0712/zam1606/BD/ck
MOSI-OA-TUNYA – ZAMBIA
In response to the various submissions received from interested and affected parties on this project, we wish to clarify the following :-
Legacy will only proceed with this development with the necessary environmental approval of ZAWA and then only after consultation with UNESCO’s accredited representatives and ZAWA, to ensure that World Heritage status at the Victoria Falls remains intact.
The facts which are being reported in the market are wrong and should be thoroughly investigated first.
CORRECTING SOME FACTS
The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is a small park (6 000 hectares), which straddles both sides of Livingstone Town. It is bounded by a large local village on one side of the town. Our site, which covers 3% of the site area, is adjacent to 3 hotels, an airfield for microlites and Livingstone town and the national road between Livingstone and Zimbabwe and includes an existing 60 bed lodge.
The following resorts exist within the park on the southern side of Livingstone.
Sun International has 2 resorts – Royal Livingstone and Zambezi Sun right on the Falls, stretching for a distance of some 1,6kms up from the falls. The Royal Livingstone, which is an excellent 5-star resort, removed most of its riverine area.
Maramba Lodge is located within our site and is on the elephant corridor.
Waterfront – launch point for boats plus 2 new hotels are located directly to the north of the site.
All of these facilities are within the park and within an area which is designated as a tourist zone by ZAWA.
Wildlife, flora and fauna
There is no wildlife on the site at present, other then elephant which traverse the site, and hippo. We intend to reintroduce wildlife which was once endemic to the area.
The elephant corridor. The area is framed by Livingstone town and the village and in fact there is regular tension between the tribal village and the elephants. The elephants simply cross over from Zimbabwe and graze on the Zambian side of the river and return. This phenomenon happens at a number of convenient places upstream from the falls and generally occurs, from our observations, at a number of locations into the park area. We believe our development proposals will allow man and beast to mix without impacting on their habits, whilst enhancing the control of the Zambezi Riverine areas in particular and will negotiate with the relevant parties to achieve the optimal solution.
As you are aware, an over population of elephant in the region, Chobe and Zimbabwe, where they have destroyed thousands of acres of riverine area, has created a very difficult and complex problem for the environmentalists to manage and the environment is currently being severely damaged by the some 130 000 elephant which occupy the Chobe area.
There are clear indications on the site which is unfenced, from the main road of damage to the riverine areas along the banks of the Maramba River, which flows through the site, as well as the Zambezi frontage. The balance of the site is bushveld, comprising lower density treed areas with grassland. Present damage to the site is being caused by increasing elephant population, veld fires, the most recent of which was during the winter period, villagers chopping trees and picnickers.
The proposed golf course is being developed within the bushveld zone. The development of accommodation is being developed to blend into and form part of the existing environment on the side and covers some 8 – 10% of the land area. All reinstatement of vegetation and already damaged riverine areas will be done by specialists under the guidance of ZAWA.
Birdlife and flora and fauna on the site will, without a doubt, be enhanced by the development and game once evident in the park will be reintroduced. All pluses for the area and the environment.
We are endeavouring to have noise pollution from helicopters and microlites, which fly all day long over the falls, contained to prescribed times.
Economic Benefits
For those who are interested in evaluating these with us, we would be happy to review the “long term sustainable development” we are creating with you.
Legacy I am proud to say is not simply another “hotel chain” and are committed to create sustainable environments around all the developments we are involved in.
Suffice to say, there is an extensive commitment to a programme which supports all the needs of a development of this nature, all of which can be serviced through the local community.
Directly there would be 1 850 permanent jobs created with a further ± 10 000 indirect employment opportunities in areas such as farming, production of fresh produce, industry such as consumables including toilet paper, arts and crafts, bakeries, laundries, security, maintenance, game ranging, tourist guides etc. etc. The project potentially adds 150 000 tourists with an additional spend of US$ 500million per annum into the Zambian economy.
Somehow I do not believe the press and affected parties have the full picture and I suggest should they feel strongly enough they visit us and the site to review who we are and what we intend to do, first hand. I am hopeful however that the parties involved, UNESCO, World heritage and ZAWA are responsible and mature enough to make the correct decisions.
As happens in similar situations elsewhere, there are many locals and competitors, both in Livingstone and Zimbabwe, who have their own agenda and/or conflicting interest, who use the environment as a tool to protect their own self interest. These include competing hotel groups on both sides of the river, local expatriates developing their own golf estate, or who have a grudge against the government.
The real issue is –
Will the environment on the Zambia side of the Falls be worse off or better with this development? The authorities need to decide this outside of all other peripheral issues. We believe that the development could be a model for others to follow, one which sets the standard for how man and nature and wildlife can live together. Clearly the reason for the development is the Falls. Clearly too if we destroyed the environment, we would be destroying the very reason for our being there. Compared to what has been done on both sides of the river, our development, which is some 6 kms upstream of the falls and right on Livingstone’s border, will be the benchmark for others to follow. We are surprised to note that none of the other developments on the Zambian side seem to have been attracting any of the attention ours is. In itself a question!
Below, please find copies of relevant correspondence
Bart Dorrestein
Chairman
Legacy Hotels and Resorts International
0512/zam1406/BD/ck
MEMORANDUM
DATE : 5TH DECEMBER 2006
TO : IAN MANNING
FROM : BART DORRESTEIN
RE : MOSI-OA-TUNYA
Dear Ian
I have recently become aware of your Projects Africa programme which is focused on creating “integrated conservation and development projects” in Africa.
Your programme appears to be very similar to the one we are promoting as part of our community based employment and job creation programmes built around the capacity created by our developments. Our projects are not focused on “development aid” but endeavour to create sustainability supported by the “demand” our projects generate.
The Mosi-oa-Tunya development could be such a project and on my reading of it, meets most of your objectives.
Our lines of communication have always been open to discuss the proposed development and am saddened by the lack of preparedness on your part not to give both sides of the story in your reports, but to repeatedly argue the case against the development happening.
What happened with the Zambesi Sun and Royal Livingstone developments right on the Falls?, as they certainly, despite a classy colonial development, have removed all vegetation as well as the indigenous bushveld. Our development certainly endeavours to do the opposite.
Protect the riverine areas, reintroduce wild life to roam freely and enhance bird life and the existing flora and fauna by protecting it. Against which we will be building on ± 10% of the land area and creating some fairways within the area (± 15% of the land area), all of which will be within the indigenous bushveld area, (which incidentally a veld fire this year and humans and elephants are rapidly destroying).
Your article “Out There in Africa” certainly is thought provoking and a challenge to all of us. How we rise to that challenge is important. You are doing it by “word”, I am endeavouring to do it by “deed”. There are many Legacy’s across Southern Africa to our attempts at creating a better future for all South Africans.
One of which is to encourage the “haves” (rich) to help the “have nots” (poor) in the creation of sustainable mutually beneficial business always cogniscent of our responsibility, should we wish to continue to live on our planet, to educate the haves and the have nots to respect our environment and to create opportunities for all.
I hope this helps to put matters in a better perspective.
Yours faithfully
Bart Dorrestein
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