Online Reporter
Chronicle Correspondent
TRADITIONAL leaders from Zambia and Zimbabwe have appealed to authorities to strike a balance between heritage conservation and sustainable development when carrying out projects for the benefit of local communities.
Speaking at a three-day expert meeting on world heritage and sustainable development in Africa, which began on Tuesday in Livingstone, Zambia, Chief Whange of Hwange and Chief Mukuni of Livingstone emphasised that traditional leaders are custodians of heritage. This is why heritage sites have remained sacred for generations.
The meeting is being attended by sustainable development experts, representatives of government departments from Zambia and Zimbabwe, the National Heritage Conservation Commission, Unesco Zambia National Commission, and wildlife authorities from both countries. The African World Heritage Fund and the Zambezi River Authority are jointly financing the meeting.
Chief Whange highlighted that access to reliable and sustainable interventions can transform communities by providing opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic advancement. He stated that the development of sustainable infrastructure is key to unlocking socio-economic growth and improving the quality of life for people.
“Today we have been brought together to deliberate on the delicate yet crucial balance between heritage conservation and sustainable development of tourism and energy infrastructure such as the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme. We must strive to integrate our conservation efforts with sustainable development. By doing so, we ensure that our heritage sites are protected while also meeting the needs of our people. This requires collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to both preservation and progress,” said Chief Whange.
Chief Mukuni stressed that local communities should benefit from natural resources and projects. He noted that communities across the Zambezi River and the region at large are united by culture, history, and aspirations, with artificial colonial boundaries being the only separation.
“When access to these places is restricted under the banner of World Heritage protection, it is not just our rights that are denied, it is our very essence that is threatened. Protecting sacred sites is not at odds with global goals. When we revere and maintain our sacred places, we are contributing in our own way to the global effort of conservation. It is local traditions, not foreign interventions that have preserved these places for generations,” he said.
Chief Mukuni added that traditional leaders can only allocate more land for heritage protection when they see value in return. He emphasised that if the policy of World Heritage and Sustainable Development adopted in 2015 is to work for Africa, it must promote partnerships rather than alienation of communities.
“We, as local communities, support both conservation and development. They are the two sides of the same coin,” he said.
Mr Kagosi Mwamulowe, the Acting Executive Director of the National Heritage Conservation Commission, stated that Victoria Falls and other African World Heritage properties are increasingly under pressure from infrastructure expansion, tourism growth, climate change, and energy demands. He noted that the meeting is about harnessing world heritage for sustainable development in a changing world and reminds us that heritage is not a barrier to development but a foundation for sustainable futures.
“Our presence here affirms our shared responsibility and determination to develop a Sustainable Development Programme for African World Heritage Sites, one that is rooted in Africa’s realities, responds to global priorities, and is aligned with the 2015 Unesco Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development,” he said.
Zambian Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba, whose speech was read by Mr Clemence Mulungushi, said Victoria Falls continues to be a beacon of tourism and co-operation between the two nations.
