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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
PLAYERS in the tourism industry in Victoria Falls have vowed not to pay US$5 being charged by Across Zimbabwe for parking their vehicles at the car park near the rainforest.
Across Zimbabwe Private Limited, an indigenous company formed in 2016 with interests in promoting small-scale tourism players, was offered a five-year lease by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) for the car park.
The parking area is located at the entrance of the Victoria Falls National Park which has the rainforest and has been used as a car park and vending area for curio and traditional attire dealers over the years.
While the land belongs to NRZ, tourism players developed it into a car park some years ago and also built vending stalls as part of corporate social responsibility to the community.
All along vendors were paying licences to Zimparks to sell curios and not been paying rentals.
NRZ offered the land to Across Zimbabwe which started charging US$5 on April 1, sparking outrage from various stakeholders including tourism operators, vendors, taxi operators and individuals.
Across Zimbabwe proprietor, Mr Mathew Muleya said vendors will not be evicted from their operating area although they will be having a new landlord.
He said part of the money that will be generated from the car park will be ploughed into pristine Victoria Falls activities and community programmes such as taking care of the elderly at the Old People’s Home and developmental projects.
Tourism stakeholders, including informal traders and small and medium operators, convened a meeting recently during which they expressed displeasure with the new development, arguing that it affects the resort city’s sanity as a special economic zone.
They implored Across Zimbabwe to engage all stakeholders including vendors.
Speaking at the meeting they implored NRZ to revoke the lease.
“As we speak vendors expect no charges and so what we need is for Mr Muleya to have the lease to the car park cancelled and we start afresh,” said a participant.
The operators said it would be unfair to make them pay to park their shuttle vehicles.
“There was once a standoff between Zimparks and National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe over gate takings at the rainforest and the matter was resolved by President Mnangagwa who said Zimparks should continue collecting money from the rainforest because they are both Government entities.
“We should as tour operators and hotels approach the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry who should take the matter to the Cabinet. Our listening President will not allow Victoria Falls to have congestion due to this car park issue,” said a participant.
Another participant concurred:
“We don’t want to be in a situation where will fight with Mr Muleya on the issue because he applied for this piece of land and came up with the idea of putting up a car park.”
He said the best way is to engage Mr Muleya over the issue of paying US$5.
Online Reporter