Another WECSZ member voices concerns...

...there can be no compromise on a development of this scale in a National park. Not only does it set a precedent for other parks but it also is too fragile an area to allow any development (hence the Park Plan and the IUCN report both insisting on no more development in this area) . The REASON Livingstone is the Tourist capital of Zambia is because of the Victoria Falls. Destroy this ecosystem and forget Tourism in the Real Africa .... we may as well become another Sun City. The other major highlight for tourists is the wildlife which still moves freely around the area. Drive to Kazangula or to the Victoria Falls from town and you are sure to meet elephant. Block the elephants corridor and we may as well all move to Lusaka.

Having been down to the crossing point at the Maramba Confluence over the last week (the exact site where the 4 and 5 Stars are to be built) we have witnessed the crossing of elephant at THIS point daily! It is the shallowest point in the river and the series of rocks there help the elephant cross safely. Block this with a resort and the elephant are left only with their crossing point into the Zoological Park which is already under threat from elephant destruction. Yesterday there were 38 elephant in the proposed site area. With the current poaching in Zim these nos will grow. ZAWA's recent plan to enlarge the park was to help alleviate elephant pressure and the effects of overgrazing... some members spent a lot of time and effort helping ZAWA source feed and transport during the last drought to try and save the wildlife in the fenced area from starvation. The Mosi o Tunya park needs to be bigger, not smaller if it is sustain itself. The land up near the airport is marginal (mopane) with no water.

Legacys committment to the environment judging from their environmental programme is basicly superfical, and will probably include handmade soaps and recycled paper! The fact is that a development on this scale is massive and the impacts on the Park, wildlife and Heritage Site will be irreparable. ( The 4 star "Mosi-oa-Tunya Hotel and International Conference Centre", The 5 star "Queen Victoria Hotel, The "Queen Victoria Country Club and Golf Estate" which will have an 18 hole golf course, luxury villas, health spa, gym, swimming pool, tennis and squash courts etc and a Marina on the Zambezi River for the "HM Maramba" Boat Cruise and docking point for other boats). Interestingly we are expecting a document in which SAfpar applied for the same land 3 years ago for a golf course. They were turned down because it was a wildlife corridor.

We appreciate Legacys comittment to Zambia in the form of a $9 million downpayment. We all need development and Legacys contribution to employment and the economy and tourism in the area is welcome. But, please look for another site for a development on this scale and let us protect the precious resources that we have.