Tourism and Environment

Borders re-opening now paying off for Victoria Falls hotels

Published

3 years ago

August 6, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Hotels in Victoria Falls have started registering an uptick in bookings after the government opened the borders close to the resort city to tourists that have taken the Covid-19 vaccine.

The government recently re-opened Kazungula and Victoria Falls land borders for the first time since the beginning of the year following a Covid-19 vaccination blitz targeting the country’s prime resort city.

Although the Victoria Falls International Airport has remained open for international tourists, the closure of land borders had resulted in a huge drop in arrivals.

Anald Musonza, Hotels Association of Zimbabwe’s chairperson for the Matabeleland North chapter, said hotels had started to see an increase in reservations and inquiries.

“We have seen some improvements over the last seven days, and we are grateful as hoteliers for this decision by the government because it allows us to increase the use of our tourist products,” Musonza said.

“These inquiries that they are making give us some hope that in the end hoteliers will be able to resume and employment will be created again.

“According to our estimated figures, 50 per cent of the association workers lost their jobs, and these were our skilled and long serving people and that’s devastating.

“The other 50 percent were people, who went on unpaid leave while others are working reduced hours as low as two hours per day, instead of the normal eight.

“So our hope is that these normal shifts will be retained and even our procuring suppliers will also be able to resume so this decision is to an advantage to a chain of businesses normal.”

Musonza said the opening of land borders would give tourists the opportunity to sample tourism products at cheaper costs.

“Tourism on land makes it easier for our guests, who prefer connecting from Zambia in Livingstone to here in Victoria Falls and Botswana in Kasane and it also allows them to explore and connect the three countries in a way that’s affordable too,” he said.

There is no mandatory quarantine for tourists arriving in Zimbabwe, except for travellers arriving or transiting through India, the government said on June 29.

All other Zimbabwe land borders remain closed, except for transportation of goods and for returning residents.

Restaurants in Victoria Falls have also been re-opened for eat-in service under strict adherence to Covid-19 regulations.

Musonza said hoteliers were closely monitored by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to ensure they adhere to World Health Organisation regulations to control the spread of Covid-19 such as maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask in public and practicing personal hygiene.

According to the ZTA, the country lost about US$ 1.6 billion worth of revenue in 2020 alone after international travel was curtailed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Hwange

Victoria Falls residents at odds with roaming buffaloes, Zimparks maintains they belong

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Residents of Victoria Falls are struggling to coexist with a large number of buffaloes that have taken over the streets of both high-density urban areas and low-residential areas.

The buffaloes seem to be everywhere, leaving residents frustrated and desperate.

Videos taken by residents and VicFallsLive, our media organization, show people trying to chase them away using sticks and rocks, but the buffaloes are undeterred.

This morning, three buffaloes blocked the road on Jakaranda Street, eating leaves from the trees and grass.

Despite the distress calls from residents, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) maintains that the buffaloes are within their habitat.

“I think we need to understand who is is saying there has been a growing trend of buffalos in Victoria Falls for an example, l think the numbers we have in Victoria Falls we don’t have much problems with them and this is what attracts tourists,”said Tinashe Farawo, Zimparks spokesperson.

“It’s a tourist town and one of the major draw-cuts for tourists is those buffalos. It is definitely their habitat that’s where they stay in the wild.”

However, residents disagree. They say the buffaloes are causing a nuisance and pose a danger to humans.

“We are working hard to make a living, and now we have to deal with these wild animals in our streets,” said Khulani Ncube.

In one incident, about 40 buffaloes blocked the road on Mkhosana Street near Kazungula Road, eating vegetables. “It’s like they own the place,” said Trymore Ndolo who witnessed the scene, adding that they might cause a casualty if action is not taken.

While the Zimparks says that the buffaloes are a tourist attraction, residents argue that their safety should come first.

“We understand that tourism is important, but what about our lives?” asked a resident.

In the community

Game ranger accused of killing lions, appears in court

Published

3 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPARKS) ranger appeared before Hwange Magistrates Court on Saturday, accused of killing three lions and removing their heads and paws.

Hali Mabuya, 39, and employee of the at Hwange National Park’s Mtshibi Camp, appeared before magistrate Fungai Dzimbiri facing charges of unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.

The three lions, two females and one male, were found dead near the Dom Pan waterhole inside Hwange National Park on October 22.

The killing and dismembering of the animals is believed to have been carried out by more than one person, as tyre marks and footprints were observed at the scene.

ZIMPARKS had offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Prosecutor Jemesina Makanza told the court that Mabuya was arrested after attempting to return a Point 458 rifle to the armoury, with requests to alter the dates of when he had signed for and returned the weapon.

The rifle has since been matched to the bullets that killed the lions.

Mabuya was remanded in custody to November 1, as the investigation continues.

VicFallsLive will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Slider

$2K reward offered for info on lion poachers in Hwange National Park

Published

4 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has announced a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected poachers who killed three lions in Hwange National Park.

The lions were found dead with their heads and legs chopped off.

“We are offering a reward of $2000 for any information that can lead to the arrest of suspects responsible for the poaching of three lions in Hwange National Park,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks spokesperson.

The incident was discovered on early this week near Nyamandlovu pan, Hwange Main Camp.

According to ZimParks, the lions’ carcasses were found with bullet holes from a heavy calibre rifle and their heads and legs had been chopped off.

The authority is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“You may contact Tinashe Farawo on 0772433901 or tfarawo@zimparks.org.zw. All information will be treated with strict confidence,” said Farawo.