Zambezi River turned into sex haven

 VICTORIA Falls residents, including married people and schoolchildren have allegedly turned a restricted section of the Zambezi River into the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah where they go for swimming, braai, beer drinking and sex escapades.

Concerned residents accused the Zimbabwe National Parks and Management Authority (Zimparks) rangers of fuelling immorality and marriage break-ups by opening the area to the public.

People pay $2 entrance fee to Zimparks to swim in the crocodile-infested river. The picnic which starts with booze and swimming in the river, a few hundred metres upstream from the VIP entrance to the Rainforest, mostly ends with sex adventures in the wildlife-infested bush, concerned residents have alleged.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (Vifacora) convened a meeting on Friday following complaints by residents who said pupils were bunking lessons and returning home drunk. Even married women and men are involved as the area has turned into a sex haven. Speaking at the Chinotimba Hall, residents ordered Zimparks to close the area as it is fuelling immorality, defiling the sacred Zambezi River.

Vifacora chairman Mr Morgen “Gazza” Dube said Zimparks should have consulted residents before starting such an activity.

“We don’t know what has changed and wonder if they removed the crocodiles and drained water for them to allow people there. They should have consulted you as residents. We engaged and told them that residents don’t want this project, not because of money but because of immorality and defilement of a sacred river,” he said while opening the meeting.

An elderly woman said some marriages were on the brink of collapse.

“Children are no longer going to school because they have discovered a haven for immorality where they go to swim and abuse drugs and alcohol in the Zambezi River where everyone, including elderly people, will be half naked,” she said.

Residents also complained about pollution of the river and national park.

“Victoria Falls is a heritage site and we can’t have a situation where 200 people spend a day where there are no toilets, they defile the place. We grew up knowing that we were restricted from going near the river or into the bush and picnicking because there are crocodiles and wild animals.

“We don’t know if the animals and crocodiles no longer attack people. We wonder who clears those beer bottles and litter from there. Locals know how sacred Kasambabezi River was but you have defiled it because of your love for money. You are like Judas Iscariot, who pretends to work for people when you are covering up for shady dealings within the rainforest,” a resident told a Zimparks official Mr Mathew Muleya who is also Hwange Rural District Council Ward 19 councillor.

A senior resident Mr Christopher Ndiweni said: “I went there to check and was shocked that everything was happening in front of rangers who said they were guarding people from being attacked by crocodiles.”

Local businessman Mr Bernard Sihwaba Ncube accused the rangers of making money through the immoral activity.

“Go and tell your bosses that residents said stop it, we don’t want that,” he said.

Mr Muleya, however, accused residents of immorality.

“I want to apologise for what has happened as we appreciate that you were supposed to be consulted. We restricted those below 18 from the area but we then discovered what is called ‘lunch hour’ where married men and women would go there with secret lovers in the absence of their spouses. We have caught many there and they will tell funny stories. Husbands leave in the morning going to work and women go to the river with boyfriends for the lunch hour. My appeal is for you people to stop this lunch hour immorality,” he said.

He almost torched a storm when he told residents that those who are not comfortable with the activity should just not go there.

Residents ordered Zimparks to immediately close the area. In 2015 a Mosi-oa-Tunya High School pupil was murdered by two men as she went for a picnic with a boyfriend in the area.

Source: Zambezi River turned into sex haven (28/10/2018)

Zim, Zambia sign four MoUs

 Zimbabwe and Zambia yesterday signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) as the two sister republics moved to elevate and deepen their historical and economic relations.

President Mnangagwa and his Zambian counterpart President Edgar Chagwa Lungu oversaw the signing ceremony at the Zambian State House.

The signing ceremony followed a two-day meeting of the 17th Session of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission that ended here yesterday.

The first MoU was on the establishment of a one-stop border post at the Victoria Falls/Livingstone border.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu signed the MoU on behalf of Zimbabwe, while Zambian Minister of Commerce and Industry Christopher Yaluma signed on behalf of his country.

The second MoU was on the cooperation of management and preservation of Zimbabwe’s liberation war grave sites.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, who is also the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, signed on behalf of Zimbabwe while Zambia was represented by its Tourism Minister Charles Banda.

The MoU seeks to promote and appreciate the history and values, ideals and goals of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and construction and reconstruction of site museums and monuments at the grave sites.

The two ministers also signed a third MoU on cultural exchange cooperation under which the two countries seek to enhance cooperation in the field of culture and arts.

Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and her Zambian counterpart Elizabeth Phiri, who is the Gender Minister, signed the fourth MoU on gender equity and equality and women empowerment through sharing experiences.

Before the signing ceremony, Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji briefed the two Heads of State and Government on the deliberations and outcomes of the Joint Permanent Commission.

In his brief remarks, Minister Malanji said: “The Joint Permanent Commission agreed on new areas of cooperation on industrialisation, investment promotion, works and supply and child development. The challenges faced at Chirundu one-stop border post, it was agreed to link and harmonise ICT systems procedures in the two countries in order to ensure full operation of the one-stop border post. Coming to progress, we have registered progress in the joint projects such as the Batoka Power Project and Kariba North and South Power projects. The Joint Permanent Commission called on the need to expedite the formalities on the twinning between Lusaka and the Mashonaland Central province as well as southern and Mashonaland West provinces in order to enhance the relations between the two sides.”

Minister Malanji said Zambia was also excited by the donation of two male rhinos by Zimbabwe.

Said Minister Malanji: “The two sides reaffirmed to continue cooperation at regional and international fora, especially under the framework of the Troika of the Sadc Organ, Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation where Zambia is the chair and Zimbabwe is the incoming chair. We agreed to hold the 18th session of the Joint Permanent Commission in Zimbabwe.”

He said it was their wish as the Joint Permanent Commission to upgrade relations between the two countries to Bi-National Commission level.

Other ministers from Zimbabwe who attended the 17th session of Joint Permanent Commission were Energy and Power Development Minister Jorum Gumbo, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza.

Source: Zim, Zambia sign four MoUs (24/10/2018)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (11th October 2017) Zim engages Zambia on one border post.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (25th October 2018) Zim, Zambia sign four MoUs.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (28th January 2019) Land Shortage Hits Zimra’s Victoria Falls Border Project.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (8th February 2019) Zimbabwe and Zambia to set up one-stop border post in Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th March 2024) Zim, Zambia broaden cooperation.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (14th November 2025) Zimbabwe Extends Victoria Falls Border Post Hours To 24/7.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th November 2025) Mnangagwa, Hichilema co-chair Zimbabwe-Zambia BNC.

Passenger volume at Vic Falls International Airport surges

Passengers volume at the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport surged by 25 percent during period January to August according to latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) with calls for the tourism industry to position themselves to benefit from the continued influx of tourists.

Dubbed ‘The Game Changer’ the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport which is a gateway to the majestic and legendary Victoria Falls continues to witness an influx of tourists.

Statistics from the domestic aviation body show that during the period under review, passenger volume at the airport stood at 264 525 compared to 211 379 during the same period in 2017.

The increase in passenger volume has raised hope that the country is on course to surpass the country’s 2018 tourists’ arrivals target of 2.5 million.

Employers Association for Tourism and Safari Operators president Mr Clement Mukwasi said the passenger volume is encouraging adding that operators should position themselves to benefit from influx of tourists.

“We are excited as an industry by the continued surge in passenger traffic at the upgraded Victoria Falls International Airport. This obviously means more business for the operators and the clarion call is for all players to position themselves to meet the increased demand for services,” he said.

There are currently eight airlines serving the Victoria Falls route namely South African Airlink, Fastjet, Air Zimbabwe, South African Airways, British Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Namibia and Ethiopian Airways.

Meanwhile, a survey titled ‘Victoria Falls Gateway’ conducted by tourism group Africa Albida, shows that the Zimbabwean side of the majestic Victoria Falls recorded total visitor entries of 317 778 in 2017 which translates to 36 percent compared to those recorded in 2016.

The upgrading of the Victoria Falls International Airport resulted in its passenger handling capacity being increased from 500 000 to 1.5 million per annum.

Analysts say though the recent growth in tourists’ traffic is commendable, stakeholders need to double efforts to ensure that the assets is fully utilised to reach the 1.5 million passengers per annum.

Source: Passenger volume at Vic Falls International Airport surges (01/10/18)

Air transport connectivity boosts Vic Falls tourism

The number of tourists to Zimbabwe's premier resort centre, Victoria Falls, has risen by 21% to 150 000 in the first six months of this year due to improved air connectivity, a survey has shown.

Titled Victoria Falls Gateway, the survey conducted by tourism group Africa Albida shows that the number of tourists is expected to reach 605 000 by year-end compared to 520 000 achieved in 2017.

Since its $150 million upgrade last year, Victoria Falls International Airport is serviced by eight airlines — Air Zimbabwe, South African Airlink, fastjet, South African Airways, British Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Air Namibia and Kenya Airways.

Early this year, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority said the rising number of airlines and visitors could help the resort town grow into a regional tourism hub.

The findings of the Africa Albida survey show that Victoria Falls was the third most visited falls globally in 2017 with 500 000 visitors, after Niagara Falls (12 million) and Iguazu Falls (1,7 million), respectively.

The survey investigated tourist visits to Victoria Falls, Livingstone (Zambia), Chobe/Kasane (Botswana), and Hwange (Zimbabwe). Both the rainforest and falls in Victoria Falls remain Zimbabwe's top attractions.

"There was a further sharp increase in visitor numbers to the Zimbabwe side rainforest in 2018 of 26%, but foreign visitor number growth rose 28% vs local 15%. Hotel accommodation stays again grew less than the rainforest visits at 12,5% in 2018 first six months, again reflecting a boom in non-hotel stay on the Zimbabwe side," the report read.
Hotel room stays in the first half of the year totalled 106 183.

"The area is probably on a growth trajectory slightly below the 10% curve (a growth of 10% per annum over the next five years). However, the Zimbabwe side saw compound growth in arrivals exceeding 20% in the boom times of the 1990's for six consecutive years. It is possible that the Zimbabwean side is headed for growth similar to or exceeding the 15% line, which doubles visitor numbers under five years," the report further read.

The survey found that the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls recorded total visitor entries, both local and foreign, of 317 778 in 2017, a 36% increase on two years ago.

About 205 469 of the visitors were from overseas markets from 151 839 in 2016.

The United States was the biggest source of visitors to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side, accounting for 73 803 visitors in 2017, followed by Germany (25 855), Australia (17 023), France (16 092) and Japan (31 702).

However, the findings also showed that Zimbabwe is the most expensive in the region due to the strength of the United States dollar.

A 2015 survey conducted by the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism in 2015 on 145 tourists in Victoria Falls found that 52% of the visitors were spending more than their budget due to higher costs.

Source: Air transport connectivity boosts Vic Falls tourism (02/10/18)

Vic Falls mall ahead of schedule

ZIMRE Property Investments' $13 million Sawanga Shopping Mall, which is currently under construction in Victoria Falls, is expected to be operational by December this year, ahead of the formerly proposed timeline. 

Providing above 5 000 square metres of lettable space, the mall consists of 23 shops of various sizes, banks, concept houses, food courts, restaurants, coffee shops, service station and curios shops. The mall has at present received expression of interests that exceed the space available. 

Zimre Property Investments board chairperson Jean Maguranyanga revealed that the mall could be completed a month before the scheduled timeline and the property company is already overwhelmed with enquiries from potential tenants of the yet to be completed shopping mall. "Letting of the shops is in progress and the expressions of interest received exceed the space available.

"The major tenants are expected to start trading in December ahead of the scheduled project completion date," said Ms Maguranyanga. 

The mall is one of Zimre's major projects as the company has also been converting Nicoz House Bulawayo from offices to student accommodation and could start taking occupants this October. 

Renovations started in January 2018 and the property will provide approximately 194 beds, a canteen and student amenities at the lower floors. These developments come at a time when the company slumped in profits and revenue as compared to the same period last year.

Profit for the year up to June dipped by 68 percent to $197 397 from $613 526 recorded in the prior comparable period whilst the company's revenue decreased by 41,3 percent to $1,5 million from last year's $2,6 million. 

Slowdown in the group's profitability is largely attributed to the refurbishments at Nicoz House in Bulawayo and construction of Sawanga Mall in Victoria Falls which evidently require massive capital injection.

Source: Vic Falls mall ahead of schedule (02/10/18)