|
The Gecko, like
everyone else believes in development. A country needs to better
itself. There is need for a people to move forward; to better jobs,
a conducive environment and all the good things that development
promises. But at what cost should this come?
In a developing
country like Zambia, weighed down by poverty and joblessness, the
investor, whatever he promises may over-ride every other
consideration. Many times, not much thought is given to the
implication an investment, either in construction or tourism, may
have on the people and the environment. There are cases in point:
Plans to build a state of the art shopping mall at Freedom Park in
Kitwe is a good example. The company was given the go ahead by Kitwe
City Council, but was stopped by the government which reminded the
local authority, that the park was, besides being of social and
significant importance – a heritage site. Liuwa and Sioma National
Parks in Western Province were supposed to taken over by a foreign
company. The proposals were however shot down by a united voice of
the local leadership which saw too many disadvantages in the plan.
It is obvious
that the reasons why these plans failed had something to do with the
way the natural habitat would be affected.
For those who
regularly read the papers, the Gecko would like to draw their
attention to an advert which has been running, concerning a company
that calls itself, “Legacy Holdings Zambia limited.”
It has proposed,
what it calls the “Mosi-oa-tunya Hotel and country club estate
project”. Under this project, the company will build a 4 and 5 star
hotel, International Conference Centre, a five star queen Victoria
hotel, golf estate with 18 holes, luxury villas gym tennis and
squash courts. This is what development is made of – Massive
investment, that results in job creation and adding value to
wherever place such a project will come up.
The Gecko however
has its own misgivings with the Legacy Holding plans.
Why? Simple. The
company plans to lay out its magnificent dreams in the Mosi-oa-tunya
national Park.
Anything that has
to do with a National Park, the Victoria Falls or indeed a site of
eminence raises interest.
Questions like,
how much of the National habitat will be disturbed or affected,
easily come to the fore.
How many animals
will be disturbed or displaced and what percentage of the park will
be sacrificed?
Will the country
club estate be close to the Victoria Falls?
The Gecko has
been told that these are the questions that are supposed to be
answered after what naturalists call “an environmental impact
assessment” is conducted. Could someone out there please reveal what
the results of the impact assessment on the proposed project were?
This question is raised on account of the importance and
significance the natural setting being proposed for such a
development has.The National Park and the Victoria Falls are
national heritage sites and whatever development that is supposed to
take place within their confines is of national interest. Under the
Rio Declaration on Environmental Development, the steps to follow in
ensuring that development needs do not negate environmental concerns
are very clear. So too are the pressures poor countries face when
development projects like the Legacy Holdings country club estate
are dangled before them.
Zambia has
everything to gain in terms of socio-economic advancement, if this
project takes hold.
But what will be
the cost?
The benefits are
obvious. Legacy Holdings says the project is expected to create 2000
jobs during construction and 1000 permanent jobs after. The Holding
company says the project will be commissioned in 2008 before the
2010 FIFA world cup that will be hosted by South Africa.
However, it is
the environmental impact that should be of concern. Nature has been
kind to Zambia. Nowhere in the world has it arranged itself in such
a manner as it has done in Livingstone at the Falls and the Park.
Where else in the world would you find a “smoke that thunders”;
where is it that you will see a curtain of water so thunderous? It
is not by chance that Victoria Falls is one of the “seven wonders of
the World”. Yt is by natural design. There is a need to have an
environment screening that must address some major components like
tourism, the natural habitat, wildlife, cultural and traditional
sites and the vegetation.
The Gecko knows
that there are people out there for whom matters of the environment
mean nothing. But everyone alive today is accountable for whatever
happens to this country because you hold it in trust for future
generations. This generation inherited all that you see but what
will it pass on?
What the Gecko
sees is that there is a danger of the country selling off its
heritage in the name of investment. |
May
2006