‘Let’s preserve Vic Falls’

10 May, 2015 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Sunday Mail Reporter

VICTORIA Falls stakeholders have urged Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) to stop caging wildlife on an 80 acres of undeveloped land saying it will destroy the natural beauty of the Unesco World Heritage Site.

Debate has been raging over development of a theme park where animals will be fenced by AAT under its Santoga project. At loggerheads over this are AAT on one side, and the Victoria Falls Residents Association, Employers Association of Tours and Safari Operators and Friends of Victoria Falls on the other.

Questions are being raised why the tourism company should construct a zoo inside the Zambezi and Victoria Falls national parks — something environmentalists and tour operators say will block a corridor used by wild animals to access the Zambezi River. EATSO has alleged inconsistencies by AAT after company chair Mr Dave Glynn issued conflicting statements over approval of the project by the Environment Management Authority and the Tourism Ministry.

EASTO president Mr Clement Mukwasi said while they supported job creation, the Santoga project posed a serious threat to the resort town.

“Our problem is that Africa Albida hasn’t been transparent. They had initially said they want to erect a fence for a theme park yet Victoria Falls is surrounded by national parks; so our view is if you fence any portion of the land, it’s effectively caging wildlife.

“We are talking about animals which survive from the Zambezi River; the project is close to the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and there is short distance between the Vic Falls Safari Lodge and a low density residential area. This means, If AAT erect fences; wildlife will not be able to roam freely going to the river.

“If we over-develop Vic Falls, we kill the naturalness of the area which attracts tourists. Jobs will be created but let’s preserve nature.”

Mr Glynn has defended the US$18 million Santoga project, which will create 1 500 jobs.

In a recent debate on local radio, Mr Glynn said: “Our project, is a positive thing, it’s a complex project. We have been working on it for a number of years; it’s a story about Victoria Falls. We cover the history of Vic Falls; the reality is that concentration is on culture and history of Vic Falls.

 

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