The Times of Nov 8 2006

Times of Zambia (Ndola)

November 8, 2006
Posted to the web November 8, 2006

Edward Mulenga

ZAMBIA risks losing its increasing tourist inflow
following UNESCO's growing threats to strip the
Victoria Falls of the status of world heritage site.

This follows the failure by Zambia and Zimbabwe
to ratify protocols committing them to joint management of the world wonder.

This came to light during a consultative meeting
on the management of the falls held at
Livingstone's New Fairmount Hotel on Monday.

According to the deliberations, the delay in
signing Cabinet memos committing the Government
to the undertakings of joint management of the
Victoria Falls with neighbouring Zimbabwe would
compel the UNESCO to take a firm decision based
on the laid-down punitive measures.

In her presentation to the meeting, UNESCO
commissioner, Mulenga Kapwepwe, said the Victoria
Falls, which had put Zambia on the tourism world
map, risked losing its world heritage status
because of the laxity to consider the protocols seriously.

She said Zambia was privileged to have 16 of its
nationals on the UNESCO committee and needed to
show seriousness by ratifying the protocols.

Ms Kapwepwe emphasised the need for action to
resuscitate the falls, which is deemed to be degenerating.

And Zambia National Commission for UNESCO
representative, Felicitus Chinanda, said Zambia
and Zimbabwe had failed to effectively implement
agreed protocols, among them, the 30-kilometre radius of the Victoria Falls.

Ms Chinanda said the two countries had also
failed to control the mushrooming of new tourism
developments around the 30-kilometre radius, a
situation that had resulted in the abrogation of the protocols.