KK advises Government on Legacy Holdings..

By Nomusa Michelo
Dr Kenneth Kaunda has asked government not to allow Legacy Holdings Zambia Limited's proposed development of two hotels and a golf course in Livingstone's Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. In an interview, Dr Kaunda said he had spoken with President Mwanawasa outlining his concerns on the project and the effect the project would have in the proposed area. "I have given my thoughts to the President that we should not do that, because that will interfere greatly with the movement of elephants in the area," said Dr Kaunda.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Legacy project, which has received objections from various people and sectors on its proposed location. During a recent public hearing held by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) for the Legacy Holdings Zambia Limited's proposed development of two hotels and a golf course, there were strong objections to its location. The discussion was highly charged as opposing sides turned emotional, prompting riot police to take position.

Legacy was awarded the Tourism Concession Agreement by the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to establish a golf estate containing two hotels, an 18-hole golf course, marina and 450 chalets a little upstream of the Victoria Falls in the park. But the project brings a threat of de-registering the falls from the list of world heritage sues by the United Nations. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO, supported by conservationists, has threatened to mount a world-wide campaign against Zimbabwe and Zambia by persuading tourists not to visit if the development is allowed. Arguments forwarded are that elephants in the park use the proposed project area as their movement corridor, which is an essen¬tial part of their home range. The park would cut the park into two, and that it would severely damage plans for the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, one of the most ambi¬tious elephant conservation plans.
Legacy Holdings Zambia chairman Jacob Sikazwe said Legacy had initially tendered for two hectares that had been advertised by ZAWA but later applied
for more land and was awarded 218 more hectares in May 2006. Legacy feels that in comparison with the neighbouring country Zimbabwe, the Zambian side is far less developed, a fact that is seen to enhance the visitor experi¬ence in Zambia. With the opening of other international and local lodges in Livingstone, there are now slightly over 1,000 beds available on the Zambian side as compared to 3,000 beds on the Zimbabwean side of the river and this project, with an estimated 1,900 rooms, could make Zambia compete favourably with Zimbabwe. The project estimates that it will employ 2,000 permanent workers once completed. Legacy feels that the development of the site aims to position Zambia, Livingstone and Victoria Falls as a leading tourist destination and create critical mass for Zambian eco-tourism.
And two weeks ago, tourism min¬ister Kabinga Pande said he will wait for the outcome of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Legacy Holdings hotel project before issuing the government's position on the project.


The Post, 3 December 2006