via $300m ‘Disneyland’ park set for Vic Falls by New Ziana
THE government is planning to set up a US$300-million theme park in Victoria Falls to exploit full potential of the resort town.
Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi told New Ziana that the government had acquired 1,200 hectares of land to construct the park he described as the “Disneyland in Africa.”
The Victoria Falls park would house among others shopping malls, banks and exhibition and entertainment facilities such as casinos.
“We have reserved 1,200 hectares of land near the Victoria Falls International Airport to construct hotels and convention centres,” Mzembi said on the sidelines of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe from Aug 24 to 29.
Mzembi said the Victoria Falls was not benefiting the country financially at present as it was being used as a transit zone by tourists who flew in to visit the falls and left without spending much in the country.
He hoped that the park would help ensure Victoria Falls town attracts and retains capital in the country.
“We want to create a free zone with a banking centre where even people living outside Zimbabwe can open bank accounts there,” he said.
With Victoria Falls declared a cyber city, Mzembi said that the government is also planning to expand the town’s airport to provide easy access to larger aircraft.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector earned US$300 million revenue last year.
[From the archives: https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/jun30_2013.html#Z7 Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said: “We have a 1 200ha park in Victoria Falls which is open to investors and, since Elzie Higginbottom is a property mogul, I am sure if we packaged it properly, they would be very interested. We have also had discussions with him about starting an airline. But they are just discussions.”]
COMMENTS
Excellent development. Well done Walter
Totenda dzanwa mombe…but well I have come to the realisation that most of these ‘toda ku…’ rarely result in anything.
Its better that these things be made public tane zvinhu zviripo kwete madreams…
Unfortunately the government has lost the plot. Africa has the big 5 to show off. the hotels are now empty. Back in 1994 you could hardly find a place to stay. Why because of the governments policies which has scared off the tourists. Which crazy investor is going to stomp up the money?
Dont be Stupid!! You will spoil the natural enviroment if you have any knowledge on it. Spend that money on Building houses and clinics and most of all schools in remote areas!!! Try and improve Health facilities for Rural People. Wake Up!@!
Those who would stand to gain, improve their living standards etc.
will not bring in the foreign currency for onward transmission to
Swissland, or pay for monthly trips to Singapore.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
If I didn’t laugh, I would be crying.
“A free trade area with a banking system that even foreigners will open bank accounts,” whatever Walter Mzembi is smoking should be exported, because it is strong and although illegal it sells well.
how about preserving the wildlife first would be much cheaper and authentic than 300m to be used and im interested to know where it will come from when they cant even provide zesa or drinking water to the cities. typical mentality…all nonsense talk and no action. We don’t want too much development around vic falls area it needs preservation. If people want Disney land they will go to Paris or U.S.A. they come here to see the big 5 you fool!
Good on ya Les …. These bobijaans are clueless, in fact the bobijaans in Vic Falls could do a better job than our tourist minister
this is pipedream stuff. honestly are people supposed to believe this nonsense.
And by the way what happened to the London like water Cannals in Harare; the massive Zambezi Bulawayo water pipeline and its Matebeleland Green belt; the Mt Hampden City Gukurahundi dreams and the electrification of railway lines etc, etc? Still more Gukurahundi dreams on the way?
These idiots dont know if they are coming or going. Isnt Mzembi aware Mugabe has just said he will be taking over all foreign firms? So, he thinks you can in one breath tell Europeans to go to hell then in the next encourage them to come spend their money here?
Apart from destroying the environment where would a government which cannot even afford to feed its people and provide clean water get 300 million dollars from?
Wow! We’re planning to recreate Disneyland here? I wonder what we shall name the park. Graceland II? Gogo Nehanda’s Go-Go-Grande Fun Park? F.U.Britain Land? Jambanjaworld?
Hahahahahahaha …. No this is just too much , firstly where the heck will the government get 300million!!! From when they have debts of 10 billion …. Lastly this is a dream so far fetched we could only imagine what it would be like