From "This week in Livingstone - 7-13 August", the Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) weekly email newsletter by Gill Staden.

Legacy Hotels Scoping Meeting
The meeting was held yesterday at the New Fairmount Hotel. The meeting was supposed to be invitation only and when members of the Wildlife Society arrived en masse, there was a bit of confusion. Finally everyone was allowed in ... only Bob the Birdman, who arrived later, had to go!
Rennie Mushinge and Jacob Sikazwe represented Legacy. Dr Saiwana attended as ZAWA representative. The PS and Chief Mukuni were also present.
The meeting started with presentations from Legacy and their environmental consultants. The Environmental Impact process was explained and then Legacy showed their plans for the site and showed other Legacy developments in South Africa. Their commitment to the economic value of their development was stressed. The plan of the site showed two hotels either side of the Maramba River on the Zambezi. A conference centre was shown in the area around Maramba River Lodge. The whole development is surrounded by a golf course and 400 houses - I assume timeshare.

Although there was an attempt to stop too many questions from the Wildlife Society, everyone finally had their chance to speak. It was extremely interesting as everyone who spoke, from whichever walk of life, was passionate about their love of the park. Nick, our Chairman, gave a good speech about the necessity using all authorities who have jurisdiction in the Park - NHCC, ZAWA, Council, UNESC, IUCN, etc. He said that without approval from all authorities, the project could not go ahead smoothly.
Dr Saiwana stated that ZAWA had full authority in the Park but this was disputed, not only by Nick but also by Margaret Whitehead, Mr Shalwinde (NHCC) and the Council Planner.
The Wildlife Society, although concentrating their remarks on the elephants also stressed the need to preserve the area for other animals, plants and insects (this from Benjamin Mibenge). Mike Musgrave said that, although a narrow corridor for the elephants along the Maramba River was to be set aside, it would be difficult to train the elephants to use the corridor!
Clare Mateke asked why alternative sites had not been considered as, although Livingstone wanted the development, we did not want to lose this part of the Park. She suggested that the area towards Mukuni Village would be ideal.
Nick Katanekwa also brought up the fact that the World Heritage Site was, not only the Victoria Falls but also the wilderness area surrounding the Falls - ie the Park.
Clement (LCC) mentioned that the traffic increase was going to be serious. Now that the bridge has been re-opened to trucks Livingstone was already trying to cope with a huge traffic problem. He also mentioned that the overflow for the sewage still goes into the Maramba River.
Mike (NHCC) felt that the EIA should consider, not only the impact of the development in that particular area but also take in a wider view to look at the overall impact on the Park and Livingstone.
Kinny Ntambali asked why 9 other applicants for this part of the park - applications which were spread over the previous 5 years, or so - had not been allowed to develop the area.
A reporter from Radio FM commented that she was not allowed to go into Sun International to wander around the park there and she assumed that the same would now be the case at the Legacy development. She wondered, as a member of the younger generation, why she should inherit the total commercialisation of the riverbank from the older generation.
A reporter from ZNBC asked for straight answers to the questions, as most of the answers seemed to be very vague. He was basically told not to be so confrontational.

I think you get the idea ... there were lots more questions and few satisfactory answers. The Livingstone community repeated all the time that the development was good and that Livingstone needed it ... but, please not in that particular section of the park.

Chief Mukuni ended the meeting with an impassioned speech saying that Livingstone needed the development to provide jobs for the people. He could see no reason why it should not be in the park and did not want it up in his area.

I think Legacy will go back to Lusaka a bit surprised over the passion of people in Livingstone. There will be a public debate at a later stage.

I will be sending out a more detailed report as soon as I have finished it, but I think this about sums it up. Apologies to those who have already received it through Gill.

Clare Mateke