Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort

 LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – RADISSON Hotel Group has opened the Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort in Zambia.

Nestled on the banks of the Zambezi River, the resort is the group’s first safari resort in Africa and first resort in this Southern African country.

It is seen as a key step towards its goal of reaching 150 hotels in operation and under development in Africa by 2025.

“Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, Zambia represents a unique destination for our guests to discover and explore,” said Tim Cordon, Radisson Chief Commercial Officer, Middle East and Africa.

The official believes the expansion in Zambia demonstrates belief in the country’s potential.

This hotel is our second property in Zambia, following the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka.

A third hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Lusaka, Longacres, is due to open in 2023.

Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort is ideally located near the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, 2km south of the historic city of Livingstone, and 4km northwest of the famous Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a celebrated World Heritage Site.

It features 200 rooms, suites and villas, many with views of the Zambezi, the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa.

Source: Radisson Hotel Group opens first Zambian resort (19/12/22)

African Sun shuts down Victoria Falls Kingdom Hotel

 African Sun Limited has announced it is shutting down its Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls January next year after failing to agree on lease terms with First Capital Bank, owners of the property.

The hotelier said the parties had failed to reach common ground on the length of the lease with the property owner firm on a two-year lease while ASL wanted 10 years, sufficient to recoup its investment.

In a 24 November memo to trading partners, African Sun Limited chief executive Peter Saungweme said the Kingdom hotel would close for business with effect from January 5, 2023.

"Further to the formal announcement which African Sun Limited (African Sun) released to the market on 4 July 2022, we would like to inform you that the Kingdom at Victoria Falls Hotel ("the Hotel") shall be closing for business with effect from 5 January 2023.

"We would like to thank you for your past business and support over the years and look forward to continuing working with you at our other ten hotels, which include the Victoria Falls Hotel and Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre which are also situated in the city of Victoria Falls," he said.

In an interview, African Sun Limited chairman Emmanuel Fundira said it was unfortunate that the two parties did not reach an agreement.

"We said two years does not work for us. For us to recoup the investment of over US$6 million on the hotel, it will require us at least a minimum period of 10 years to operate.

"So, two years will not work for us. That's where the departure began. We negotiated and negotiated and they refused.

"We see that there was really another hand into this," he said.

Africa Sun Limited has been operating the 294-roomed Kingdom Hotel since 1997.

Source: African Sun shuts down Victoria Falls Kingdom Hotel (30/11/22)

High Court seemingly reluctant to stop threats facing Victoria Falls

 More than five months have passed now since the High Court was approached to stop a substantial riverside restaurant development near the Victoria Falls and the commercialisation of Cataract Island in the tourism city.

Earlier this year information emerged that two private companies were about to undertake commercial operations in the vicinity of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.

Adage Success P/L apparently had permission from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZNPWA) to undertake commercial activities on Cataract Island including a natural plunge pool experience on the immediate edge of the Main Falls.

This was subsequently advertised by Zambezi Crescent, Mr Mark Bosch’s company.

On May 30 this year, Larry Norton, an artist based in Victoria Falls filed a case at the High Court in the capital Harare, along with other residents, to stop these developments. The court application was filed on an urgent basis.

But it has been more than five months now and the matter is yet to be heard.

The controversial developments are, however, taking place at one of the seven wonders of the world.

In an open letter aimed at updating the world about the ongoing court case, Norton articulated that the judiciary was yet to hear their matter. He added that they have been writing letters to authorities to act but nothing has yet materialised.

“Despite an urgent application submitted on 30th May 2022, the case has yet to be heard. 149 days have passed with no ruling from the judge on the Urgent Application to stop these activities.

“Three letters to the high court questioning this extraordinary and unheard of delay have been sent. The last letter was acknowledged by the Registrar,” Norton wrote.

He further stated that he was threatened by unnamed government officials who wanted to stop him from challenging the matter.

“At the outset of this process I received a phone call from a government official. I was asked who I represented, ordered to stop enquiries, desist from talking to people about these issues and advised that I was going against the government.

“After the court process had begun another government official approached a number of individuals who had written supporting applications for the case to attempt to persuade them to abandon their applications. He was unsuccessful. I question his interest in two proposed commercial enterprises,” Norton added.

Around 2016 a Victoria Falls tourism company was offered Cataract Island and turned the lease down due to a public outcry. Two other local operators then applied for the same lease. Both offered substantial lease fees. Both were turned down by ZNPWA for environmental reasons.

A lease was later surreptitiously awarded to Adage of Success for US$5,000 per year (as per court papers submitted). This amount is payable in RTGS.

Norton said the restaurant is sited 40 metres from the Rainforest fence, on the water’s edge approaching Devil’s Cataract. The developers have cleared large sections of riverine bush . They are currently concreting foundations.

He added: “These actions, in such a sensitive site, to me, demonstrate a callous disregard for this fragile environment and wild space in exchange for personal profit.”

He appealed to the World Heritage Site monitors to urgently investigate both the proposed riverside restaurant development and the Cataract Island commercial operation on the Zimbabwe side.

Source: High Court seemingly reluctant to stop threats facing Victoria Falls (7/11/22)

Victoria Falls Hotel in US$4.5m upgrade

Hospitality groups, African Sun and Meikles have jointly invested US$4,5 million towards refurbishment of the Victoria Falls Hotel.

This comes as the sector is on a recovery path following the challenges experienced after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which affected global economies.

The tourism and hospitality sector was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic which resulted in operators temporarily closing some of their facilities as economies world over implemented lock down measures to limit the spread of the pandemic.

Recovery has so far been sustained mainly by the domestic market travellers with prospects high for growth from international markets following relaxation of travel restrictions globally.

“Our cash utilisation strategy remains unchanged, focusing mainly on targeted capital expenditure on hotel assets in order to enhance guest experience and to preserve value,” said African Sun chairman Emmanuel Fundira in an update on the group’s refurbishment initiatives.

“Earlier this month, we celebrated the highly anticipated completion of 47 rooms and kitchen refurbishment at the majestic five-star Victoria Falls Hotel, “the Grand Old Lady”.

“The group, together with our partner Meikles Limited, invested over US$4,5 million towards the refurbishment of this property,” he said.

In anticipation of the growth in international arrivals, hospitality groups have also resorted to refurbish their facilities to improve ambience and position themselves for the anticipated tourism rebound.

African Sun has further committed additional millions of dollars this current financial year, towards sprucing the image of its other hotels.

At Troutbeck Resort alone, an investment of US$1,8 million is expected to be made towards refurbishment works which commenced during the past financial year.

The refurbishment, which commenced in 2021 with a complete roof makeover, is expected to be concluded in 2022 when the hotel’s 100 rooms are refurbished.

According to the group, preparatory work to carry out the refurbishment of eight additional rooms at Great Zimbabwe Hotel and remedial works on the Hungwe Conference Centre are at an advanced stage, with actual works scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2022.

Plans are also currently underway to refurbish rooms at Hwange Safari Lodge with mock-up rooms having been started. The first phase of the project, which targets 60 rooms, is expected to be completed in 2022.

The tourism and hospitality sector has been identified as one of the low hanging fruits expected to significantly contribute towards the economy and turn it into an upper middle class economy by 2030.

Source: Victoria Falls Hotel in US$4.5m upgrade (29/09/22)

Ministry works on US$5bn tourism economy

Tourism is one of the critical sectors of the economy with great potential to turn around the economy, Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu said yesterday.

Speaking at the Ministry’s strategic planning workshop in Bvumba, Minister Ndlovu said tourism was a low hanging fruit characterised by foreign currency earnings, employment creation and community empowerment.

So people must guard the sector and ensure that they continue to grow its size for the benefit of the nation at large.

“Government remains committed to play its supportive and facilitatory role to stimulate and boost the growth of the tourism sector.

“As we carry out our business, let us be mindful of the fact that we have a target to achieve, that is the US$5 billion tourism economy by 2025.

“It is my hope that, as we are emerging from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken a closer look at the national tourism recovery and growth strategy to assess our targets, our strategies, and that we are identifying areas that need more emphasis for us to meet and possibly surpass the initial targets,” Minister Ndlovu said.

Tracking performance was critical and those in the industry needed to know where they were falling short and work with all stakeholders to institute remedial measures.

Minister Ndlovu said there was also a need for quarterly review of the performance of the strategy to ensure set targets are met, as identified.

“I am happy that the tourism sector is now on a growth trajectory due to the relaxation of Covid-19 induced travel restrictions and lockdowns, and the opening of doors for both domestic and international travel,” he said.

“Let us take advantage of this phase to work with all stakeholders to design and offer competitive products and services in order to attract more tourists to Zimbabwe. In this vein, we need to increase impetus on our programme of identifying and exposing tourism potential across the country, and at the same time meeting our stakeholders.

“During the first half of 2022, the tourism sector registered a 115 percent rise in tourist arrivals to 352 719 compared with the same period in 2021 where the international arrivals received were 164 062. The tourist receipts also increased by 121 percent in 2022 to US$337,5 million compared to US$152,8 million in 2021.”

Minister Ndlovu said domestic entries into national parks rose 90 percent from 90 909 in 2021 to 172 481 during the period January to May this year.

A 79 percent increase in new investments was also registered this year with a total of US$96,5 million recorded.

Source: Ministry works on US$5bn tourism economy (22/09/22)

Bush meat poachers target Vic Falls wildlife

The Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) said animals such as warthogs that used to roam the city were now hard to come by because they were killed by poachers, who use snares.

“Due to Covid-19 mainly, many of the resident warthogs within the town of Victoria Falls have been poached,” VFAPU said.

“(In April), one of the surviving families (four of them) ventured into the bush by CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) park and sadly three of them were snared.

“Thank you to concerned residents of Victoria Falls who had heard the warthogs squealing, for chasing off the poacher, who had already butchered one of the pigs.”

VFAPU said between January and April, it apprehended 59 suspected poachers around Victoria Falls.

The anti-poaching unit removed 163 snares and another 309 snares were identified by Zambezi Horse Safaris.

During the period, 28 snared animals were rescued.

Trevor Lane, founder of Bhejane Trust, a non-profit organisation that seeks to protect wild animals in the region, said the snaring of animals by poachers had become a cause for concern.

“The issue of snaring is a major concern to us,” Lane said.

“The poachers take advantage of small fines where one can get a suspended sentence and community service or fine.

“Although we appreciate what the courts are handling cases according to the law, we believe that the sentences should be tougher in order to send a message because the issue around these crimes is that the offenders will be doing it for commercial purposes.”

Employers Association for Tours and Safari Operators president Clement Mukwasi said the decimation of wild animals in Victoria Falls was now seriously affecting their business.

“Covid-19 exposed many wild animals in our nearby parks and around town to poaching because continued lockdowns meant that there was no monitoring of activities around wildlife crimes and due to massive job losses in the industry, people opted for self-help as streams of income diminished,” Mukwasi said.

“Wildlife around town has become part of our lifestyle and visitors enjoy that urban-wilderness feeling in harmony with nature and through our bush game drives in areas such as the Zambezi National Park and with poaching in these areas, it means that there is reduced variety of animals for one to view.

“We wouldn’t want to find ourselves in a situation where this continues happening as it kills our tourism.”

The snaring of wild animals is also affecting villagers living on the outskirts of Victoria Falls as their livestock gets caught by the snares.

Lifa Nekatambe from Monde village, which is located about 15 kilometres from Victoria Falls said he had lost livestock because of snares set up by poachers.

“In May, two of my calves were snared and killed while in November last year, one of my bulls was severely injured from the neck when poachers put snares at Masuwe River where our animals drink from,” Nekatambe said.

“The pain these poachers have inflicted on is too much and they are hardly known, but we understand that these are criminals who will be targeting wild animals and it keeps worsening,”

In February this year, Clemence Ncube, a Victoria Falls council employee was arrested and taken to court for running over a warthog with his vehicle before skinning it.

At the time, prosecutors said he hit the animal at the Aerodrome area and skinned it at his Chinotimba residency.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilt and fined $20 000 in local currency.

Source:  Bush meat poachers target Vic Falls wildlife (11/09/22)

Stands corruption storm in Victoria Falls

VICTORIA Falls residents are up in arms with the local authority over alleged corruption involving sale of commercial stands among a myriad of concerns.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (Vifacora) said it had been engaging councillors and management lately to register residents’ concerns and held back-to-back meetings with ratepayers recently to give them feedback from the closed door meetings.

Three meetings were held over the weekend with Chinotimba and Mkhosana residents who are the most affected by poor service delivery.

Vifacora chairman Mr Kelvin Moyo said among residents’ concerns were a proposal by the council to give the Mayor, Councillor Somvelo Dlamini the mayoral vehicle he is using, a Toyota Fortuner, allocation of loans to council management and unclear sale of two stands, 1811 on Wood Road and 8300 between Grace School and Bonisair. Residents are also bitter that the council leased out bars to private players for a song as the leasees are reportedly paying less than US$5 per month to the local authority.

Speaking during a meeting in Mkhosana, residents said they were not happy that the local authority was making major decisions without consulting ratepayers.

They resolved that the local authority should reverse all deals entered with private players without consulting residents.

“We met council and five issues came out which are the reason why we are having these feedback meetings. The council is seeking to allow the incumbent mayor to go with the vehicle when he leaves office after serving his term. The same vehicle was used by two previous mayors and residents are questioning why the previous mayors were not given the vehicle and what the new mayor will use after elections next year,” said Mr Moyo.

“The local authority leased the bars to private players because of lack of viability and residents are not happy that the leases are paying less than US$5. So we are engaging because the beerhalls were corruptly given to investors. There is also the issue of allocation of commercial stand 1811 measuring 500 square metres along Wood Road to a councillor who paid only $11 million for the stand which could fetch as high as US$25 000 for deposit alone.”

Mr Moyo said the residents had proposed to the city fathers that since the piece of land was prime land, it be allocated to a number of beneficiaries including the councillor (name supplied) but the person allegedly rushed to pay $11 million to block any further allocation.

“We feel the stand could have been sold to private players in foreign currency and that money used for service delivery especially the WASH programme where we need two reservoirs in the city. As for stand 8300, an investor from India wanted to build a state-of-the-art hospital but called off the plans because of Covid-19 outbreak and council retendered.

“A number of private investors including some financial institutions showed interest but it was sold to the lowest bidder who paid US$4 million yet the previous council had pegged the stand at US$14 million and had proposed that any interested investor would fund the US$14 million WASH project in return for the piece of land,” said Mr Moyo.

Residents said the council should be investigated for corruption and councillors should account to the electorate that voted them to office.

They implored the council to reverse the proposal to give the vehicle to the mayor.

“The issue of the vehicle should be put on hold because there is no money to buy a new one. Service delivery is poor and our roads are bad yet the council has leased out bars which should be generating money for the city. The leasees should at least plough back to the community by building schools, clinics or roads and councillors should not lease our property without our consent,” said a resident.

Another one said: “We want all deals that were made without residents’ consent reversed. The problem is that our views are not respected, every year we contribute during budget crafting and nothing is implemented so what’s left is for us to invade the council offices. Let’s go and invade the offices and close them until everything is reversed or we petition Government on this.”

Vifacora chairperson for Chinotimba Mr Trymore Ndolo said the residents association was not against councillors getting land but want allocations to be done transparently and paid for in foreign currency like any other land seeker.

The meeting resolved that Vifacora leaders will apply to the police for permission for residents to visit the council office for a peaceful demonstration.–@ncubeleon

Source: Stands corruption storm in Victoria Falls (10th September 2022)

Zimbabwe tourism rebound exceeds expectations

 VICTORIA FALLS, (CAJ News) – TOURISM executives are confident the sector is on right course to bounce back to levels experienced before COVID-19 when close to 1000 passengers landed at the Victoria Falls Airport daily on average.

Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s prime destination and conference capital, boasting of visitors from across the globe.

The local giant airport was upgraded to handle wide bodied aircraft and more than 1,5 million passengers per annum before the global pandemic struck.

Barbara Murasiranwa, Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe Matabeleland North representative, said 2022 had been positive.

“Arrivals this year have been exciting for the industry,” she said.

Murasiranwa said more airlines were making their way back to Victoria Falls, bringing hope for the tourism sector.

“We used to receive about 900 passengers per day from all the airlines before this fell to about 100 during lockdown. We are building up back to where we used to be before and that’s exciting,” she said.

“The industry is actually picking up at a rate that we did not expect which proves that tourism is a low hanging fruit,” the official said.

“We never thought we would be at this stage with our tourist arrivals. We thought it would take three years to recover. Within this year, we should be back to our 2019 figures,” she forecast.

Government set a target of a US$5 billion tourism industry by 2025 leveraging on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions among other initiatives.

Murasiranwa believes this is achievable judging by the positive growth.

Tsika Mberi, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Matabeleland North regional manager, believes the lifting of travel restrictions reignited the desire to travel.

Arrivals in Zimbabwe are projected to trend around 2,3 million by the end of this year.

In 2019, there were 2,29 million arrivals.

Arrivals dropped drastically in 2020 because of COVID-19 as the country received 639 000 tourists.

Speaking in Victoria Falls recently, Vice President Costantino Chiwenga, said medical tourism will soon be the resort city’s drawcard and plans are underway to upgrade health infrastructure to match destination status.

Chiwenga is also the Minister of Health and Childcare.

Source: Zimbabwe tourism rebound exceeds expectations (31/08/22)

Dogfight over Victoria Falls

 VICTORIA Falls, Zimbabwe’s top tourism drawcard and world spectacle, is at the centre of a legal dispute pitting environmentalists and two firms planning to build on restricted zones marked by Unesco as world heritage sites.

The UN body bestowed the World Heritage Site status on the Victoria Falls in 1989. It is considered as the largest waterfall in the world running down 108 metres.

After a fact-finding mission in February 2022, Unesco warned that the Victoria Falls was facing threats from individual and cumulative infrastructure developments. It warned that Victoria Falls could lose world heritage status.

Environmentalists and Victoria Falls residents filed an application at the High Court to block the two firms from building within the precincts of the falls.

According to court documents filed on May 13, Lawrence Benjamin Norton and nine other applicants are suing Adage Success Private Limited and Scanner Investments Private Limited, cited as first and second respondents, respectively.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks), the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) are also cited as respondents.

“The purpose of this application is to prevent the development of commercial interest at the cataract and rainforest sites, which development would only suit the commercial operators and would negatively impact on the global aesthetic perspective of the Falls,” reads part of the application.

“It is clear and simple to note how the aesthetics of this historic and pristine site would be detrimentally affected. The risk is too great to the applicants and the Zimbabwean public as regards a crucial environmental area of our country, and accordingly, this application is filed in the public interest…

“I further submit that the allocation of cataract to the first respondent and rainforest to the second respondent has significant and material effects as regards the future and rights of the public of Zimbabwe and notably constitute a genuine threat to the preservation of the Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site.

“In essence, therefore, the process of the law, and the privileges granted to Zimbabweans have been flouted by the third respondent (Parks and Wildlife Authority) and other authorities involved in the granting of the concessions.

“The alleged permits cannot be taken on review as no such permits have been evidenced or tendered. The entire process is being sought to be carried out in a clandestine manner,” excerpts of the application read.

Historically, the applicants submitted, no commercial enterprises on the cataract and the rainforest have been allowed.

“The applicants bring the present application for the respondents to confirm whether or not any lawful permit as regards two commercial sites in Victoria Falls have been issued and to provide written reasons as regards same and to confirm whether all due processes were complied with as contemplated with the Administration of Justice Act,” reads the High Court case number HC 3576/22.

“It has come to the applicants’ attention that as at April 14 that the first and second respondents have somehow purportedly gained permits from third respondent without public enquiry or comment to operate two sites in the designated ‘highly sensitive zones’…surrounding the waterfall itself…and the immediate vicinity of the rainforest created by the spray of the Falls.”

Norton (first applicant) demanded answers from Zimparks.

He said Zimparks promised to respond to his questions in November.

“I confirm having addressed two open letters to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority which have gone unanswered,” Norton said.

“I do confirm that the third respondent called for a stakeholder meeting on 9 May 2022 in which I confirm I raised the concerns over the issues of the two sites as otherwise detailed in this application, in which questions were not answered directly and I was advised we would be informed in November.”

Norton wrote in his application that he sought legal advice from lawyers who cautioned him against waiting for the “day of reckoning” (November).

He then approached the courts for redress.

“I am advised by my legal practitioners of record that in such circumstances one cannot await the day of reckoning but must act. I confirm that the need to act due to potential harm is already upon us,” Norton said.

“It is clear that the developers intend to proceed come ‘hell or high water’ without consideration of past objections, successful petitions and my own open letter.”

The applicants also submitted documents to the High Court which they claimed showed evidence of “land clearing” underway at the rainforest and “advertisements for trips to the cataract site”.

Only a legal solution, the applicants wrote, could push back manoeuvres by the two investment firms.

“I am further advised by my legal counsel that there is no alternative remedy than the relief being sought,” Norton said.

The applicants are being represented by Advocate Fadzayi Mahere.

Responding to Norton’s application, Zimparks Director General Fulton Mangwanya argued that the applicant’s concerns were driven by financial reasons.

In his opposing affidavit submitted on June 14, 2022, Zimparks boss said Norton’s application should be dismissed.

“The applicant’s interest in this matter is purely financial and this is reflected in the papers before the courts,” Mangwanya’s affidavit reads.

“I am advised by my legal practitioners that an applicant with an application like this one is required to prove that they have a direct and substantial interest in the matter.

“Based on the foregoing, the applicant’s interest is a financial interest in this matter. Again, I embrace the advice of my legal practitioners of record that this court has made it very clear in a plethora of decisions that financial interest does not confer to a litigant locus standi.”

Source: Dogfight over Victoria Falls (29/07/22)

Victoria Falls heritage status under threat, Unesco warns

Plans to build a hydroelectric power plant, a large hotel and a golf course will endanger the southern African natural wonder’s World Heritage Site accreditation, says Unesco.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) is warning that Victoria Falls could lose World Heritage Site status if the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments proceed with development plans near one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, is on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is the world’s largest sheet of falling water, spanning 1.7km and dropping 108m into a gorge. It is the main tourist attraction for both countries, where visitors can enjoy sightseeing, bungee jumping, white-water rafting, boat cruises, game viewing and the world-famous Flight of Angels.

Plans are at an advanced stage to build a hydroelectric power station, a 300-bed hotel complex and a golf course near the falls, according to a Unesco report.

The power plant proposal comes as Zimbabwe is facing an acute shortage of electricity that has seen the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) introduce power cuts. Zesa is also struggling to pay at least $6-million a month for electricity it gets from Zambia – which has achieved an electricity generation surplus of 1,156MW since a new power plant was built in the north of the country.

Victor Mapani, managing director of Zambia’s power utility Zesco, has said the country’s power surplus is available for trade in the southern African region, within the interconnected power network.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced this week that he planned to engage his Zambian and Mozambican counterparts with a view to solving his country’s power deficit.

‘Pushing away tourists’

Some commentators say building a power plant near Victoria Falls will ease Zimbabwe’s electricity problems, but activists like Farai Maguwu, director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, say it will have a negative impact on Zimbabwe’s already ailing economy. The country’s month-on-month inflation rate hit 25.6% in July.

A recent Zimbabwe cabinet report said tourism contributes at least $1.9-billion to gross domestic product annually, and projected it could hit a $5-billion target by 2025.

However, Maguwu said projections might not be met if the developments go ahead.

“Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders created by God. It is important that the falls are preserved because that is what attracts tourists.

“The Zimbabwean government should not be seen to be pushing away foreign tourists. It is not surprising that some top government officials are seeing an opportunity to make money through these commercial projects,” said Maguwu.

Zimbabwe’s minister of environment and tourism, Mangaliso Ndlovu, declined to comment on “the Unesco matter”.

Read more in Daily Maverick: “Blessing Munyenyiwa: Victoria Falls’ innovator, conservationist and man with a mission”

Home affairs and heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe said he was not aware of any proposed commercial activities near Victoria Falls. “I am not aware of the project. If indeed the project is on the cards I trust your concerns will have been considered during the design. The heritage will certainly be protected,” he said.

However, Zimbabwe Environment and Management Agency communications officer Joyce Chapungu said: “We have not received any documentation for these proposed developmental projects to enable us to do any environmental impact assessment exercise in order to ascertain how these projects would affect the concerned district.”

Bigger picture

Director of the Coalition for Market and Liberal Solutions Rejoice Ngwenya urged Zambian and Zimbabwean authorities to move the projects elsewhere.

“It is important for both Zambia and Zimbabwe to respect the views and expertise of Unesco. These governments can do these projects at least 40km from the heritage site. It is not in dispute that construction of a hotel, power plant and golf course will create jobs, but they must look at the bigger picture.”

Labour Economic Research Institute of Zimbabwe economist Prosper Chitambara said the projects would not hit the economy.

“Tourists come to see the waterfall and there is no tourist who would want to go to a place where there is no electricity and enough accommodation. The setting up of a hotel and a power plant will help in revamping facilities in the resort town,” he said. 

Source: Victoria Falls heritage status under threat, Unesco warns (11/08/22)

Residents present legal case against tourism development proposals at Victoria Falls

Recent press reports in Zimbabwe have detailed the submission of a legal appeal by a group of local residents in Victoria Falls against permits issued by the National Park Authority for the operation of tourism activities to Cataract Island and development of a restaurant immediately above the Falls. 

The documents name Adage Success Private Limited and Scanner Investments Private Limited as respective respondents in the controversial proposals to operate tours to Cataract Island and development of a new riverside restaurant immediately above the Devil's Cataract, both sites being located within the Victoria Falls National Park and Victoria Falls National Monument 'Special Area,' and integral parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

" 'The purpose of this application is to prevent the development of commercial interest at the cataract and rainforest sites, which development would only suit the commercial operators and would negatively impact on the global aesthetic perspective of the Falls,' reads part of the application.

" 'It is clear and simple to note how the aesthetics of this historic and pristine site would be detrimentally affected. The risk is too great to the applicants and the Zimbabwean public as regards a crucial environmental area of our country, and accordingly, this application is filed in the public interest...

" 'I further submit that the allocation of cataract to the first respondent and rainforest to the second respondent has significant and material effects as regards the future and rights of the public of Zimbabwe and notably constitute a genuine threat to the preservation of the Victoria Falls as a World Heritage Site.

" 'In essence, therefore, the process of the law, and the privileges granted to Zimbabweans have been flouted by the third respondent (Parks and Wildlife Authority) and other authorities involved in the granting of the concessions. The alleged permits cannot be taken on review as no such permits have been evidenced or tendered. The entire process is being sought to be carried out in a clandestine manner,' excerpts of the application read.

Historically, the applicants submitted, no commercial enterprises on the cataract and the rainforest have been allowed.

“The applicants bring the present application for the respondents to confirm whether or not any lawful permit as regards two commercial sites in Victoria Falls have been issued and to provide written reasons as regards same and to confirm whether all due processes were complied with as contemplated with the Administration of Justice Act,” reads the High Court case number HC 3576/22." (Zimbabwe Independent, July 2022)

In a subsequent follow-up article published online on 5th August it was reported that the Environmental Management Agency had confirmed the issuing of approval for the riverside restaurant proposal.

"EMA spokesperson Amkela Sidange told the Independent that Scanner Investments had been issued with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate after weighing submissions made by key stakeholders including the Unesco local office.

" 'Scanner has an EIA certificate whose approval came with recommendations from landowners and relevant stakeholders who include the local Unesco office,' she said this week, explaining that she was not aware of the nature of the commercial project the firm intended to set up in the delicate areas of the falls." (Zimbabwe Independent, August 2022)

It is unknown what information on the proposal was disclosed to the UNESCO regional office (in Harare) or what if any official comment on the proposal was made. It appears, however, that the EIA document and certificate have been approved on the basis of a mistaken claim that the site is located outside of the highly sensitive ecological 'red' zone and therefore is an 'allowed development.' the site is, and always has been, located within the core 'red' zone of the World Heritage Site and as such the development should not be allowed.

The EMA spokesperson also clarified that no EIA had been submitted in relation to the proposal to operate tours to Cataract Island, including swimming in the natural plunge pools which form on the lip of the Falls, as there would be no infrastructure development on the site.

"Commenting on Adage Success, Sidange said the firm had not been issued an EIA, but was aware that its proposal spelt out intentions to set up recreational swimming facilities within the Rainforest is not an 'infrastructure' project." (Zimbabwe Independent, August 2022)

Whilst the National Park Authority may have decided that a EIA was not necessary for the proposal, the Victoria Falls National Park is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and UNESCO have previously specifically requested an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for this proposal, which has a controversial history.

“Further requests the States Parties to clarify the exact locations of all developments and the plans to utilize Cataract Island for tourism, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, an ESIA for each of these projects, including a specific assessment of the impacts on OUV.” (World Heritage Committee, 2017)

Tours to the island were launched in April this year.

The controversy over these two new proposals comes at a time when there are serious concerns over the management of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, with the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort development in Zambia attracting critical comments from a recent UNESCO fact-finding visit to the site (held in February). 

A report on the findings of the visit, due to be presented to the next meeting of the World Heritage Committee, warns that the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site "is facing increasing threats from individual and cumulative infrastructure developments" and concludes that the Outstanding Universal Values for which the Falls are globally recognised could be considered to be in danger if current development proposals proceed without the appropriate level of consideration for the environment.

Since the visit, however, details of a raft of tourism development proposals have emerged on the Zimbabwean side of the river, raising serious concerns over the future of the World Heritage Site.

Further Reading

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (June 2022) Cataract Island Tours Threaten Victoria Falls World Heritage Status (external link, opens in new window).

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (July 2022) UNESCO Report Raises Concerns Over Controversial Zambian Hotel Development at Victoria Falls (external link, opens in a new window).

World Heritage Committee (2017) Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2017 (external site, opens in a new window).

World Heritage Committee (2022) Mission Report Mosi-oa- Tunya, Victoria Falls (Zambia/ Zimbabwe) 9-13 February 2022 (pdf download [3.16 mb], opens in a new window)

Zimbabwe Independent (July 2022) Dogfight over Victoria Falls (external site, opens in a new window).

Zimbabwe Independent (August 2022) Praz disowns Vic Falls project (external site, opens in a new window).

Keep Victoria Falls Wild

Read more on current wave of tourism developments which threaten Victoria Falls: Keep Victoria Falls Wild (external site, opens in a new window).

Local residents and stakeholders have also established an online petition against these and other tourism developments which currently threaten the wildlife and scenic value of the Victoria Falls and surrounding area.

  

Livingstone: Vic Falls Visits Rise

 The Victoria Falls has registered a 16,000 rise in visitations in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

The falls in Zambia’s tourist capital Livingstone, has registered over 90,000 visitors in the first half of this year compared to 74,000 visitations the same period last year.

This translates into a 26. 4 percent increase in visitations.

And the Railway Museum has recorded an 11,000 increase in visitations compared to the same period last year.

The museum has this year seen 71-thousand visitations compared to 60,000 last year translating into a 17.2 percent increase in visitations in the half of this year, compared to the same period last year.

National Heritage Conservation Commission -NHCC- Acting Director, South West Region, RICHARD MBEWE, has attributed the increase to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr. MBEWE says the inclusion of Angola and Namibia to the KAZA UNIVISA has also contributed to the increase of visitors.

He adds that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions -MICE- industry has equally contributed to the numbers.

Source: Vic Falls Visits Spike (07/08/22)

Praz disowns Vic Falls project

 THE Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) has dissociated itself from  permits issued to two firms by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to set up commercial enterprises on the Cataract Island and Rainforest at the heart of Zimbabwe’s foremost tourism site, the Victoria Falls, emerging details show.

As reported by the Zimbabwe Independent last week, ZimParks, who are the third respondent in a High Court application, is facing a lawsuit from Lawrence Benjamin Norton alongside nine other applicants for issuing permits to Adage Success and Scanner Investments who intend to set up commercial operations close to the falls.

The court case was filed in May this year at the High Court in Harare.

The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) and Praz are cited as respondents in Norton’s application, who is seeking to “prevent the development of commercial interests at the Cataract and Rainforest sites”.

In February, United Nations agency Unesco noted that the Victoria Falls “is facing increasing threats from individual and cumulative infrastructure developments, whose footprints are inside the property”.

At the heart of Norton’s application lies the question of the involvement of Praz and Ema in the issuance of permits to the two companies without going to tender.

Praz this week told the Independent that they were not involved in issuing the permits.

The two companies are cited as first and second respondents in Norton’s application.

Praz chief executive officer Clever Ruswa said: “Following promulgation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, Praz, unlike its predecessor…is a regulator and does not award tenders. It did not therefore award any permits.”

Ruswa highlighted that Praz was not familiar with the circumstances leading to the issuance of permits to Adage Success and Scanner Investments.

“For reasons cited above, Praz is unaware whether there were such tenders, and if there were, what the costs involved were. The authority is not aware of any public tendering that took place,” he said in an e-mailed response to this publication.

According to Norton’s application, Adage Success and Scanner Investments were “given permits by ZimParks without public enquiry or comment to operate two sites in the designated “highly sensitive zones”…surrounding the waterfall itself…and the immediate vicinity of the Rainforest created by the spray of the Falls”.

Norton’s application, Ruswa highlighted, does not seek any relief from Praz, but ZimParks.

“Praz is aware of the citation as a respondent in the case but there is no relief being sought from Praz in the matter,” Ruswa said, expressing the right not to comment further in the matter, whose judgment has since been reserved.

Ema spokesperson Amkela Sidange told the Independent that Scanner Investments had been issued with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate after weighing submissions made by key stakeholders including the Unesco local office.

“Scanner has an EIA certificate whose approval came with recommendations from landowners and relevant stakeholders who include the local Unesco office,” she said this week, explaining that she was not aware of the nature of the commercial project the firm intended to set up in the delicate areas of the falls.

Commenting on Adage Success, Sidange said the firm had not been issued an EIA, but was aware that its proposal spelt out intentions to set up recreational swimming facilities within the Rainforest is not an “infrastructure” project.

Further inquiries to Sidange on Adage Success’ intentions to build a swimming pool to support its recreational facilities failed to draw any responses.

She said: “Adage Success is a proposed activity (swimming) not infrastructure as far as information got by Ema (shows).”

At the time of writing, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo had not responded to questions posed by this publication.

The Independent, among other questions, sought to understand the fees paid by Adage Success and Scanner Investments to obtain the permits, the terms of the permits and whether the entity flighted a tender notice for the same in line with public tendering procedures.

In light of the rapid infrastructure developments in the resort city, which have attracted Unesco’s attention, Victoria Falls Council Town Clerk Ronnie Dube last week said in an interview the authority would continue to enforce “strict” adherence to regulations governing planned projects.

He said: “We will continue to adhere to strict development conditions and EIA recommendations”.

Responding to measures the authority has put in place to maintain the World Heritage Site status conferred on the Victoria Falls by Unesco in 1989, Dube said swathes of land which are habitats to animals would remain “untouched”.

“We enforce development controls, leaving animal corridors untouched. We are also minimising developments in areas towards the property (falls),” he said.

However, in its February report, Unesco noted that the unrestrained projects in the resort city, some of which encroached in certain sensitive areas of the tourist attraction risked the Victoria Falls being delisted as a World Heritage Site.

Norton also raised the same fears in his application. But, ZimParks in its opposing affidavit dismissed Norton’s application, citing that it was purely driven by financial interests, and as such lacked locus standi.

“The applicant’s interest in this matter is purely financial and this is reflected in the papers before the courts,” ZimParks director general Fulton Upenyu Mangwanya said in his affidavit deposed at the High Court on July 14. The Victoria Falls is a world class tourist attraction, which plunges 108 metres down a gorge. In 2016, former Tourism minister Walter Mzembi underscored that Zimbabwe and Zambia, which are separated by the Zambezi River, had potential to generate US$4,8 billion annually in tourism receipts after expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport. But Unesco has expressed concern on planned infrastructure projects either side of the Zambezi River.

At the time of going to print, Zambia’s information minister Caroline Kasanda had not commented on Lusaka’s position on the Unesco report.

Source: Praz disowns Vic Falls project (5/8/22)

Zambian Dilemma Over Victoria Falls Heritage Status

 Lusaka, Zambia — ZAMBIANS are divided over the warning by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Victoria Falls could lose its world heritage site status.

The agency attributed the likely loss of the status to development of a golf course, lodges and a hydroelectric dam near the natural wonder that is between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It is believed such projects would tamper some animal corridors and natural sites.

Zambians are divided as to whether the country must grow the tourism industry and have the falls risk losing its world heritage status, or to retain the status at the expense of the growth of the lucrative sector.

"Let it loose it(s) status," said Martin Chabu.

"The benefits outweigh the status, which doesn't even bring us any financial benefits as a country. Those construction projects will create jobs, increase power generation and will do us well as a country," Chabu added.

Elijah Nyondo concurred.

"It is better we proceed with the project than maintaining a status that is just symbolic and will not bring us any benefits," he added.

Others like Mulenga Mwansa differed.

"Today, Europe is being affected by global warming because of the disruption in the natural environment. We cannot afford it," said Mwansa.

In fact, Southern Africa, where Zambia is located is warming faster than rest of world.

Noah Banda also supported the stance by UNESCO on the Victoria Falls.

"UNESCO is right on this one," he said.

"We need to preserve this area from artificial disturbances such as building all around this area," Banda said.

Banda believes the said projects would eventually destroy the natural and nature balance in terms of fauna and flora.

"We must not overbuild. We need to adjust for the sake of sustainability, taking in mind future environmental balance," he said expertly.

Other Zambians believe if the construction of the projects went ahead, and Victoria Falls lose its status, it would still be counterproductive as the status was draw card for tourists in the first place.

The hotel thus would be a white elephant.

"What's the use of the hotel if the place is no longer a tourist attraction?" Muweme Muweme quipped.

Johnstone Chikwanda, the energy expert also supports foregoing the world heritage status in favour of the projects that UNESCO is against.

He argued the Batoka Gorge Dam project, for example, would generate 2 400MW of energy, at a time Africa has 640 million without power.

"So forget the Victoria Falls, forget the UNESCO heritage status. Let the golf course project proceed. Let the Batoka hydro power station expansion project take place," Chikwanda emphasised.

Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, has enjoyed world heritage status since 1989.

The region teems with wildlife moving between some national parks.

There are sizeable populations of elephant, Cape buffalo, giraffe, Grant's zebra, and a variety of antelope as well as vervet monkeys and baboons.

The river above the falls contains vast populations of hippopotamus and crocodile.

Herons, fish eagles and numerous kinds of waterfowl are common.

The Zambazi is said to be home to over 120 species of fish in the area.

A notable aspect of the area's vegetation is the rainforest nurtured by the spray from the falls.

Source: Zambian Dilemma Over Victoria Falls Heritage Status (28/07/22)