Chiinga Siavwapa's submission to ECZ

NOT ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD
One good thing about history is that we learn from it and based on it, make wise decisions.
Montego Bay, Jamaica, a place which started as a small fishing area is now characterised by
big resorts and human activities which have upset the environment. Original inhabitants were
displaced as they benefited little but for a few who could find jobs.
An example back here at home is Itezyi-Tezyi dam. Have the locals benefit from it ?
I bet you the few can be counted on your fingertips. Kariba dam is still an issue as
government tries to, after decades, appease the valley people.
My point is, throughout history "developments" like the proposed Legacy have taken place whether necessary or not. We can learn though from developed nations who out of necessity or sheer negligence in some cases (negligence in context of disregard for environmental effects) invested in industries and structures bringing them to the current status. Today many tourists come from the developed world to view our wildlife and general environment. Some come from countries where once upon a time, they had almost similar environments and wildlife. As a tour guide in the Mosi-O-Tunya park my young clients have many times echoed that they have seen wildlife before but in zoos though it is a whole different experience and feeling to see it in its natural habitat.
I, for one, would not want my great grandchildren to hear tales of how elephants and other forms of wildlife used to be seen crossing the Mosi-O-Tunya road. How the falls used to have a greater volume of water and how the Zambezi Waterfront used to be accessed by ordinary people to appreciate what was their natural inheritance. The pace at which concerned authorities sanction some projects though is worrying and might make my worst fears a reality. Even before I become a grandfather. These fears are not unfounded.
Is it really necessary to built Legacy on the proposed site given the facts that the area supports wildlife, flora and fauna, insects and most importantly one of the seven wonders of the world - the Victoria falls ? Note that the environment around the falls helps sustain them. One does not need to be Mr. Brown or West to prove that every tree that will be cut to facilitate a Golf course will have a negative bearing on the environment. Is it necessary to build there when there is abundant land which can be alternatively used ?
While in a hurry to accelerate economic growth, which I am all for, we should be ready to take up the challenge and responsibility of seriously scrutinizing what we term development. Be it in the form of investments of Legacy's magnitude.
Government has opened doors to investors; big and small, local and foreign, and that is a welcomed move. What should be borne in mind is that investors are business people whose primary interest is to make profits. Government has therefore to wear a business suit and strike the best deals for its people based on moral responsibility and regarding long-term effects even on the environment. Even more so at this time and era when worldwide, preserving mother nature is a loud cry as we have hurt her so badly she is turning aggressively against us through global warming and hurricanes but to mention a few natural disasters.
This Legacy issue has in fact a moral aspect to it. I see a lack of moral responsibility by government for laying a foundation stone prior to consulting the locals and carrying out an environmental impact assessment. The environmental impact assessment was only carried out recently and to my disappointment, spearheaded by a company contracted by Legacy.

I thought the role of the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) is to spearhead such ventures, if not independently carry out the research themselves. If I paid someone to do a job for me (which is what Legacy did to this company of environmental impact experts) I expect them to rule in my favour. For those who have not read the voluminous document prepared by the company which carried out the research, its epitomised version is that irreparable damage will be caused to the environment They think 3000 jobs are better than preserving the environment. In other words Legacy is a viable project which will yield profits and the environmental damage matters less. Need this be debated further by any seriously minded person ?
Yes, employment is desperately wanted and 3000 jobs may sound good on paper but one need not search far and wide to know that not all of it will be meaningful employment. Caddies, gardeners, cleaners, etc. employed on casual basis can hardly be called meaningful income jobs. Most managerial jobs might be taken by foreigners of equal or lower qualifications than some unemployed locals.
We cry over a leadership crisis in Zambia but 1 think what we lack is in fact role models. To have leaders who exhibit a lack of responsibility as seen on this Legacy issue is a shame. Youths of today are more informed even on matters concerning the environment. Leaders, who at the sound of 3000 jobs to be created, jump at the opportunity to gain political mileage at the expense of future generations is not what we are looking for. You have a bigger task of first making reasonable labour policies that will not enslave us before inviting investors.
Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) should not be seen to be like a donkey allured by a carrot. Short-term benefits that will yield adverse long-term effects will get us nowhere. I know the pressure to be an economic contributor on ZAWA is real. That though should not cloud rational thinking to an extent you divert from your primary and most cardinal responsibility of preserving our parks. Major strides have been taken which have seen you make a staggering approximated value of ZMK 15.3 Bn in the recent past. This shows a steady growth. So why not go steadily up without haste decisions just to make more money ? Be careful, haste climbers have sudden falls. Keep your eyes on what makes you tick. And which is, above all other factors, none highly commercialised parks. Tourists in my experience believe we are unique because apart from a few parks in other countries, ours look pretty much undisturbed by human and tourist related activities. We need money but be mindful of setting a balance between ecology and financial resources. Some "developments" are destructive. What will be the case when you have another big resort right in the park area? How many of its guests will actually visit the fenced off area to view game ? Mind you, Legacy will be a town within town. A resort! I wonder how this will directly and positively impact on the locals apart from the claimed 3000 jobs to be created. I wonder how many taxi drivers will be allowed to make transfers to and from this resort. How many local tour operators will be engaged by Legacy ? Will their clients be encouraged to visit surrounding areas or confined to their resort in order for the hotel to maximise profits ?
ZAWA please, let us maintain our unique status. Many would not, especially tourists, love to see our parks look like, for instance the Kruger park in South Africa with tarred roads, big hotels and activities which make it look like a town.
At the moment I am still at pains trying to figure out the role of local authorities. Why is it that when it comes to make major decisions that directly affect them and their residents, they are ignored by central government ? Why do we see hypocrisy on the part of those in higher offices, the so-called "implementers" who have guidelines on such issues and

do the opposite ? To me, that is corruption. For corruption is the mismanagement of ones
mind believing what is wrong to be right even when all evidence points to the contrary.
It would be a lie for those in higher offices who directly demonstrated to be pro the proposed
site to express ignorance on normal procedures which should be followed before allocation of
land.
The office of the minister of lands has surprisingly been quiet on this matter. Why ?
This issue should be a wake up call to all concerned Zambians and the general public. Investments are good as long as they do not upset the environment and disadvantage the affected locals. Legacy will be a good investment if located at a site that most people will be comfortable with. Loop-holes in investment policies should be sealed or else we will wake up one day only to find the falls sold out to an investor. Most importantly, local authorities and the general public for whom any "development" is made should first be consulted.
Chiinga Siavwapa
Tour guide & Artist Livingstone resident