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Sifelani Tsiko
Environment & Innovations Editor
Southern Africa’s main tourist destination, Victoria Falls, remains on the World Heritage list, thereby thwarting a sustained campaign by some conservationists calling for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to add the falls to its list of World Heritage in Danger.
The decision was made at the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee underway in New Delhi, India, and Zimbabwe and Zambia have been asked to develop a revised Joint Integrated Management Plan (JIMP) for the property.
Delegates appreciated the continuous cooperation between the two countries and their technical partners to improve the conservation of the property.
Victoria Falls, a popular tourist resort spot, earned its UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1989.
In 2022, a UNESCO Reactive Monitoring mission made recommendations for the two countries to conduct assessments and take actions to prevent the Victoria Falls from losing its heritage status due to “individual and cumulative infrastructure developments” in restricted zones within the margins of the world’s largest waterfall attraction.
Several commercial developments by both countries are seen by critics as a threat to Victoria Falls.
These include the development of a golf course, hotels , lodges and a hydroelectric dam near Victoria Falls.
Kenya, supported by Korea and Rwanda, endorsed a motion to settle a contentious amendment that Zimbabwe and Zambia argued had been settled in Saudi Arabia during the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee.
“We therefore note that the same issue is recurring in the current draft resolution, yet it is a settled matter that needs no further intervention. Therefore, the issue should be struck off from the Draft Resolution,” it was noted during a session to discuss Victoria Falls.
The World Heritage Committee was asking Zimbabwe and Zambia to develop a blueprint for all the proposed and existing developments in Victoria Falls.
However, the two nations convinced the 46th Session that instead of the blueprint, they are going to update their expired Joint Integrated Management Plan that captures the same issues to avoid duplication of efforts.
The two countries were given up to the end of June 2025 to submit the plan for review.
Online Reporter