Fears Grow Over Falls World Heritage Status

(20th April 2022)

There are increasing fears that the Victoria Falls/Mosi-oa-Tunya World Heritage Site (WHS) could be close to being placed on UNESCO's 'List of World Heritage Sites in Danger' following increasing tourism development pressure surrounding the natural wonder - leading to a fact finding visit from a UNESCO monitoring mission early this year - and the recent launch of tours to a previously pristine protected area, Cataract Island.

The core area of the Victoria Falls, covering some 6,860 hectares and including the river corridor upstream and downstream of the waterfall on both sides of the river, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1989. The Victoria Falls majority of the area of the WHS is protected under National Park designation on both sides of the river and managed by the respective national park authorities of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Victoria Falls, viewed from the western (Zimbabwe) end, showing 

Devil's Cataract in foreground (lower left), Cataract Island (centre left) 

and the Main Falls (centre right) [image credit: Peter Roberts]

Monitoring Mission

The joint UNESCO/IUCN monitoring mission, which visited in February this year, follows the recent development of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort on the Zambian side of the river, a short distance upstream of the Falls. A proposed development on the same sensitive site in 2006 also resulted in a monitoring mission and the subsequent implementation of a moratorium on all development within the WHS and surrounding areas until appropriate management plans and procedures were in place to adequately administer the site.

The planned development received widespread negative publicity before being ultimately rejected by authorities as being unsuitable and dropped by the developers. The new project appears to have gone ahead without UNESCO being fully informed or aware of the scale of the development on the ground, which commenced in mid-2020.

The World Heritage Committee, in its July 2021 Decision Report (44 COM 7B.177) concluded:

"[The Committee] Notes its utmost concern over the increasing tourism infrastructure development pressure within and around the property, including the start of the construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort Hotel within the buffer zone of the property, contrary to its request to abandon the proposal, [and] urges the States Parties to halt further activities until further consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN has taken place, all relevant Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) have been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and reviewed by IUCN, and the potential impacts of the infrastructure developments on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property have been adequately assessed."

Development of the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Resort has continued apace and is due to open by the end of 2022.

Over 12,500 people signed an online petition voicing opposition to the development.

Read More: New Hotel Development Threatens Livingstone's Elephants (12/08/20)

Another key aspect of the mission was to clarify the borders of the WHS, after the State Parties (Zambia and Zimbabwe) presented a significantly revised map of the site in their 2016-2021 Joint Management Plan, attempting to remove a significant section of the upstream river corridor.

In a recent media interview Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the remit for the visit:

"The main reasons which triggered the... visit and which were subsequently adopted as Terms of Reference for the same Mission were:

(i) To assess the tourism developments in the core zone, buffer zone as well as surrounding areas - of particular concern being the Mosi Resort Hotel in Zambia,

(ii) To assess the potential impacts of the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Scheme..,

(iii) To ascertain and verify the World Heritage Property boundaries,

(iv) To discuss the policy, legal frameworks that govern developments in the core zone, buffer zone as well as surrounding areas among other issues."

Danger to World Heritage Status?

Mr Farawo also attempted to down-play fears expressed in media news reports following the mission visit that the site may be 'delisted,' claiming them as baseless.

"The assertion that there are fears that Vic Falls could be delisted as a World Heritage site is baseless and marred by gross speculation."

Strictly speaking, of course, he is correct - there is no immediate threat of the Falls being 'delisted' as a World Heritage Site. What he doesn't acknowledge, however, is that there is a very real threat of the Victoria Falls being imminently placed on UNESCO's 'List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.'

Mr Farawo declined to expand on his comments for this article and when specifically asked if he felt there was a risk of the Falls being placed on this list.

Concerns remain that the 'State Parties,' Zambia and Zimbabwe, are continuing to fail in their commitments to inform UNESCO of new developments before they happen (for example, the newly launched Cataract Island activity, see below); that tourism pressures are negatively impacting on the scenic value and ecological fabric of the Falls and surrounding areas; and that if developments continue to be approved without due process, UNESCO will be left with no option other than to add the Falls to their 'Danger List.'

In his media interview Mr Farawo referred to two other recently proposed developments on the Zambian side of the river as evidence of the effectiveness of the management of the site, indicating that they had been rejected by authorities:

"Some cases of interest that show that State Parties are truly preserving the... [site] include the turning down of the glass bridge across the falls, [and] the erection of the ferries wheel in the core zone." 

The fact remains, however, that these and other unsuitable proposals continue to be regularly presented, and even represented, by the State Parties to UNESCO when plainly not appropriate to the site.

A New Threat

Despite all the focus on increasing tourism pressures and pending UNESCO mission report, a local tourism operator in Zimbabwe chose this month to launch a new activity, presumably authorised under agreement with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, promoting exclusive tours to Cataract Island and swimming in a natural pool on the edge of the Falls, similar to the tours offered to Livingstone Island from the Zambian side of the river.

Together with the launch of a new website, www.cataractpool.com, a promotional launch email was sent to tourism agents by Zambezi Crescent, operators of the Victoria Falls River Lodge:

"A fully guided experience including a short boat trip across the calm waters of the channel to Cataract Island. Once disembarked, a guided tour of the Island follows, including time to explore the new section of Victoria Falls that is busy forming. Enjoy plenty of free time for optional swimming in the warm, clear pools on the face of the falls, or to explore some of the most spectacular scenery that nature has to offer." 

Cataract Pools, on the lip of the Falls [image credit: www.cataractpool.com]

Cataract Island, a the western end of the Falls, is, or should we say was, the last area of the 'rainforest,' the rich vegetation zone immediately surrounding the Falls and supported by the never ending spray, untouched by tourism. This fragile environment nourishes a diverse flora of ground plants and shrubs, highly vulnerable to trampling and disturbance. It is also, significantly, the point where the erosion of a new gorge and waterfall is beginning to form in the ongoing geological evolution of the Falls. It is not only, therefore, of key ecological importance to the Falls as we see them today, but also in the ongoing process of the development of a future rainforest zone alongside a new waterfall - an island Ark containing the species diversity to propagate the future Falls. 

There are also concerns that the activity will add to the numbers of tourists visible on the edge of the Falls from the main view points in the Falls 'rainforest,' as is already the case with tours to Livingstone Island and the 'Devil's Pool,' negatively impacting on the visitor experience to the Falls for tens of thousands of visitors every year.

In 2011 another well established local tourism operator considered launching the same tour and activity, but after strong opposition wisely decided that the island was too ecologically sensitive to sustain tourism activities and should remain a pristine reserve. In 2016 the company currently attempting to launch the Cataract Pools activity had their proposal rejected over concerns on the sensitivity of the site (including another online petition, signed by over 17,750 people). 

Read More: Cataract Island threatened by tourism development (06/12/16)

The Victoria Falls - showing Cataract Island (lower left)

The new proposal, which is rumoured to include the development of a restaurant facility mid-way along Zambezi Drive, at the point from where boats will take tourists to the island, was launched without public or local stakeholder consultation, with no public Environmental Impact Assessment disclosure, or it would appear, without duly notifying UNESCO - for if they had they would surely have been informed that it was an unsuitable proposal for such a critical area of the World Heritage Site.

Zambezi Crescent have been asked to clarify the status of their cataract pools activity, but at the time of publishing this article have yet to reply.

It remains to be seen if the activity and associated developments will be allowed to continue - if they do there must be serious concerns over not only the future of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Listing, but also the ability and effectiveness of UNESCO to protect and preserve our World Heritage Sites.

The mission will present its final report to the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to be held in Kazan, Russia in June 2022.

Weblinks / Further Information

Cataract Pools 

Zambezi Crescent 

UNESCO World Heritage Site Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls 

Cataract Island threatened by tourism development (06/12/16)

New Hotel Development Threatens Livingstone's Elephants (12/08/20)

Radisson Hotel Group announces its arrival at Victoria Falls, an UNESCO world heritage site (20/04/21)

Peter Roberts is a freelance researcher and writer with a special focus on natural and human history of the Victoria Falls. He is author of serval books on the history and human development of the region, including 'Footsteps Through Time - a history of Travel and Tourism to the Victoria Falls,' [www.zambezibookcompany.com].

UPDATE: Online petition launched: Keep Victoria Falls Wild - Stop commercialization of Cataract Island and Surrounding majestic wild areas (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe). Please sign and share...

Read More: Keep Victoria Falls Wild

 

Biogas digesters reduce deforestation in villages around Victoria Falls

 When Chumani Sibanda-Ncube was a little girl, she was told it was the woman’s job to cook, clean, collect firewood and lug water back from the borehole — in short, to keep the house running.

In the village of Ntabayengwe, seven kilometres from Victoria Falls, this rigid division of gender roles is slowly changing.

“I’ve never imagined myself cooking,” says Sibanda-Ncube’s husband, Lovemore Ncube, grinning.

In Ntabayengwe, home to just over 1,000 people and where Ncube has lived all his life, men build and maintain the thatched huts in which families live, put up residential boundaries and work as herders.

Residents considered the kitchen — and all the responsibilities that come with it, including collecting firewood — to be the woman’s domain.

But with the installation in 2017 of a biogas digester, which uses cow dung to produce energy, Ncube no longer waits for his wife to return home from work.

He also prepares food for the children in the morning.

“When I get hungry, I can easily cook some food for myself — and sometimes for the family,” he says.

The contraption quietly driving this change — and simultaneously helping reduce deforestation in the area — is a dome-shaped device affixed to the ground just outside the house.

A pipe snakes in through the kitchen window, connecting the device to the family’s two-plate stove.

Biogas — the mixture of gases produced through the breakdown of organic matter such as agricultural and municipal waste — is a renewable energy source.

Over the past decade, a number of initiatives — some led by the government in partnership with international development organizations and others by local nongovernmental organisations such as the Jafuta Foundation — have introduced biogas digesters in rural Zimbabwe.

In the rural parts of Victoria Falls, biogas also is encouraged as a means of reducing deforestation near one of the country’s biggest tourist towns.

The biogas digester costs US$1,000, but Ncube says they didn’t have to pay for it.

The Jafuta Foundation, a local nonprofit that works with rural communities on issues of education and conservation, installed it free of charge.

When revved up the first time, the digester requires 400 kilogrammes of cow dung to begin working.

After that, however, dung from a single cow can keep it running for years.

Ncube says he shovels dung into the digester about once a month.

A family uses four trees’ worth of firewood a month on average, according to the Jafuta Foundation.

Those who use biogas have reported an 85 percent reduction in wood consumption, says Sipho Moyo, a project manager at the organisation.

Biogas has numerous uses.

Johannes Nyamayedenga, a spokesperson for the Rural Electrification Agency, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, says the agency has no data on how many rural households are currently electrified, but in 2012 the percentage stood at 13 percent.

“Biogas is one of the ways in which the country can use alternative sources of renewable energy because it uses easily accessible products such as organic matter,” he says.

In 2019, about 65 percent of rural households relied on firewood to run their homes — one reason for the country’s steep deforestation rate of about 262,000 hectares a year, says Violet Makoto, spokesperson for the Forestry Commission.

“The use of biogas, especially in rural areas in the country, has greatly reduced the amount of deforestation,” she says.

Makoto didn’t comment on deforestation rates in specific areas of the country.

Dry dung has long been used as a fuel in other parts of the world.

In Zimbabwe, prior to the introduction of biogas digesters, it was primarily used to layer the floors of huts.

This would keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer.

As of 2017, according to research by the Bindura University of Science Education, 711 digesters were installed across Zimbabwe, with 91 percent of them installed in households, where biogas is primarily used for cooking.

One reason for the slow rollout of the technology, the research notes, is the high cost of installation.

Nyamayedenga, the electrification agency spokesperson, didn’t provide more recent figures or comment on costs because the agency installs digesters only for institutions such as boarding schools and mission hospitals, not for individuals.

The agency has installed digesters at 11 institutions across Zimbabwe.

Households that wish to install digesters have to pay market price, says Nyamayedenga, adding that the government doesn’t regulate private providers.

As a result, most families making use of biogas digesters received them free of cost from nongovernmental organizations such as the Jafuta Foundation.

Of Ntabayengwe’s 132 households, 20 use biogas digesters.

“There was some resistance in the beginning as some villagers did not understand the concept,” Ncube says.

“Some would say they cannot eat food from cow dung. But they have since embraced the concept.”

As the smoke from wood fires has abated, respiratory problems in the village have also decreased, Ncube says

Biogas helps overall health, says Fungai Mvura, district medical officer, even if the decrease in firewood doesn’t have a noticeable impact on the number of respiratory illnesses.

“The biogas concept is good for the health of the community because it is considered clean energy compared to firewood, which produces smoke that is harmful.”

Women’s work, in particular, has become easier.

Sharon Tshabalala, who installed a biogas digester in 2020, says she no longer has to haul home firewood during the rainy season.

“It has become easier to prepare breakfast for the family in the morning, especially for my grandchildren who go to school,” she says.

Dorcas Mabhena, Ntabayengwe’s village head, agrees that the division of labor in some homes has shifted — but only a little.

“Gender roles are almost engraved in one from childhood,” she says. “It could take years for one to shift from that.”

Moyo points to another reason biogas digesters haven’t been fully embraced.

“It is difficult to totally convince the older generation to do away with making a fire in the home due to cultural belief,” he says.

In sub-Saharan African tradition, a hearth represents life.

Along with the kraal, where a family’s cattle are kept, and the silo, where harvested maize is stored, it’s one of the pillars of the homestead, says Ncube.

In addition to the biogas digester powering his kitchen, he has a small fire crackling in his home. – Global Press Journal

Source: Biogas digesters reduce deforestation in villages around Victoria Falls (19/04/22)

ZimParks claim Vic Falls world heritage status not under threat

 RECENT reports claimed that Victoria Falls’ world heritage status is under threat. The Daily News on Sunday’s Staff Writer Rumbidzai Ngwenya, had a chat with Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo on the claims. Below are the excerpts of the interview.

Q: There are fears that Vic Falls could be delisted as a World Heritage site owing to construction taking place there. How true is that?

A: At this point in time this is based on speculation. This is a transboundary property, managed jointly by Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

Both State Parties (SPs) are not aware, at the moment of the outcomes of the Reactive Monitoring Mission which is the only legitimate body of experts with the capacity to recommend for the property to be on the list of properties in danger not delisting status. Delisting is a different process deliberated on at World Heritage Centre level.

Zimbabwe and Zambia invited the Reactive Monitoring Mission (RMM) following World Heritage Centre Decision 44 BCOM 7b, which recommended for the SPs to invite the RMM. 

The main reasons which triggered the RMM visit and which were subsequently adopted as Terms of Reference (TORs) for the same Mission were:

i. To assess the tourism developments in the core zone, buffer zone as well as surrounding areas of particular concern being the Mosi Resort Hotel in Zambia,

ii. To assess the potential impacts of the Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Scheme in both SPs,

iii. To ascertain and verify the World Heritage Property boundaries,

iv. To discuss the policy, legal frameworks that govern developments in the core zone, buffer zone as well as surrounding areas among other issues.

The RMM comprising of Guy Broucke (UNESCO) and Mizuki Murai (IUCN) led the Mission from the 9th to the 13th of February 2022. 

The main issues were (i) and (ii). Combined ground truthing assessments and consultations were made to both SPs. 

The Batoka Gorge site, the Rainforest were visited by both SPs. On the Zambian side the Mosi Resort Hotel, islands, Zambia Electricity Supply Company water abstraction site among other sites were assessed. 

On the Zimbabwean side a few semi-permanent tourist sites, islands were also visited. The initial Mosi Resort Hotel project scope has been reduced in line with the World Heritage Convention Operational Guidelines, an EIA has been conducted and accredited by Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

The Batoka Gorge Hydropower Scheme (BGHES) has conducted a full EIA and above that an EIA addendum, which specifically addresses the preservation of the World Heritage Property Outstanding Universal Values (OUVs) has been availed. 

The dam wall has been reduced from over 180m above sea level to 175m above sea level to avoid inundation from affecting the property.

From the deliberations the RMM experts advised both SPs that the report from the very experts will be shared to both SPs within three weeks from the 13th of February. 

The experts advised the SPs that in the event that the expert’s results are not as to expectations of the SPs there is room for appeals to be launched before the World Heritage Convention 45th General Conference to be held in Paris, France from the 19th to the 30th of June 2022. 

In light of the above discussion the assertion that there are fears that Vic Falls could be delisted as a World Heritage site is baseless and marred by gross speculation.

Q: Can you explain the situation at the animal corridors? Where they tempered with?

A: All animal corridors are intact. Developments taking place in the city as well as the World Heritage Property consider leaving out animal corridors. 

During the EIA stakeholder consultations phase for all the proposed developments many responses cite the sparring of wildlife corridors as a concern and as such this has been adhered to.

Q: How has the Batoka project impacted on the site’s status?

A: The BGHES dam site is 47km downstream. With the proposed 175m height of the dam wall only 7km of the property is inundated. Fears have been coming from rafters and ecologists for the possible loss of Taita Falcon breeding sites. 

Rafting could still be possible since the dam is a running reservoir, flood gates are regularly opened to lower water levels and therefore paving way for rafting. 

The Taita Falcon surveys over the decades showed that the species has been diminishing in numbers. 

The most recent 2021 Taita Falcon survey conducted by ZimParks Ecologists, Zambezi River Authority and National Conservation Commission of Zambia showed that only two species are left. 

These results have ruled out the possibility of the BGHES having a bearing on the species dwindling population. However, there are plans and considerations that the Zambezi River Authority may consider lowering the dam wall by some 2 or less metres.

Q: What measures are there to ensure that it does not lose its geomorphological features?

A: There is strict adherence to the WHC Operational Guidelines, Joint Integrated Management Plan, State of the Conservation Reports, EIAs. Some cases of interest that show that SPs are truly preserving the geomorphological processes include the turning down of the glass bridge across the falls, the erection of the ferries wheel in the core zone. 

All these are against development of permanent structures within the property and buffer zones that could have some negative impacts on the properties Outstanding Universal Values.

Q: Has UNESCO raised concern over the alleged desecration?

A: It has and as such has asked the SPs to invite the RMM. That was a platform for SPs to explain the alleged potential desecration and held physical assessments to that same effect. We are waiting for the RMM outcome.

Q: Are the falls natural habitat not affected on the Zambian side?

A: They are not affected. Mosi Hotel which is located in the buffer zone beyond the Maramba River. 

This project has been reduced in scope and a full EIA has been conducted. Mitigation measures that point to potential impacts to the natural habitat are clearly and succinctly highlighted. 

The golf course and height of the hotel has been reduced. Gabion blocks have been erected to mitigate bank erosion, among others.

Source: Vic Falls world heritage status not under threat (17/4/22)

Zimbabwe's tourist arrivals drop 40 pct in 2021 due to pandemic

Tourist arrivals to Zimbabwe declined by 40 percent to 375,799 in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, a senior government official said Thursday.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy minister Barbra Rwodzi said visitors to Zimbabwe have been decreasing since 2019.

"The country witnessed a decline in tourist arrivals from 2,294,259 in 2019 to 630,369 in 2020. The negative trend further continued in 2021 as arrivals suffered a further downfall of 40 percent to 375,799," she said.

Rwodzi was speaking at the launch of the country's tourism satellite account (TSA), designed to measure the sector's contribution to the economy.

Rwodzi said the TSA report revealed that there is low consumption of domestic tourism in Zimbabwe.

"We are cognizant of the low consumption of domestic tourism and we need to do more to champion increased internal tourism," she said.

According to the TSA, Zimbabwe's tourism sector accounted for 4.25 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with a value of 1.03 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.

In 2019, the sector accounted for 6.3 percent of GDP with a value of 1.23 billion dollars.

The data also shows that tourism accounted for 1.56 percent of national employment levels in 2018, with around 100,000 jobs supported and created. 

Source: Zimbabwe's tourist arrivals drop 40 pct in 2021 due to pandemic (01/04/22) 

MJ Air in partnership with Zimparks

 THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has entered into partnership with a local helicopter flights company to offer services for tourists keen to view game and the majestic Victoria Falls.

MJ Air is a wholly indigenous company operating from Kazungula aerodrome on the outskirts of Victoria Falls, from where the activities will be taking place.

For Zimparks the partnership is about creating synergies and getting the much-needed revenue, which the wildlife authority desperately needs for its operations.

While helicopter flights are not new, it is the combination of aerial game view and fly past the majestic Victoria Falls waterfall and gorges that makes the new product unique.

Already there is Zambezi Helicopter Company, Bonisair and Chikopokopo that are offering 15-minute helicopter flights in Victoria Falls.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu who officiated at the launch of the partnership in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, said the business partnership forms part of the enablers to realising Vision 2030.

“This is the birth of a new entrant on the tourism industry, the MJ Air in partnership with Zimparks. As part of our ministry’s goals and objective, we have been encouraging such partnerships,” he said.

“This is a 100 percent indigenous and proudly run and operated by Zimbabweans. Such business partnerships form part of the enablers to achieve Vision 2030.”

Although Covid-19 has adversely affected the tourism industry, partnerships are some of the strategies to ensure domestic tourism recovery.

As such, Minister Ndlovu said helicopter activities would help contribute to revenue generation and providing opportunity for tourists to view Victoria Falls and National Park from the air.

“What we are witnessing today is not only the birth of a new entrant but an immediate impact on employment. I would like to applaud MJ Air for recruiting largely locals,” he said.  “I challenge domestic tourists to find time to explore this kind of experience.”

MJ Air operations director, Mr Gerald Zumbika, said the new service combines flying over the falls and game park.
Victoria Falls is surrounded by Chamabondo, Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks.

“MJ is a proudly owned Zimbabwean company run and managed by locals in partnership with Zimparks. The partnership started in 2020 and rides on building of infrastructure in the tourism facilities,” he said.

“Ours is a game view as well as appreciation of the upper Zambezi as we approach the Falls. We do 30 minutes of a combination of game flights on the outbound and inbound as we go back to landing.”

Currently, MJ Air has employed 16 youths. Zimparks director general, Mr Fulton Mangwanya, said the partnership is a culmination of an enormous collective effort.

“This partnership is coming at a time when Zimparks is making efforts to raise as much revenue as it can to support its mandate of conserving our wildlife,’ he said.

“As you may be aware that Zimparks relies on revenue that it generates for all its operations. Thus, we eat what we kill.”
Matabeleland North director for local governance, Mr Tapera Mugoriya, who was representing Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, said the province prides itself for being the country’s tourism capital.

Victoria Falls City Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, said more tourism products and activities will widen the local authority’s revenue base as residents will get jobs and pay rates. 

Source: MJ Air in partnership with Zimparks (01/04/2022)

Zimparks partners local helicopter company

 THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has entered into a partnership with a local helicopter flights company to offer flight services for tourists to view both game and the majestic Victoria Falls.

MJ Air is a wholly indigenous company that operates from Kazungula aerodrome on the outskirts of Victoria Falls, from where the activities will be taking place.

For Zimparks the partnership is about creating synergies and getting the much-needed revenue, which the wildlife authority desperately needs for its operations.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu who officiated at the launch of the partnership in Victoria Falls said such business partnerships form part of the enablers to achieve Vision 2030.

He challenged locals to seek such partnerships and to embrace domestic tourism.

Source: Zimparks partners local helicopter company (31/03/2022)

Victoria Falls Hotel receives Light of Stewardship Award

Herald Correspondent

The Anglican Church has presented The Victoria Falls Hotel with an award acknowledging its stewardship of an in-house chapel that recently celebrated its 90^th anniversary.

The Light of Stewardship Award was given to the hotel’s general manager, Farai Chimba, during a celebratory weekend commemorating the chapel’s nine decades of active service to guests of the hotel and the Victoria Falls community.

“We are honoured to have received this award and we are delighted and proud that our chapel continues to be a source of spiritual inspiration and service to God,” said Mr Chimba.

The Victoria Falls Hotel was established in 1904 and for almost 65 years was the only hotel on the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi river, with the nearest amenities and facilities of a religious nature being in Livingstone, Zambia, about 12 kilometres away.

A chapel was installed and dedicated in 1932 and since that time has hosted weekly services and a large number of celebratory or commemorative events such as weddings, funerals, baptisms and confirmations. It is named St Mary Magdalene Chapel, and can seat up to 30 people for a service, with other celebrants able to sit on the lawn outside to hear what is happening inside.

One of the highlights of its history of service was its hosting of members of Britain’s royal family during their stay at the hotel over Easter 1947, when they attended divine service on Easter Sunday. King George VI was on a royal tour of Southern African at the time, a visit aimed at thanking the people of the region for their support of the allies during World War 2, and their visit to Victoria Falls took place over Easter, giving them a time of rest and reflection during a busy, three-month regional tour, mostly by train.

He was accompanied by his wife, Queen Elizabeth – who became Queen Mother after his death in 1952 – and by his daughters, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret.

Mr Chimba said the chapel was a significant and cherished featured of the hotel, which will commemorate its own 120^th anniversary in 2024.

“As one of only two hotels in Zimbabwe to have its own chapel, we are proud to be custodians for the Anglican church of a facility that gives such comfort and spiritual access to so many people, including guests, staff and members of the local community,” he said.

The other hotel with a chapel in-house is Cresta Jameson in Harare.

The 90^th anniversary celebration was attended by the Bishop of the Diocese of Matabeleland, the Right Reverend Cleophas Lunga, as well as by members of the church, the hotel and the National Railways of Zimbabwe. The Victoria Falls Hotel, which was built by the railways authorities just before the construction of the north-bound railway line reached Victoria Falls in 1904, is owned by Emerged Railways Properties, in turn owned by the railways authorities of Zimbabwe and Zambia, and it is leased to The Victoria Falls Hotel Partnership, made up equally of African Sun and Meikles Hospitality.

The anniversary was marked by an official dinner and a mass, at which the chapel was rededicated to its purpose of serving God through providing the community with a house of worship.

“As we look towards a renewed period of growth for travel and tourism in the post-Covid era, we in The Victoria Falls Hotel are inspired by the history and purpose of St Mary Magdalene Chapel and we commit to continued stewardship of this historic facility,” said Mr Chimba.

Clergy in attendance thanked the hotel in general and Mr Chimba in particular for their stewardship and support and expressed delight at knowing the facility would remain both operational and cared for.

Source: Victoria Falls Hotel receives Light of Stewardship Award (30/03/22)