Dear All

Have you missed me? This is the revival of the Livingstone biWeekly. Sorry, we are going to lose one newsletter

every other week ... The revival is all thanks to sponsors. All my sponsors are listed at the end of the newsletter.

My header is of the Victoria Falls from the newly-tarred

Botswana Road from the airport through Dambwa. It is a

stunning view and when the spray disappears into the

lowering clouds it is almost magical.

Since my last Weekly it has been the rainy season. It still is

the rainy season. It has not been a good one, but we are

still experiencing some late rains.

I have been in my garden having a great time. Reoganising,

replanting and generally getting dirty. I have had the

company of my kingfishers who continue to entertain.

LIVINGSTONE Problems with rain

When it rains in Livingstone it can bucket down. And all the rainwater has to go somewhere. Livingstone is on sand,

so when the rain gushes down the hillside it takes the top soil with it.

The roads become rivers and after the rain has stopped some of them have become gullies. This was shown

dramatically on a road near my house. The situation has been made worse by the new roads which are channelling

the rain run-off down the drains. Surely we need to make a plan against this.

Our local entrepreneurs are not against making use of the top soil run-off. A lot of it is ending up on the road and

they are out shovelling it up and waiting for a sand truck – good for building. Inyatsi, the road contractor, sent a road

sweeper along one of the new roads in Dambwa to clear the road of sand. This is definitely what the Council needs.

Chickens and dogs

According to reports the Lusaka Council is clamping down on stray dogs. Dogs which are found roaming around the

streets with no sign of an owner will be euthanized. Some people are saying that this is cruel. From my side it is not.

Many dogs in Livingstone scavenge from rubbish tips because they are not fed properly. They are not vaccinated

against rabies. People are afraid to walk the streets. Dog owners have to have a sense of responsibility towards their

dogs and, if they don’t, then it is the dogs who suffer. It is better that they are put down.

Similarly, Lusaka Council has banned the rearing of chickens in residential areas. Three cheers from me too. This year

the flies have been almost uncontrollable. My neighbours have chickens and I know that the flies are breeding there,

coming over to my house and giving me a huge problem. Flies carry diseases apart from being irritating. I have been

forced to put poison around my house just to kill the flies ... and I hate using poison.

There has to be standards in towns in Zambia. Most of the rules governing life in each town are indicated in the

bylaws. Isn’t it time that we revised the bylaws for each town so that life is tolerable for the majority?

ZAMBIA Kangaluwi Mine in Lower Zambezi National Park

Zambezi Resources, a Zambian company started by a big Australian mining company and based (for tax purposes?) in

Bermuda wants to mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The area within their licence is shown in red on the

map. (I have tried to take the coordinates from the Zambezi Resources map and put them into the park. I hope I

have it right).

Last year I reported that

the Zambia Environmental

Agency (ZEMA) had turned

down the application by

Zambezi Resources to

mine in Lower Zam stating

that it would damage the

environment. We were all

happy (except possibly the

mining company). In a

surprise turnabout the

Minister of Lands and

Environmental Protection

overturned the decision by

ZEMA and stated that the

mining can go ahead. The

next bit of drama was that Environmental/Conservation NGOs organised themselves to put a court injunction on the

decision by the Minister. And this is where we are now. We await the court decision.

Two of the proposed mines within the licence

area will be open pit. The photograph is a of

open pit mining in Nchanga from:

m.inmagine.com

Mining is an extremely thirsty business with the

‘used’ water having to go somewhere and we

assume that wherever it goes it will end up in

the Zambezi River. No doubt it will be treated

before it enters the river but we have seen

mining pollution in the Kafue River. Can we

protect the Zambezi?

Opposite Lower Zambezi is Mana Pools and

neighbouring safari areas which make up a

World Heritage Site. There were hopes that Lower Zambezi can join in this World Heritage site.

And, what about the noise and dust? The trees and plants will be covered in dust for miles around. Remember that

the rain only comes for a short period between November and March to wash the plants clean. The noise will

reverberate across the Zambezi River into the Zimbabwe. Noise affects the habits of wildlife and as people, we don’t

like it much either.

According to the news, Zambezi Resources has put together a series of mitigating measures which persuaded the

Minister that the mine would be ‘green’. From an article in the Mining Weekly:

“Zambezi (Resources) has the utmost respect for the Zambian legal process and with the hearing now concluded, [the

company] awaits the decision of the presiding judge. Zambezi remains positive about receiving a favourable outcome,

Zambezi chairperson David Vilensky said.

He added that the company was disappointed by the lack of support from the conservation movement, with which it

would like to proactively engage to ensure that the Kangaluwi project, if it was allowed to proceed, was at the

forefront of a new generation of environmentally sustainable mine developments.

Government has stated that the mine will provide thousands of jobs. But this also causes problems. The people who

live and work around Lower Zambezi National Park are mostly subsistence farmers and fishermen. Maybe a few of

them can find low-paid jobs but the majority of the new workforce will come from already trained miners in the

Copperbelt. It has been suggested to me that men will flock to the area to find work. All these people will have to

live and survive somehow as they await the chance of a job. Shanty compounds will sprout up around the edge of

the park and ... where will these men find food? Chances are that the animals in the park will provide ...

From Lower Zambezi Conservation Society

Human wildlife Conflict: Challenges and

mitigation

Human wildlife conflict has been peaked this

month - with crops at a healthy stage,

elephants and hippos have been carrying out

regular raids on farmland in the villages of

Chiawa GMA. Thanks to the International

Elephant Foundation and ZAWA, we have

been able to place a permanent Village Scout

team in the Chiawa communities to respond

to Human Wildlife Conflict. These scout

teams have been battling the elements in

uncomfortable and dangerous situations and

have been performing incredibly well.

Congratulations to all officers!

This month we have also collaborated with

Game Rangers International - Britius and

Noddie from GRI's Kafue Community

Outreach Project visited Stephen Kalio in Mushonganende to learn how to build felumbus - elephant proof granary

stores - for food security for people living alongside elephants.

Workers Compensation Fund wastes money

From the Zambia Weekly

The Workers Compensation Fund has released audited accounts for the past four years (2010-2013). During this

period, the fund raised a total of K508.5 million in assessments (contributions from employers), of which 10% was

paid out in claims to sick, debilitated or dead employees or their relatives. Meanwhile, the fund’s expenditure,

excluding claims, came to K357.2 million, equivalent to 70% of assessments raised. The fund’s nearly 200 employees

accounted for a large part of expenditure, equivalent to 34%of assessments raised, receiving an average monthly

salary of K20,221 in 2013 – five times higher than the national average earnings calculated by NAPSA.

ZIMB ABWE

Victoria Falls Town to become Mosi-oa-Tunya?

Robert Mugabe has declared that he wants to change the name of Victoria Falls Town to Mosi-oa-Tunya. He does not

like the name Victoria Falls because of its colonial connotations. I have considered the name of Mosi-oa-Tunya to see

if this is a good choice for a Zimbabwe town.

Let us set the scene prior to David Livingstone’s arrival in our area – 1850s and before. At the time the people of this

area of central Africa were in a constant state of flux. The people moved villages constantly to find better farming

land; they attacked or were attacked by other clans. The land was wild, full of lions and other predators; there was

also lots of food to be had from wildlife – the people often dug pits to trap them. This area was also full of disease

which killed the people – smallpox, leprosy, malaria. Tsetse flies were all over the land in pockets which stopped the

ability of many people to have cattle and other domestic animals. The people believed in ancestor worship and

witchcraft. But they were tough; they would have to be tough to endure the hardships of their environment.

In 1838 the Kololo arrived in Barotseland (western Zambia) and took over the people there. The Kololo were an

offshoot of Zulu kingdom and were a warrior tribe. However, their king, Sebitwane was a clever man and he reigned

over the people controlling many neighbouring tribes including some in present-day Namibia and Botswana.

Meanwhile in 1840 the Matabele people had taken control of the area around Bulawayo. They were a warrior tribe,

another offshoot of the Zulus in South Africa. The men formed Impis (regiments) which were sent out by their king,

Mzilikazi, to find food by conquering neighbouring tribes and stealing whatever they needed. Mzilikazi was very

warlike. He was considered second only to Shaka Zulu.

The sphere of influence of the Matabele and Kololo rarely overlapped, the Zambezi River forming a border between

the two tribes around the Falls.

When David Livingstone arrived in the area he met Sebitwane, king of the Kololo, in present-day Botswana. It was

Sebitwane who assisted David Livingstone on his travels through central Africa. When, in 1855, David Livingstone

returned to the area, Sebitwane had died and his son, Sekeletu was now king. It was Sekeletu who organised the trip

for David Livingstone to the great falls on the Zambezi River. The Kololo people called these falls, in their language,

Mosi-oa-Tunya.

David Livingstone renamed the falls ‘Victoria Falls’. In his journals he mentions the name Mosi-oa-Tunya and states

that he has renamed them in honour of the then British Queen. Because his stories were published the name Victoria

Falls has stuck and has worldwide renown.

By 1864, after 24 years in power, the Kololo people lost control; the Barotse people retook their throne. They were

then known as the Lozi. Interestingly they took on the Kololo language. So the name Mosi-oa-Tunya is part of

present-day Lozi language.

In my opinion the name of Mosi-oa-Tunya is a purely Zambian name which comes from the Lozi people. It is part of

our history. Is it suitable for a Zimbabwe town?

Water Spout over Lake Kariba from Matusadona. Photo:

Roger de la Harpe

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/13/incredibly-rare-tornado-sighting-over-lake-kariba/

A trip through Hwange

In February Josh and I took a quick trip through Hwange. It had been raining for days and, even the morning we set

off, it had been raining. We headed to the border, took the road to Bulawayo, turning off to Sinamatella after

Hwange Town. The rivers were flowing.

Such a change.

The Sinamatella River in front of the camp

was full as it sped towards the Zambezi

River. In the morning the spate had

finished, only pools remaining.

The good news about Sinamatella is that

there is now a shop and the restaurant is

being renovated with the hope that it would

be open later in the year.

This time of year is the

time to enjoy all the

little things. The

tortoises were out and

about. We enjoyed

the antics of the

squirrels and

mongooses.

Wildlife between

Sinamatella and Main

Camp

was

difficult to see – it was probably elsewhere in the

park. The road was bad in places as the rain had

washed sections away. Big puddles were negotiated.

The dams were full and overflowing.

We sat at Nyamandlovu for about an hour enjoying

the scene. A few animals were relaxing in the long

grass with their tails flicking from side to side. No stress to eat –there was enough for all.

We stayed overnight at Main Camp and then continued our journey to Harare. We decided to take the short cut

between Lupane and Kwekwe. Big mistake. After about 1½-2 hours travelling we came to a river (Shangani, I think)

and the bridge had been washed away. There was nothing for it but to return the way we had come and go via

Bulawayo. I wonder when it will be fixed. In the meantime, don’t go that way ...

NAMIBIA

Erindi Private Game Reserve

Erindi is a private game reserve about twice the size of Lochinvar NP in Zambia. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife

and is a popular destination for visitors to Namibia.

The owners want to sell it. At first it was offered to the Namibia government so that it could be added to their

portfolio of resorts. It seems, though, that the owners want to sell quicker than the slow wheels of government

grind. A Chinese investor is keen to buy.

Politics is also entering the fray with one politician stating that he

feels that the reserve should be made into a resettlement area

for the descendents of the Herero people who were displaced

during conflicts 100 years ago when the Germans took control of

the country.

Most of us, I am sure, hope that government can put a bomb

under the chairs of their administrators so that they get the

transaction done and it becomes another Nambian resort.

From The Namibian

ONE Africa Television founder and group chairman, Paul

van Schalkwyk has died in a plane crash

He was 58.

Aircraft Accident Investigation director Captain Erikson

Nengola, who confirmed the crash, said the award-winning

photographer and businessman died on Saturday afternoon

just 75km from the Ondangwa airport near the Etosha

National Park.

... Nengola said that the wreckage of the crash was

discovered this morning and the cause of the accident is still

to be determined. “We are currently investigating as we do not know what might have caused the aircraft to crash,”

he said.

Van Schalkwyk, who is a celebrated photographer and filmmaker in Namibia, is renowned for his work both locally

and internationally, having received more than 50 awards for his photography work.

From: yathin.com/wordpress/2014/03/11/storms-

over-etosha

It has been fantastic here during the last couple of

weeks. There have been big storms nearly every day.

It’s such a different place from last year when the

rains failed. The whole place is now a brilliant shade

of green and there are giant herds of springbok and

zebra everywhere. Stopping at a deserted location

and watching the storms come is a wonderful feeling.

The velds stretch on for as far as the eye can see and

one can see storms building and approaching from

great distances. ...

Camp Chobe

I have found a new lodge – Camp Chobe. It is near

Ngoma Gate in Namibia. Maybe keep it in mind if

you are travelling that way.

UGANDA

RECALL OF WORLD BANK LOAN DEALS SERIOUS BLOW TO UGANDA’S TOURISM AND WILDLIFE SECTOR

From Wolfgang’s column

The announcement on Friday by the Managing Director of the World Bank, that a loan of over 90 million US Dollars

lined up for Uganda, from which in particular the tourism and wildlife sector, and specifically the national Hotel and

Tourism Training Institute were to benefit, has been halted has dealt a heavy blow to plans to revive the hotel school,

support tourism marketing activities and benefit the wildlife sector.

‘This is a very serious development for us’ said a regular source on Saturday, when discussing the issue before

continuing ‘It is not that our government was not warned of a fallout over those recent bills targeting homosexuals

and wearers of miniskirts. Even you wrote some weeks ago of the potential for decampaigning us as a destination and

it seems the response was sharp and swift. Whatever our politicians are trying to tell us why they made these laws, it

is not in conformity with the concept of human rights and the right to choose one’s partner in life, or how to express

oneself through fashion. Those politicians are deluding themselves if they think they got away with it. For once we all

know those laws will now be tested before the Constitutional Court of Uganda. I would not be surprised if the court

overturns the laws on constitutional grounds. However, the damage is already done and all those plans for the school

in Jinja, for the Uganda Tourism Board and for UWA are now all in suspense. We in tourism are again made the punch

bag and suffer because of what government did, and for two decades for what government did not do, which was to

facilitate tourism marketing and support the sector beyond those one off actionisms which benefits, in hindsight, is

now completely disputed. ...

TANZANIA

TANZANIA TO LAUNCH ELEPHANT CENSUS ACROSS THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT

From Wolfgang’s column

Following the elephant census carried out late last year covering the Selous and Ruaha – which came back with

devastating results about a very sharp drop in elephant numbers – have news emerged that the Tanzania Wildlife

Research Institute will shortly commence a similar census covering the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara and

Tarangire. Supported once again by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and other development partners, this census is

seen as crucial to establish current game counts and then respond vis a vis added protective measures where

numbers have gone into steep decline. FZS donated equipment worth over 200.000 Euros to the research institute,

including vehicles, generators, camp equipment and computers used to correlate the information from the field.

Tanzania has been under close scrutiny over the commercial scale slaughter of their elephant which for instance in

the Selous saw a reduction from the 2007 count which spoke of between 65 – 70.000 elephant to just over 13.000 in

the survey carried out last year, a damning indictment of the current government’s turning a blind eye for too long to

the problem of poaching.

Only recently did TANAPA in conjunction with KWS conduct a survey in the Taita Taveta / Tsavo West / Mkomanzi NP

area, which also showed a decline compared to the last census a few years ago.

Following the London Conservation Conference which discussed wildlife crimes, there have been soothing noises

from Dar es Salaam and increased commitment to fight the poaching gangs, but only time will tell how words will, or

will not, turn to action. Watch this space.

RWANDA

TOURISM ARRIVALS IN RWANDA UP BY 6 PERCENT WHILE REVENUES RISE BY 4 PERCENT

From Wolfgang’s column

Figures released by the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department confirm the continued

trend of sectoral growth in tourism, as arrival numbers in 2013 rose by 6 percent to 1.137.000 visitors while earnings

in the sector rose by 4 percent to now 293.6 million US Dollars.

This makes tourism once again the leading economic sector ahead of agriculture, namely tea and coffee, with

indications that 2014 will also show a growth again.

(Zambia stated that it had 917,000 tourist arrivals in 2011. Rwanda is a small country of 26,000 sq km, whereas

Zambia is 753,000. Rwanda does not have our diversity of wildlife. Its main attraction is the gorillas. So, if Rwanda

can achieve such incredible results after its genocide 20 years ago, where are we going wrong in Zambia?)

THE SMILE A Pessimist

What's the definition of a pessimist? A pessimist is a well-informed optimist.

Have a good two weeks.

Gill