Victoria Falls & Zambezi River developments should be halted!

The difference between ownership and responsibility is one that few seem to grasp in today’s world of quarterly stock price reviews, Moore’s Law and Global Warming.

Ownership implies responsibility. Responsibility implies much more than simple ownership.

There have been conflicting efforts throughout the years to protect the environment. Jack Curtis, of Kasaba Bay fame, built the paths through the rain forest, with much regret, in order to protect the plants on the edges of the muddy paths.

I remember the outcry when, in contravention of Township regulations, the Casino Hotel went above tree level in height. Of course, that was before the blogosphere and instant global outrage. The casino stayed up.

Then the Sheraton, (was it?) ruined the Zambian skyline.

Then on a sacred hill overlooking the wide, lazy stretch of the Zambezi above the Falls, the Elephant Hills Hotel was i) built; ii) torn down; iii) rebuilt; iv) hit by a Sam 7 heat seeking missile; v) rebuilt; and vi) nearly burnt down again. And of course vii) rebuilt again. You’d think we’d learn.

In the meantime, Gary Player’s Golf Course gave elephant and hippo, buck and warthog an upmarket open zoo to wander through. Hardly natural, but the animals coped with change in the environment.

As they coped with Bungy jumpers, canoe safari’s, white water rafters, helicopters and booze cruises. They even occasionally got in a bite in revenge.

But let’s get real about the situation at the Falls. The animals are already too enclosed. We need to improve land planning, increase profits and give back to the animal’s land that is under used.

Move people from the numerous poverty-stricken villages that surround the area into the urban space and build an infrastructure designed to repair the damage with tree planting, intensive agriculture and other suitable sustainable activities.

Fence off the suburbs and restrict travel at night.

Hah, fat chance,

Changes coming make our stewardship more difficult. And our record so far with the Falls environment has been, lets face it, pretty appalling.

So what is to be done?

· ALL development should be stopped.
· Hotel and tourism prices should be doubled, tripled and more!
· Quality in all services should be improved until visitors get value for money.

Hah. Even fatter chance!

Too simple? One person who thought a great deal about the future of tourism in Africa was the late, great, much missed Dave Kauffman of Bulawayo. He came up with two visions, it must have been 20 years ago.

His one idea was to only let into Zimbabwe very rich people and backpackers. No tours, no groups, only small parties. But why backpackers? Because they have a light footprint and will come back as very rich people.

His other idea to save the true heart of Africa was to provide people who now couldn’t afford the outrageously expensive visit with a virtual reality experience that would make the environment and grandeur of the “Smoke that thunders” available and real to everyone.

Bit ahead of his time, but now the time is here, I hope the reality is still worth saving.

Check out http://victoriafallsheritage.blogspot.com/2006/12/kk-advises-government-on-legacy.html for something to do to help.

And as Nick Drake said, “if you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”