Jumbo kills Vic Falls homeless man

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls ReporterA HOMELESS man died on the spot after he was attacked by an elephant in Victoria Falls yesterday afternoon.

The man whose identity could not be established yesterday, was a known vagrant who lived behind Encore Budget Lodge.

He was attacked just before 3PM near National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) houses between the railway station and Falls Club.

At the time of the attack, he was reportedly walking from the direction of Falls Club towards the railway station.

A resident who witnessed the attack, said they tried to warn him about presence of the elephants but he continued walking.

“These elephants have been here for a week. He always passes by here and today we tried to stop him but he couldn’t understand us. The elephant gave him a warning sound and he tried to run away but he fell down and it caught up with him,” said Mr Clemence Chirwa who witnessed the attack.

He said the man screamed in agony as the jumbo trampled him. Other witnesses said the man threw stones at the elephant as he was passing by before it charged at him.

The Chronicle was told that the elephant was part of a herd that had been roaming around especially behind old TM Pick n Pay building for some days.

It reportedly chased after a number of people in separate incidents yesterday as they walked near a night club.

Victoria Falls Councillor Joseph Dzangai said he ran for his dear life when it charged at him at around 10AM as he was passing by.

“I saw it in the morning behind old TM building as I was walking along the road. It was about 30 metres away in the bushes and started charging towards me. I ran for my dear life and it only stopped when it saw that I was a distance away,” said Cllr Dzangai.

A news crew visited the scene as police were taking the body away.

Police officer Commanding Victoria Falls District Chief Superintendent Rudo Chitombi said:

“We have noticed more elephant movement because there are less people as a result of the lockdown, hence we want to encourage residents to be vigilant and always quickly alert ZimParks rangers when they come across wild animals especially elephants.”

Source: Jumbo kills Vic Falls homeless man (18/06/20)

Most romantic train journeys to Victoria falls

 Luxury train travel to Victoria Falls transports you back to a golden era where travel was so much more than purely a means of getting from one place to another. The 5-star hotels-on-wheels combine gracious travel and old-world romance with modern conveniences to create an unforgettable experience. South Africa boasts having two of the five most luxurious train services in the world which are unashameably marketed to the elite traveller; Rovos Pride of Africa and the Blue Train. You’ll fall in love with this genteel mode of transport which allows you to take in the resplendent beauty of the countryside at your leisure.

Rovos Rail Rovos Pride of Africa offers one of the most outstanding train experiences in the world. The company operates four vintage steam locomotives which have been beautifully restored with wood-paneled deluxe suites, plush dining cars, sumptuous lounge cars and observation cars with a unique open-air balcony. Routes begin and end at Capital Park in Pretoria, South  Africa, which in itself is a special experience. Once the bustling hub of steam locomotion inSouth Africa, the railway station has been carefully restored to its former gracious state. You’ll find a small working railway museum at Capital Park that showcases the history of train travel in South Africa. The two most popular Rovos Rail routes are the shorter trip between Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa which includes a visit to the historic town of Matjiesfontein and the Diamond Mine Museum; and the hugely popular 3-day adventure from Pretoria to the iconic Victoria Falls. Other routes on offer take you to Swakopmund in Namibia and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Every two years Rovos Rail runs a Cape-to-Cairo route, using private chartered aircraft and lake cruisers for parts of the journey. Rovos Pride of Africa offers a selection of suites with the penultimate being the spacious and elegant Royal Suites. Each Royal Suite has its own private lounge area and full bathroom with Victorian bath and separate shower. Blue Train The Blue Train has been operational since 1946 and is one of the oldest luxury trains in the world. Ferrying high-end travellers in gracious style, the company operates two trains which each have an elegant wood-paneled lounge car, dining car and observation car as well as a selection of deluxe suites.Kings, princesses and presidents have wined and dined on South Africa’s famous ‘Palace on Wheels’. A newly-restored Blue Train was introduced in 1997 and the traditional route between Cape Town and Pretoria was extended northwards to Victoria Falls. READ ALSO: Buhari expresses sadness over death of APC Chairman in South Africa A second luxury train came into service, addingto the choice of routes; Hoedspruit on the western edge of the Kruger National Park and Port Elizabeth on the magnificent Garden Route in South Africa. On the popular route from Pretoria to Cape Town, the train stops at Kimberley to visit the Big Hole and the town’s famous Diamond Mine Museum. Returning to Pretoria, the train stops in the quaint town of Matjiesfontein where guests are treated to a sherry at the Lord Milner Hotel which was founded in 1884 by a legendary Scottish railway man. Gourmet meals, crisp cotton linen and soft duck down duvets, crystal glasses and silver cutlery, marble bathrooms with luxurious deep baths, sumptuous couches, fine cigars in the Club Car and your own personal butler… just a few of the luxuries you can look forward on the Blue Train. Royal Livingstone Express Enjoy the ultimate romantic dinner at Victoria Falls, travelling there on the 5-star Royal Livingstone Express. The captivating steam train takes you on a 15-kilometre scenic journey along what was once the largest privately-owned railway network in the world,set up by the Zambezi Sawmills in 1916. Starting at the elegant Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia, you travel through the magical Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for a safari tour with a difference and on to historic Victoria Falls Bridge. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park incorporates the Victoria Falls World Heritage national monument site and Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park which is home to the Big 5. The luxury restaurant-on-wheels comprises five stylish coaches that have been carefully restored by Rovos Rail, and pulled by a beautiful steam locomotive. The Royal Livingstone Express pauses on the famous bridge where guests disembark and enjoy the most spectacular view as the sun sets over the Victoria Falls National Park. The luxury train proceeds to Palm Grove Siding where guests are treated to a decadent six-course meal. Enroute back to Livingstone, the spacious and elegant lounge car and glass-paneled observation car is the perfect place to settle down with a bottle of champagne or refreshing cocktail, and take in the glorious African night. The Royal Livingstone Express transports you back to a period of graceful travel and offers a glorious blend of luxury, romance, fine-dining, wildlife sightings and spectacular scenery. One of the dining cars, The Wembley, was built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company and has been on display since 1923.Take a step back in time and immerse yourself in the heady romance of a bygone era

Source: Most romantic train journeys to Victoria falls (18/06/20)

Zesco sells Vic Falls land for proposed tourism ferris wheel development

ZESCO has sold land at the Victoria Falls to Chinese national Ju Wenbin for the construction of a Ferris Wheel. Ju Wenbin is one of China’s richest men and is the CEO of China-Africa Cotton Development.

In January 2017 chief Mukuni fought with success attempts by State House to offer Ju Wenbin the curio market at the Victoria Falls to erect a Spin-Sational Ferris Wheel.

An example of a tourist ferris wheel similar to that proposed for Victoria Falls

However, the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) has warned that the said land being within the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site (VFWHS) cannot have a construction of the proposed Ferris Wheel under UNESCO guidelines.

According to correspondences obtained by The Mast, Zesco managing director Victor Mundende on April 15 wrote to Victoria Falls Eye Limited’s lawyers Mosha and Company giving a go-ahead to the firm’s request to survey the land (Lot 473/M) at the Victoria Falls Power Station for subdivision.

The letter, ZESCO REF:MD 298/2020, addressed to Philip Chibundi states that the power company was in consent with Victoria Falls Eye’s request to survey the land.

“Please be advised that we have no objection to your undertaking the survey on the aforementioned portion of our property,” Mundende said.

Another letter from Livingstone town clerk Getrude Chilufya Chibiliti dated April 28 to NHCC south west director reveals a consent from NHCC who are the custodians of the VFWHS to subdivide the land.

Chibiliti informs NHCC in the letter that the council had been requested by the Ministry of Tourism and Arts through its tourism development officer based in Livingstone to give consent for the subdivision of Lot 473/M.

“An investor, Victoria Falls Eye Limited, has shown interest in constructing the Ferris Wheel on the subdivided portion of land. In view of the above, council wishes to engage your organisation as a stakeholder of the site and request a consent letter in order to proceed with the proposed subdivision,” Chibiliti requested.

NHCC in letters to Ju Wenbin and the council dated April 27 and 29 respectively did not object to the subdivision of the land but indicated: “Take note that the area…falls within the Musi-oa-Tunya National Park/Victoria Falls World Heritage Site. In this regard, all activities and planned tourism facilities must conform to, or be compatible with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention Rules and Regulations governing the area.”

An NHCC source warned that Zambia risks having the Victoria Falls placed under ‘endangered’ sites list if the Ferris Wheel is given a go-ahead.

“A shopping mall may be ideal but it’s like these guys are just interested in the wheel going by the name of the company Victoria Falls Eye,” the source said.

Employees are accommodated in some houses on the said land (Lot 473/M) which also includes a Catholic Church, bus station and a market. Zesco in an eviction notice dated April 29 demanded that people leave the area so as to have the properties demolished as they were in a national park against the wildlife Act Number 14 of 2015.

The notice signed by Zesco’s director of legal services McRobby Chiwela was copied to Mundende, the directors of power generation and human resources, and the two labour unions POGAWUZ and MESAWU.

“NOTICE OF EVICTION: Kindly be informed that the area housing the house you reside in is a national park, namely the Musi-oa-Tunya National Park not suitable for human habitation in terms of the Zambia Wildlife Act Number 14 of 2015. We are therefore giving you three months’ notice to vacate the house at hand with effect from 7 May 2020,” Chiwale stated.

He added that the lease agreement allowing tenants to occupy the said houses had also expired, adding that the three months’ notice was a “humanitarian” gesture.

And a wildlife department officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said there has never been any concern raised by the department over the housing units at the power station.

“It is worrying that Zesco has to drag us into this. If there was any correspondence from us, why did they not attach it to the eviction notice? Also strangely this letter giving notice of eviction is not copied to us. Mind you, some of the houses in the area in question belong to us and we have never told them that the area is not suitable for human habitation…,” the wildlife officer said.

The officer added that the area was actually not on the department’s red zones with regards human-animal conflict.

The officer revealed that the said land is still under dispute in the courts of law after another investor – a Hungarian national – was denied permit to install a balloon after being told to construct a bus station so as to displace minibus drivers and traders.

Source: Zesco sells Vic Falls land to Ju Wenbin (17/06/20)

Related stories: State House is giving in to Chinese over Vic Falls site – Mukuni (06/06/20)

Latest News on this story: Chief Mukuni claims abuse of office by Zesco in relation to potential tourism development (20/06/20)

Background: Zambia sells land near Victoria Falls for Chinese to erect observation ferris wheel (02/11/17)

Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
WELL-WISHERS in Victoria Falls have come up with a food-for-work initiative where people affected by Covid-19 volunteer to clean around the town before getting a food hamper which includes a 10-kilogramme pack of mealie-meal.

More than 200 people have benefited so far from the initiative which started on Friday. The initiative is meant to complement Government’s various safety net initiatives and the national clean-up exercise launched by President Mnangagwa more than a year ago.

With the national clean-up exercise on hold because of the Covid-19-induced lockdown, some places in Victoria Falls have accumulated litter.

The Victoria Falls food-for-work initiative seeks to tidy the town in preparation for reopening of tourism to both domestic and international travellers. Last week some of the volunteers cleaned around the Central Business District and streets leading to Chinotimba and Mkhosana suburbs. Programme co-ordinator Mr Kent Davis said the initiative is aimed at encouraging people to take care of their environment regardless of the economic situation.

“This is a combination of two things. The taskforce is trying to assist after Covid-19 made people economically vulnerable due to mass unemployment. While we don’t have enough resources, we thought it was a good idea to combine food distribution with some work hence we partnered council to invite volunteers,” said Mr Davis.

He said more than 200 people have taken part in the two days the exercise has been done. Mr Davis said this would be done weekly.

“We want to make sure people have food but at the same time cleaning our town in preparation for that time when tourists will start coming. We feel everyone has been left vulnerable hence we are not screening as long as one has registered as a volunteer. We are keeping records so that people don’t volunteer twice at least for now,” he added.

He said social distancing is being observed during the cleaning exercises. More than three quarters of workers in Victoria Falls have been unemployed for the past three months after the implementation of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. One of the volunteers, Ms Eunice Ncube from Chinotimba who is a curio vendor said she was grateful to be part of a team that is working to ensure that the resort town is cleaned. @ncubeleon

Source: Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean (14/06/20) 

An Important Message from the Jafuta Foundation, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

An Important Message from the Jafuta Foundation, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (www.jafutafoundation.org/, www.facebook.com/JafutaFoundation/):

As a result of Covid-19, the entire economy of Victoria Falls has collapsed overnight. The 35,000 inhabitants of this tourist destination town have regularly faced significant challenges and have always done so with stoicism, dignity and a degree of fatalism. This is the first time it has faced starvation as a result of factors beyond it's control.

With virtually the entire town now unemployed, we estimate that from the end of April, most will be unable to feed themselves. We have formed a task force to try and address not only the virus, but the greater threat of famine. We have tried to alert all the major food agencies across the world, but their attention is understandably focused elsewhere for now.

Zimbabweans are resourceful and dynamic (we've had to be). The community has set up a Task Force to deal with the dual challenges of the virus (and raise funds for badly needed medical supplies via a go fund me page) – and this imminent secondary wave of catastrophe. The Famine task force has organised commercial kitchens, warehousing, transport, logistics and an army of volunteers. To date we have only secured 60 tonnes of rice and 35 tonnes of maize meal - which will feed no more than 1 200 people for one month. We are busy with setting up seedling nurseries, water access programs, and enabling rural communities surrounding us to plant vegetables. This program, whilst urgently needed, will only show any benefits in 2 – 3 months time at the earliest.

We urgently appeal for donations to allow us to procure emergency food supplies - £50 feeds a family of four for one month. We are playing for time and eventually we hope established food agencies will come in and relieve our needs - but it is nowhere in sight for now, and we are on our own.

Our task force and fundraising effort is supported by ALL the major operators and stakeholders in the town . All funds received will go to a registered foundation – the Jafuta Foundation (https://www.jafutafoundation.org) – a registered 501(c)3 in America and a registered foundation and operating in the Victoria Falls. 100% of any donations will go directly into buying food and there are no administration, distribution costs or hidden costs.

For internet donations, please go to https://www.jafutafoundation.org/donate or contact gcvj@mweb.co.za for USA bank details for a direct deposit.

On behalf of our beleaguered community, our heartfelt gratitude for any help that you may be able to give.

Appeal website: Victoria Falls Famine Appeal

Victoria Falls tourism players roll out destination marketing campaign

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
TOURISM players have escalated marketing destination Zimbabwe after Government allowed them free entry into the Rainforest to take footage and market the country’s tourism products.

This comes as Government is engaging stakeholders with a view to open domestic tourism and has said private sector participation is key to the initiative.

President Mnangagwa last week urged all provinces and exporting companies to set specific trade and export targets so that they contribute more to national earnings.

Matabeleland North’s major revenue earner is tourism and the province is endowed with attractive natural heritage sites, including wildlife. Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister
Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu and his Local Government and Public Works counterpart, July Moyo, who were in Victoria Falls on Monday and Tuesday, ordered ZimParks to allow operators and hoteliers free entry into the Victoria Falls National Park to take footage of the Falls for use in marketing the country’s tourism.

The national parks houses the Rainforest, Livingstone statue and the Best view of the Falls which over the years has attracted thousands of international tourists. Scores of tour operators were pooled in groups of 20 each in line with lockdown rule, and visited the Rainforest on Wednesday between 8am and 5.45PM. Coming out of the Rainforest, some of the operators said they were already marketing the country on social media to their clients in different source markets.

Africa Travel Tours founder Mr Lovemore Machipisa said the initiative will go a long way in marketing destination Zimbabwe.

“We appreciate what ZimParks and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority have done. This means a lot because the Falls are at its peak now and not seeing that is bad for tourism. We can now market them to the whole world,” said Mr Machipisa.

Mr Graham Simmonds of Wilderness Safaris said operators needed the Falls’ footage to market the country.

“We managed to get some pictures and videos, which we are already sending to all our contacts and clients. It’s nice to see the Falls again as it invigorates the drive and pushes us to market our beautiful country. We will use the footage to dispel the negative publicity we got last year from the ‘Vic Falls is dry’ tragedy and this is the right time to show the world when the Falls are at their peak,” said Mr Simmonds.

His sentiments were echoed by Great Plains operations manager Ms Gertrude Makiwa who said: “It’s amazing. We cannot wait to showcase what we have seen. It seems we are at the peak and we are just waiting for domestic tourism before we expand to the world.”

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chairman Mr Anald Musonza commended Government for the gesture.

“As an industry we thank the Minister (Tourism) for making an instant decision and allowing us to go in free of charge to share this wonderful experience. Our message is simple, we will rise again. Coming from the Victoria Falls is dry story, this puts that negative publicity to shame. This is a huge marketing strategy and already social media is abuzz as everybody is linking up with agents and market,” he said.

“We are privileged to have this wonder. We were all in distress but today it seems like we have gone back to normal relief and everybody is now back in office to show the world what they are missing because of the pandemic.

“The beauty of it is that it’s well looked after and mother nature smiled at us this year. We are marketing and we expect more people to come after this pandemic and Covid-19 has given us an opportunity to really turn Vic Falls into a tourism hub with direct flights and we appeal to Government to help in that regard.”

Briefing the two ministers earlier, Zambezi Camp area manager Mr Daniel Sithole said the wildlife authority had tiled the entrance to the Rainforest for easy cleaning and sanitisation.

A health desk has also been set up with a dedicated nurse to attend to all visitors. Inside the National Park, the concrete pavements are sprayed every hour hour to disinfect.

Source: Tourism players roll out massive destination marketing campaign (12/06/20)

Zimbabwe: Cyanide Recovered in Victoria Falls

Forestry Commission officials in Victoria Falls last week recovered oranges, cucumbers and amarula fruits in a plastic bag laced with cyanide poison.

It is suspected that some poachers left them hanging on a tree in a bid to kill elephants in the forest. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

"On June 3, 2020, a Victoria Falls Forestry Commission Patrol team discovered oranges, cucumbers and amarula fruits in a plastic bag, hanged in a Mususu tree in the Fuller forest," he said. The fruits were tested and results revealed that they were laced with cyanide poison.

"Poachers use this method to kill animals for their selfish gain. Members of the public are warned against poaching."

Asst Comm Nyathi said investigations were still in progress and no arrests had been made.

In 2018, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) discovered four elephant carcasses at Hwange National Park following suspected cyanide poisoning.

The elephant tusks had already been removed when the carcasses were found.

Separately, two people were also arrested in Binga after they were found in possession of two pieces of ivory.

In 2015, at least 26 elephants were found poisoned by cyanide in the Hwange National Park, barely a week after 14 jumbos died. ZimParks officials said 16 jumbos were found dead in Lupande area, while another 10 were found at Chakabvi in Nyamatela.

They recovered 14 tusks while seven other elephants had their tusks poached.

Source: Zimbabwe: Cyanide Recovered in Victoria Falls (11/06/20)