Shrubs obstruct tourists’ view of Victoria Falls
THE National Heritage and Conservation Commission (NHCC) must consider trimming some of the shrubs at the Victoria Falls site for better viewing points of the falls, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale has said.
Mr Hamukale observed that at present, there were few spots that provided a clear view of the country’s natural wonder due to the overgrowing shrubs that were obstructing people.
He said that much as UNESCO did not allow the disturbance of nature particularly at the Victoria Falls, he felt it was necessary to trim some shrubs so that tourists could have clear a view of the falls.
Addressing officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Arts led by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Rev Howard Sikwela in Livingstone at the weekend, Dr Hamukale said that he had received a number of concerns over the issue when he visited the Victoria Falls at the weekend.
He said this was why he was appealing for the shrubs to be trimmed.
“I do not know how we can do it but when I visited the falls yesterday, there were concerns by tourists who I meet who suggested that perhaps we need to trim shrubs in selected spots at the Victoria Falls.
Most of them raised concern that the shrubs were obstructing them from having a clear view of the falls,” he said.
“Much as UNESCO does not allow the disturbances of nature at the one of the world’s seventh wonders, I feel we need to do something….I am not saying that we should cut down the trees no, but trimming some of the shrubs that are not permitting people to have a clear view of the falls,” he said.
The provincial minister has further asked NHCC to consider patching or mending some of the pathways at the falls because most of them were steep and could easily make someone fall.
“Most of the pathways are steep-slops making it dangerous for people walking around especially the young ones. With the current situation, when one slips off, that will be the end someone will definitely slip into the falls,” he said.
And Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) board chairperson Peter Jones assured the minister that his concerns would be tabled and addressed after assessing the situation.