Mana Pools under threat again
http://www.tourismupdate.co.za
16 Thu, Aug 2012
Members of the tourism industry have joined forces to protest the threat of
opencast mining in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park with the launch of a
Facebook Community Page, ‘Save Mana Pools’. In 2010, a similar campaign led
to Protea Hotels having to abandon its plans to develop a hotel on the banks
of the Zambezi across from Mana Pools.
Two major mining companies, Habbard Investments and Geo Associates, have
recently expressed interest in mining heavy minerals in Mana Pools. They
received a prospecting licence at the end of last year. According to
industry players, the proposed sand mining could have a severe impact on the
tourism appeal of Mana Pools as well as on the riverine vegetation, as it
would involve excavating the river to least 100m on each side of the bank.
Alan Dryden, spokesman for ‘Save Mana Pools’, says: “Mana is not for mining.
We have drawn a line in the sand. This opencast form of mining has been
notoriously destructive in other natural areas worldwide and, if permitted,
would irreparably scar the World Heritage Site and destroy the wildlife and
ecological resources that belong to all indigenous Zimbabweans.” He says
Mana Pools will be worth much more as a tourism employer and a pristine
wilderness in 20 years than it will be as “a scarred and ecologically
deserted ruin”.
Besides the imminent mining threat, there are two tourism developments that
are of concern in Mana Pools. Construction has already begun on Mana Pools
Safari Camp, which is allegedly not intended to be a tourism venture but a
private holiday home consisting of six double chalets and staff quarters to
house no fewer than 24 staff members. The other lodge, Nyamepi Lodge, is
currently undergoing an Environmental Impact Assessment.
UK Spokesperson for Advancing Tourism To Africa, John Berry, says mining the
river as well as any further tourism developments in the area could taint
the pristine image of the area. “Mining within the World Heritage Site will
eclipse the threat of two over-zealous tourism developments in Mana. The
international travel trade will receive an immediate negative message about
Zimbabwe, just as we’re looking forward to a recovery but, more so, the
developments will have a permanent effect on Mana’s appeal as a
destination.”
Dorine Reinstein
Tourism Update