Zambian farmers oppose building hotels, golf course near Victoria Falls

Zambia's small scale farmers around the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park part of which are Victoria Falls, have joined the crusade to oppose the construction of two hotels and an 18-hole golf course within the world heritage site.

Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) quoted Monday spokesperson of the farmers Idson Lweendo as saying the proposed project is too big to be located in the smallest national park that Zambia has.

Lweendo said previously the Zambia Wildlife Authority Zambia ( ZAWA) even persuaded indigenous people to move out of the Mosi-oa- Tunya National Park in an effort to keep it as natural as possible.

He wondered why ZAWA now has suddenly decided to allow big investors to displace animals and alter the protected habitat which is part of the major tourist attraction.

Recently ZAWA Director General, Leweis Saiwana said trees will not be cut and that the elephant corridors within the proposed project site will remain undisturbed.

ZAWA failed to send a representative to a live program on a local community radio station where the majority of listeners voiced their opposition to the planned project.

The UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , may withdraw the world heritage status on the Victoria Falls and the surrounding area if the project goes ahead.

Last week the residents in the area rejected the project at a Scoping Meeting of the Environmental Impact Assessment held in the area, south Zambia, saying the company should find other site for the project to protect nature and heritage sites.

Director for Conservation Services at the National Heritage

Conservation Commission (NHCC), Francis Shalwiindi, said the UNESCO has already written to the NHCC, expressing its concerns over the proposed project and asked why Zambia is abrogating international and regional conventions.

The Director General of the Zambia Wildlife Authority Lewis

Saiwana, and Legacy Holding Zambia Limited Chairman Jacob Sikazwe failed to provide satisfactory answers to many questions raised in the meeting.

Victoria Falls is acknowledged as a world heritage site in 1989 because of its scientific and tourism value. Zambian side of Victoria Falls and the adjacent bank of Zambezi is called the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park.

Source: Xinhua