Back to Index

Vic Falls risks removal from World Heritage Sites
Patrick Chitumba, The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)
March 08, 2006

http://www.chronicle.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=2501&livedate=3/8/2006%2012:00:00%20AM&cat=1

THE Victoria Falls National Park rain forest risks removal from United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization's list of World Heritage Sites, it has been learnt.

Officials in the tourism industry said UNESCO representatives were in the resort last week to investigate reports that tourism pressure, over development and pollution were threatening the ecosystem in Victoria Falls.

They said removal of the rainforest from the World Heritage Sites would be a sad development as it would result in the country losing billions of dollars in foreign currency as international tourists shun this natural wonder.

The probe by UNESCO into the suitability of the rainforest to continue as a World Heritage Site follows an article published in a local paper last October and later picked up by a magazine which painted a gloomy picture on the state of things in the town.

"The article then appeared on the Internet under the 'Smart Growth news' entitled 'Sprawl, pollution threaten health of Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls ecosystem' and was read worldwide.

"Unfortunately, UNECSO officials also came across the article and they have sent their representative in the country to assess the situation in the town. They are expecting the country to explain the allegations in the story before they decide whether to or not delist the site. The article allegedly claimed that there was tourism pressure, over development and pollution in the town, which are threatening the ecosystem of the Victoria Falls," said a key player in the tourism industry.

A member of the National Commission for UNESCO confirmed to Chronicle that he was in the resort town last week on a factfinding mission.

He said the commission wanted to establish if there was indeed a factory emitting smoke, overpopulation and the veracity of other allegations leveled against the town in the story.

The towns' director of Housing and Community Services Mr Thabani Mhlanga, who represented Victoria Falls Municipality during the national commission's visit, said issues of national interest should be written and published only after the Government had cleared them.

"UNESCO representatives were around on a fact finding mission to find out if there is indeed a sprawl or pollution in the town as was reported by the reporter. We took them around town showing them all the corners to prove that there is no over population or even tourism pressure," he said.

Mr Mhlanga said council had always thrived to maintain standards required by UNESCO for all World Heritage Sites.

"The article was published well after operation Murambatsvina/Hlalani Kuhle had brought peace and order in the town. We no longer have shacks and we have never given anyone a permit to construct an industry. This is a tourism town and we thrive on tourism only and there is no room for industries," he said.

The rainforest was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1989 and is required to be kept in its natural state.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP