The Lowdown...

The Gecko, like everyone else believes in development. A country needs to better itself. There is need for a people to move forward; to better jobs, a conducive environment and all the good things that development promises. But at what cost should this come?

In a developing country like Zambia, weighed down by poverty and joblessness, the investor, whatever he promises may over-ride every other consideration. Many times, not much thought is given to the implication an investment, either in construction or tourism, may have on the people and the environment. There are cases in point: Plans to build a state of the art shopping mall at Freedom Park in Kitwe is a good example. The company was given the go ahead by Kitwe City Council, but was stopped by the government which reminded the local authority, that the park was, besides being of social and significant importance – a heritage site. Liuwa and Sioma National Parks in Western Province were supposed to taken over by a foreign company. The proposals were however shot down by a united voice of the local leadership which saw too many disadvantages in the plan.

It is obvious that the reasons why these plans failed had something to do with the way the natural habitat would be affected.

For those who regularly read the papers, the Gecko would like to draw their attention to an advert which has been running, concerning a company that calls itself, “Legacy Holdings Zambia limited.”

It has proposed, what it calls the “Mosi-oa-tunya Hotel and country club estate project”. Under this project, the company will build a 4 and 5 star hotel, International Conference Centre, a five star queen Victoria hotel, golf estate with 18 holes, luxury villas gym tennis and squash courts. This is what development is made of – Massive investment, that results in job creation and adding value to wherever place such a project will come up.

The Gecko however has its own misgivings with the Legacy Holding plans.

Why? Simple. The company plans to lay out its magnificent dreams in the Mosi-oa-tunya national Park.

Anything that has to do with a National Park, the Victoria Falls or indeed a site of eminence raises interest.

Questions like, how much of the National habitat will be disturbed or affected, easily come to the fore.

How many animals will be disturbed or displaced and what percentage of the park will be sacrificed?

Will the country club estate be close to the Victoria Falls?

The Gecko has been told that these are the questions that are supposed to be answered after what naturalists call “an environmental impact assessment” is conducted. Could someone out there please reveal what the results of the impact assessment on the proposed project were? This question is raised on account of the importance and significance the natural setting being proposed for such a development has.The National Park and the Victoria Falls are national heritage sites and whatever development that is supposed to take place within their confines is of national interest. Under the Rio Declaration on Environmental Development, the steps to follow in ensuring that development needs do not negate environmental concerns are very clear. So too are the pressures poor countries face when development projects like the Legacy Holdings country club estate are dangled before them.

Zambia has everything to gain in terms of socio-economic advancement, if this project takes hold.

But what will be the cost?

The benefits are obvious. Legacy Holdings says the project is expected to create 2000 jobs during construction and 1000 permanent jobs after. The Holding company says the project will be commissioned in 2008 before the 2010 FIFA world cup that will be hosted by South Africa.

However, it is the environmental impact that should be of concern. Nature has been kind to Zambia. Nowhere in the world has it arranged itself in such a manner as it has done in Livingstone at the Falls and the Park. Where else in the world would you find a “smoke that thunders”; where is it that you will see a curtain of water so thunderous? It is not by chance that Victoria Falls is one of the “seven wonders of the World”. Yt is by natural design. There is a need to have an environment screening that must address some major components like tourism, the natural habitat, wildlife, cultural and traditional sites and the vegetation.

The Gecko knows that there are people out there for whom matters of the environment mean nothing. But everyone alive today is accountable for whatever happens to this country because you hold it in trust for future generations. This generation inherited all that you see but what will it pass on?

What the Gecko sees is that there is a danger of the country selling off its heritage in the name of investment.