Concerns have been made about the proposed development of a multipurpose sporting facility in Victoria Falls, which could harm the area’s biodiversity.
Last Monday, the cabinet approved the construction of a cricket stadium in Victoria Falls ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.
According to Joanah Mamombe, head of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Environment, Wildlife, Tourism, and Hospitality, Victoria Falls’ picturesque splendor may be jeopardised by rapid development.
“On Tuesday, Cabinet authorized a proposal to build a multipurpose stadium in Victoria Falls. Hon. Speaker, Victoria Falls is known for its natural beauty and biodiversity. Our tourism industry relies mainly on natural attractions. Mamombe stated that Zimbabwe is the third-largest country in terms of animal resources, such as rhinos and elephants.
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Mamombe underlined the need of protecting Victoria Falls’ natural environment and animals, noting the tourism industry’s reliance on nature-based attractions.
“Why do we acknowledge the importance of infrastructure development, Hon. Speaker? It has the potential to attract more tourists. We cannot accomplish this without jeopardizing our biodiversity. There are several other cities in Zimbabwe that could host the proposed stadium, sharing economic benefits while maintaining environmental purity.
“If people can go from South Africa to view Victoria Falls, I am confident they can travel from other cities as well. UNESCO heritage designation is also at risk, as we notice that Victoria Falls was previously on the verge of losing its UNESCO world heritage title due to developments that threatened its natural nature,” added Mamombe.
The Mosi-oa-Tunya Development Company (Pvt) Ltd, founded by the Zimbabwean government, will construct the facility.
This state-owned enterprise serves as an investment vehicle and was founded to drive tourism growth in Victoria Falls, with a focus on premium travel.
Mnangagwa is slated to lay the foundation stone for the stadium, which the government hopes will boost sports tourism in Victoria Falls.
Mamombe urged that Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry come and deliver a ministerial statement explaining the stadium’s construction in Victoria Falls.
She advised investigating alternate stadium locations to distribute economic gains while maintaining environmental purity.
“Hon. Speaker, instead, we should look into alternative locations that do not jeopardize our valuable natural resources and conservation efforts.” I, therefore, beg that the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, in collaboration with the Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, present a Ministerial Statement to this august House that elaborates on this plan,” Mamombe added.
