Victoria Falls primed for boon. . .airport works proceed on schedule

THE resort town of Victoria Falls, the country’s flagship tourism destination, is primed for rich pickings, particularly during the 2015 festive season, as expansion of the international airport there is set for completion within revised timelines.

The airport’s runway is close to completion, while works on the control tower and terminal building has progressed satisfactorily.

Government has set a September deadline for the project, which is being funded from a US0 million loan from China.

Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development Mr Munesu Munodawafa told The Sunday Mail Business, “We are excited about Victoria Falls Airport. The runway itself is about 71 percent complete, but when you look at everything that happens on the airside – and by airside I mean the runway, the control tower and other facilities that relate to that – overally we are at 62 percent. And the terminal building, which is the land side together with the fire station, we are at about 52 percent.”

Government anticipates huge positive spin-offs once Victoria Falls International Airport is capable of handling large aircraft.

It is projected that the upgrade will enable the airport to handle more than two million visitors per year.

For the first time, Victoria Falls will be able to receive transcontinental flights from Europe and Asia. Added Mr Munodawafa: “In terms of business, from a statistical point of view, the airport will be able to handle more than two million visitors per year compared to the current half a million, so we will have increased its capacity four-fold, that is on the terminal building side. On the runway we will still have additional capacity to receive other aircraft.

“Secondly and critically, currently we have been able to only land medium size aircraft that is in the mould of the Boeing 737, the Airbus A320s and A319, but come end of September when we have completed the biggest planes in the world. So, we are likely to see transcontinental flights flying directly from Europe and landing in Victoria Falls,” said Mr Munodawafa.

Rehabilitating and upgrading the country’s infrastructure is one of the major undertakings of Government under the economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

Relatedly, Mr Munodawafa noted that Government will make an announcement on the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway in the next three weeks.


Although the project is considered critical, the standoff between Government and Zimhighways, a consortium of local businesspersons initially given the concession go to develop the road, has stalled the progress.

Source: Victoria Falls primed for boon. . .as works proceed on schedule (31/01/15)

'S.A and Botswana drop Yellow Fever requirements for Zambia travellers

THE Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ) is pleased that South Africa and Botswana have finally agreed to drop yellow fever certification as a requirement for travellers from Zambia, following the World Health

Organisation (WHO) declaring Zambia a yellow fever free zone.

TCZ chairperson Felix Mulenga said the decision which was long-awaited, would significantly increase international tourist arrivals.

South Africa is Zambia's leading source market for international arrivals, accounting for around 20.1 per cent of total arrivals in 2013.

Health Minister Joseph Kasonde announced on Monday this week that South Africa and Botswana had with immediate effect lifted the requirements of yellow fever certification for travellers from Zambia.

Mr Mulenga said in an interview that the removal of the yellow fever certification for travellers from South Africa or through South Africa to Zambia would significantly improve the tourist arrivals from that country.

"We are happy that South Africa and Botswana have decided to drop their demands on the yellow fever certification because this was creating a negative impact on the growth of the tourism sector in

Zambia. As you know South Africa is an important market for Zambia and currently is Zambia's leading source market for tourists," Mr Mulenga said.

In 2013, the Southern Africa region recorded total arrivals of more than 22 million representing a market share of global arrivals of approximately 2.5 percent and a 39.9 percent share of Africa's total arrivals.

South Africa accounted for 191,048 tourist arrivals in the year under review, followed by Tanzania with 184,187.

Mr Mulenga said the yellow fever issue was an impediment to tourist arrivals as it affected the growth of the sector and that with the new development Zambia would attracted desired levels of tourists and compete favourably in the region and beyond.

Source: S.A, Botswana Yellow Fever Move Welcome (28/01/15)

Zim courts China to boost tourism

The Zimbabwean Government is courting China to fund its ‘Disneyland in Africa’, a tourism and conference theme park in the resort town of Victoria Falls and is also in talks with Beijing to build a new bigger airport in the other resort town of Kariba.

The government has set aside 300 hectares of land to build a state-of-the-art conference centre to house hotels, businesses, shopping malls, banks and exhibition and entertainment facilities such as casinos near the Victoria Falls International Airport and now seeks investors for the project.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi recently said government was in negotiations for a US$460 million facility for the development the project seen as crucial to boosting tourism.

The permanent secretary in the ministry Florence Nhekairo recently led a visiting Chinese delegation – which was in the country to follow up on agreements signed between China and Zimbabwe last year – to the land near Masue River Bridge, about 10km outside Victoria Falls town and the site for the proposed recreation park and conference centre.

“This is the land where we want to build state-of-the-art conference centre to house conference rooms, hotels, shopping malls, finance houses and many other economic activities. 

We are looking for people like you (China) to partner government to make our dream come true,” she told the delegation leader Cao Wenlian, who is director of the International Cooperation Centre of the National Development Reform and Commission of China (ICC-NDRC).

The senior principal director in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mary Mubi said the visit to Victoria Falls by the Chinese delegation was meant to identify areas where the Asian country could chip in financially and with technical expertise to develop the resort town into a one stop economic hub.

“We have identified areas which we need to develop as the government and Victoria Falls becomes one that has to be turned into a special economic zone. Government has already made plans to set a tourism hub in Victoria Falls. Our hope is now on the ministers of tourism, transport and that of water to make sure we get more visitors into the country to keep our tourism going,” said Mubi.

Cao said Victoria Falls had potential to be the country’s economic hub.

The conference centre is one of the capital projects the government has lined up in the resort town as it strives to turn it into its conference capital with state of the art facilities.

The other projects are the $150 million refurbishment of Victoria Falls International Airport being funded by the China-Exim Bank.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Munesu Munodawafa said construction of the airport was well within its schedule.

“We are well on schedule and we target to be finished by September. 

The runway is now 74 percent complete and it will handle heavy category aircraft,” he said.

Also under construction is a control tower, car park, fire station, water reservoir and the VIP pavilion.

Munodawafa said they had already started marketing the airport in anticipation of getting more aircraft coming in.

In a related matter, Harare also plans to build a new bigger airport in the resort town of Kariba and is in talks with the Chinese government to fund the project.

The Chinese government, through China Exim Bank is funding the $150 million upgrade of the Victoria Falls International Airport. 

The expansion work is being carried out by China Jiangsu.

Munodawafa told The Source that a new site had been identified away from the existing airport where a much bigger facility will be built.

“After Victoria Falls we want to develop national aviation infrastructure and plans are underway to look at Kariba Airport. 

We have identified a site where we want to build a much bigger airport,” said Munodawafa.

He added that “our discussions with China are taking us somewhere” but declined to give more details.

The existing Kariba Airport has limitations owing to its size and equipment, which needs upgrading, he said.

“Kariba is a busy tourist destination and needs a proper airport,” Munodawafa said.

Besides the Victoria Falls Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) is upgrading Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo, Harare International Airport and Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi.

At the Harare international Airport, Munodawafa said, the plan is to upgrade it to handle seven airlines at any given time up from the current four. 

Source: Zim courts China to boost tourism (02/02/2015)

Conserve Vic Falls says UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has urged Zambia and Zimbabwe to conserve the Victoria Falls to ensure that the local communities benefit from the world heritage site.

At a sustainable tourism workshop held in Livingstone recently, UNESCO programme officer from France Peter Debrine said sustainable tourism in world heritage is vital as the sector is the life blood of communities.

“How we approach sustainable tourism in world heritage sites destination is very important. Tourism needs to be managed sustainably for local communities to realise the benefits and conserve world heritage sites,” he said.

Victoria Falls is one site that attracts the largest number of tourists in Zambia.
Earlier, National Heritage Conservation Commission chief executive officer Collins Chipote said Zambia and Zimbabwe are working to ensure that the value of the Victoria Falls are preserved as a world heritage site.

He said there is need to invest in human resource to sustain Africa’s heritage endangered by environmental and anthropogenic factors, inadequate legislative and administrative framework.
“Just as we pay attention to the conservation needs of the sites, we also need to bear in mind that local people should benefit from the site,” he said.

Mr Chipote said the workshop was timely as it will strengthen capacity of site managers and staff in promoting sustainable tourism at the Victoria Falls and ensure its universal value is preserved.
Officiating at the function, Livingstone mayor Milford Mambo said Livingstone is an active model of sustained tourism taking into cognisance that the Victoria Falls attracts thousands of tourists annually.

“Zambia and Livingstone in particular, is endowed with a wide range of natural and cultural heritage resources that are under threat, hence the need for training to equip site managers and staff in the best ways of conserving these resources,” he said.

Source: Conserve Vic Falls says UNESCO (29/01/15)

Zambezi Sun Rebrand

Following communication about the Minor Hotel partnering with Sun International in the regional product, please note that Zambezi Sun has been rebranded as Avani Victoria Falls Resort. There are currently no changes to the Royal Livingstone.

Source: Zambezi Sun Rebrand (09/01/15)

Zimbabwe - Zambia tourism cooperation: Victoria Falls bridge open border policy a hoax?

The view of the globe was on Zimbabwe and Zambia in August of 2013. The focus was on having the global travel and tourism industry and government leaders attend and participate at the UNWTO General Assembly. This high-profile event was jointly hosted by both Zimbabwe and Zambia, and delegates attended events in both countries and stayed in hotels in both countries.

The short drive over the famous Victoria Falls bridge took 5 minutes. There was no border control, no customs - delegates hardly noticed they were changing countries many times during the assembly.

Both the presidents and vice presidents and both tourism ministers for both nations attended and spoke at this important United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly.

The bridge connecting both countries was open. The president of Zimbabwe and the president of Zambia called the opening of the bridge an historic moment and pledged to work together to keep this bridge open to make travel and tourism between Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Livingston, Zambia easier in the future.

Tourists would be able to enjoy this wonder of the world without delay and experience it as one attraction.
This idea was echoed by the secretary General of UNWTO and many other tourism leaders.

A year and a half later this seems to have been wishful thinking.

Here is a report from a tourist that recently visited beautiful Victoria Falls.

While visiting Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, we walked across the Victoria Falls Bridge to Zambia. This sounds easy enough to do, but while planning the trip there was a lot of conflicting information about what visas and vaccinations are necessary in order to do this. This may not be the most exciting post, but I am trying to make a clarification for those who have the same questions we did.

We visited Victoria Falls in August 2014. We made this trip as a day trip from Kasane, Botswana, hiring a driver for the day. We chose not to drive into Zimbabwe from Botswana as we read from countless sources that taking a rental car into Zimbabwe is a hassle that is just not worth it.

Our family of six left Kasane at 8 am. The Kazungula border post is located just ten minutes from Kasane. This is the border crossing to take in order to get to Victoria Falls from Kasane.

The first step is to clear customs and immigration on the Botswana side, which is very quick and straightforward. This requires a quick visit into the border control office to get your passport stamped. From here you get back into your car, drive thirty seconds across the border, then clear customs and immigration on the Zimbabwe side. Here is where things slow down. In the morning there are usually large groups of tourists heading to Victoria Falls, so be prepared to wait a half hour or longer to get through this part. It took us one hour to clear customs in both countries.

In order to enter Zimbabwe, a visa will have to be purchased, and there is the option of a single entry or double entry visa. If you are planning on only walking across the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia without entering Livingstone, Zambia, only the single entry visa is necessary. If you plan on entering Livingstone, Zambia (going through customs in Zambia) and later re-entering Zimbabwe, then a double entry visa is necessary. We purchased the double entry visa just so we were covered, at a price of $45 USD per person. A single entry visa costs $30 USD. As it would turn out, only a single entry visa was necessary for what we wanted to do.

From the Botswana Zimbabwe border it is a one hour drive to Victoria Falls.

The Victoria Falls Bridge is located outside of Victoria Falls National Park. To walk across the bridge, park in the lot across from the main entrance to the park, make a right out of the parking lot, and walk ten minutes down the road toward the bridge.

Before being allowed to walk onto the bridge it is necessary to clear customs on the Zimbabwe side, since technically you will be entering Zambia halfway across the bridge. You will be given a piece of paper stamped with the Zimbabwe stamp. Keep this piece of paper because this gets you back into Zimbabwe.

From here, walk across the bridge, enjoy views of Victoria Falls and go bungee jumping if your heart desires. Halfway across the bridge is the Zambia border. It is a ten minute walk from the bridge into Zambia to reach their border post.

Once you are finished visiting the bridge, present the stamped piece of paper at border control to re-enter Zimbabwe and you are on your way.

In summary, to just stand on the Victoria Falls Bridge, only a single entry Zimbabwe visa ($30 USD) is necessary. Once at the Victoria Falls border post you will be given a piece of paper with a stamp on it that will get you back into Zimbabwe from the Victoria Falls Bridge.

If you choose to pass through border control in Zambia and later want to re-enter Zimbabwe, you must purchase a double entry visa ($45 USD) for Zimbabwe. Later in your trip, if you plan on entering South Africa, you must also have your Yellow Fever Vaccination. Without this vaccination, you will not be allowed to enter South Africa if you have been to Zambia.

Source: Zimbabwe - Zambia tourism cooperation: Victoria Falls bridge open border policy a hoax? (25/01/15)

Vic Falls Council designs unique debt recovery strategy

WHILE most local authorities are struggling to collect rates and debts, Victoria Falls Town Council has come up with a novel idea of ensuring residents pay and it does not include attaching ratepayers’ property.

Richard Muponde
Senior Reporter

The town council is owed $7 million in unpaid rates and like other municipalities, it has resorted to court orders to get ratepayers to cough up.

But what is of interest is the way it effected operations of court orders which has won the hearts of many.

Under its department of social amenities, the local authority vets and selects some defaulting ratepayers who then clear storm drains, slash grass and clean illegal dumping sites and for their labour, their bills are cleared.

Victoria Falls town clerk Christopher Dube said the local authority had previously disconnected water for residents in order to force them to pay bills, but this was not working.

“However, we have since abandoned that punitive measure as that was making residents suffer,” he said.

“You should understand that some of these residents genuinely fail to pay their bills because of the biting economic environment.

“So we said no, let’s stop disconnections and instead engage residents to come up with payment plans.”

Dube said they copied Bulawayo City Council’s method of going to court to force residents to pay their balance.

“However, we don’t attach residents’ property,” he explained.

“We engage and vet the residents and see those who are genuinely failing to pay.

“These are then introduced to the programmes offered by the social amenities department, where they voluntarily take part in various council programmes as a way of settling their bills.”

Dube said the programmes included cutting grass on roadsides in the town, removing garbage on undesignated sites and clearing storm drain.

He conceded that most local authorities in the country were feeling the pinch of an underperforming economy.

“We are owed a lot of money by residents,” Dube said.

“The problem has affected our service delivery.

“Like any other local authority, we are feeling the pain.

“There are some extreme cases where we have to attach a house because of the magnitude of the bills.

“In these instances we talk to the owner that instead of us auctioning the house, it would be better for him to sell it and pay his bills. The remainder he will take with him and go and start a new-life.”

The council official said they felt that if they auctioned the houses, it would be tantamount to destroying residents’ lives, as they don’t benefit anything if their properties were sold by public auctions.

Other local authorities have been urged to emulate Victoria Falls Town Council’s way of dealing with residents.

Bulawayo Progress ResidentS’ Association secretary Ambrose Sibindi said the facility in the resort town would benefit cities like Bulawayo.

“The programme has a human face because it’s not that residents don’t want to pay,” he said.

“The majority have nothing and can’t make ends meet as they are out of employment and council debts are also accumulating every day.
“They also need their property because they will never get it again.”

Sibindi said if the programme was voluntary, then it would be worth emulating.

“Other local authorities, Bulawayo included, could emulate that,” he said.

“It’s a win–win situation for both residents and the council.”

Sibindi’s sentiments were echoed by his counterpart, Bulawayo Residents Association, chairperson Winos Dube who said such a move was welcome.

“That will go a long way in helping both sides, the council and residents,” he said.

“That will relieve pressure on residents.

“It will really be a good move instead of attaching residents’ property,” he said.

Source: Council designs unique debt recovery strategy (21/01/15)