warning lights or any sign associated with an emergence.

Source: Tourists in Vic Falls mid-air scare (NewsdzeZimbabwe 10/10/14)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (31st August 2014) Helicopter crash-lands in Victoria Falls.

New town being developed near Victoria Falls

 The Hwange Rural District Council in partnership with a property developer have commenced constructing a satellite town 40 kilometres outside Victoria Falls.

The transformation of the Ndlovu area into a satellite town is envisaged to among other things, create jobs, develop infrastructure as well as reduce congestion near the world heritage site, Victoria Falls.

Construction of roads has already begun in the area while the relocation programme has been approved by the concerned stakeholders.

Hwange Rural District Council Vice Chairperson, Mr Mathew Muleya said stakeholders recently approved a compensation plan which will see a property developer constructing houses for the affected families.

"One of the outstanding issues was the relocation and compensation plan and l am pleased that we have resolved that issue. A developer has been identified for the relocation programme," said Mr Muleya.

Meanwhile, a housing cooperative engaged in construction of the satellite town, Indlovu Community Co-operative, has engaged a South African developer, Vukani Property Developers to construct houses for its members.

The construction of the satellite town is set to ensure that locals take advantage of the potential that the resort town of Victoria Falls offers.

Victoria Falls has remained a major tourist destination but lack of investment in key infrastructure remains a major concern.

Government has however prioritised the development of the area as evidenced by the ongoing Victoria Falls International Airport expansion project.

Source: New town being developed near Victoria Falls (05/10/2014)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th April 2018) Call for Vic Falls land-use re-zoning and relocation of industrial area.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th November 2020) Vic Falls SEZ blueprint crafted.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (21st June 2024) Three centres earmarked for smart cities,

Vic Falls Lodge burns to ground

Fire gutted a Victoria Falls lodge... on Wednesday night.

Tatenda Safari Lodge... is owned by Rangarirai Tatenda Gunda (61), the widow of late One Brigade commander Brigadier-General Paul Armstrong Gunda.

Gunda yesterday told Southern Eye that she was still puzzled by the fire when she and her workers cleared the charred remains of furniture and other goods destroyed by the inferno.

“Unfortunately, I don’t even know what exactly happened as I was helping with the cooking in the kitchen for the schoolchildren who were booked here. What I know is I was called and told that my house and reception were on fire,” said Gunda.

“I quickly rushed there and the whole building was engulfed in flames. We tried to put out the fire by pouring water, but the taps were dry. We later had guys from the police and fire brigade who helped us put out the fire. The fire brigade team did quite a number of trips to fetch water,” she said.

Gunda said there had been no one at the reception and her house which is attached to the reception when the fire broke out, so it was difficult for her to even speculate what could have been the cause.

“It could have been an electrical fault; who knows, because I don’t have any suspects. The kids were booked at the back lodge and were not affected; they are all quite safe,” she said.

Gunda said she had lost a lot of property to the inferno, but was determined to rebuild her lodge in a few days’ time.

“I lost quite a lot of property like laptops, generators, refrigerators, ice-makers and my entire late husband’s photos, certificates, clothing, groceries and bedding for the lodge.

“What hurt me the most was that one of the rooms was more like a museum where I had kept pictures of my late husband, in his memory. I know out there some people will be wishing that I don’t recover again, but give me three to four days, everything will be under repair. I have many clients that are coming in the next few weeks and all will be put in place very soon,” she said.

The lodge was established in 1993 as a small establishment and grew to become a self-sustaining project with 50 rooms that can accommodate more than 200 guests.

Source: 200 Kids escape death as lodge burns (NewsdzeZimbabwe (03/10/14)

Mugabe to officiate at ground-breaking for 10 000-seater Vic Falls cricket stadium

 PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will next month officiate at the ground-breaking ceremony of a 10 000-seater cricket stadium mooted by the Victoria Falls Town Council.

This was revealed when the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup trophy was paraded in the streets of the resort town yesterday as part of a tour of all ICC member countries ahead of the 2015 tournament.

The trophy came from South Africa en route to Singapore before finally arriving at the World Cup host country Australia.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Wilson Manase said they chose to build a cricket stadium in Victoria Falls as a way of generating revenue from tourism.

“This is as it should be because this is not a ZC or ICC event, but a Zimbabwean event starting in Victoria Falls. And it starts here because we took the decision to bring the Cricket World Cup icon to another world icon – the Victoria Falls,” Manase said.

“We did this so that we could help market the holiday resort and do our bit for the fiscus by helping to generate revenue from tourism.

“We deliberately chose Victoria Falls because the game is liked by tourists and they will be coming to watch games here in the near future. It is very hot and some of the countries where we play cricket such as Bangladesh, India and Australia sometimes get hot and humid, so we want our players to acclimatise to some of the similar regions where we play cricket,” he said.

However, the idea of constructing a cricket stadium has attracted mixed feelings from the local authority which questioned the sincerity of ZC in building at the venue since their allocated land had been lying idle for the past four years.

But Manase assured the community that the project would be achieved.

“The engineering drawings are already in place and the president will come and perform the ground breaking ceremony in November. We have to source the money, but if we look at our country, it’s under sanctions and we don’t have money, but l can assure you that we will definitely build,” he said.

“We also don’t have donors because of the sanctions and also Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority), takes all the money through duty even if the goods will be donated.”

The trophy was received and paraded by Zimbabwe senior cricket players – batsmen Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor and right-arm off breaker bowler Prosper Utseya.

Source:  Feel it, it’s here (01/10/2014)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd July 2010) Zimbabwe to build Test ground at Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd June 2011) Zimbabwe Cricket Unveils Plan to Build Test Pitch In Victoria Falls Resort.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (10th June 2011) Plans approved for Victoria Falls ground.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd October 2014) Vic Falls cricket stadium on course.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th January 2016) Vic Falls cricket stadium construction in limbo.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th October 2016) ZC shelves ambitious Vic Falls stadium plan.

The plans were resurrected in 2024 as part of the Masuwe Special Economic Zone development proposals. Construction started in May 2024. Read more on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website.

Vic Falls cricket stadium on course

Plans by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to construct a 10 000-seater cricket stadium in Victoria Falls have gathered momentum with a ground breaking ceremony set for November.

ZC top management toured the piece of land that has been allocated by council for the purposes of that stadium and a plan has already been drawn up.

The cricket governing body expects to complete the project before the end of next year and plan to host some matches there.

ZC board chairman Wilson Manase told reporters in Victoria Falls that they have drawn up a plan on how to raise the funds.

“We cannot divulge many details on where exactly the funds will come from at this stage, but we are hoping to get some help from sponsors and other partners,” said Manase.

“This is a big project that will help our game grow and we can spread it to other parts of the country. We have major sporting events happening here like the marathon and we have had sevens rugby here so we want to have cricket in this town. With so many tourists frequenting the area, we can also sell our game.”

The stadium will be constructed in a basin with grand stands set to be erected on the walls of that basin close to the railway line.

Victoria Falls has already been earmarked to host an International Cricket Council meeting in 2022.

The Victoria Falls ground would become one of three major cricket grounds with the Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

ZC will move to complete the project to erect flood lights at Harare Sports Club with the project having stalled due to logistical problems.

Manase revealed that they would soon complete the project so that the team can host day and night cricket.

“We have had problems to do with payment of duty on sports equipment and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport has been helping us to have the equipment cleared by Zimra. We hope that soon we can finish up that project and our team can start benefitting.”

Source: Vic Falls cricket stadium on course - News Daily (01/10/14)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd July 2010) Zimbabwe to build Test ground at Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd June 2011) Zimbabwe Cricket Unveils Plan to Build Test Pitch In Victoria Falls Resort.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (10th June 2011) Plans approved for Victoria Falls ground.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd October 2014) Vic Falls cricket stadium on course.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd October 2014) Mugabe to officiate at ground-breaking for 10 000-seater Vic Falls cricket stadium.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th January 2016) Vic Falls cricket stadium construction in limbo.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th October 2016) ZC shelves ambitious Vic Falls stadium plan.

The plans were resurrected in 2024 as part of the Masuwe Special Economic Zone development proposals. Construction started in May 2024. Read more on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website.