By Daniel Jones
These have been carried out on either side
of the Zambezi River, between Zambia and Zimbabwe since the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) added Victoria Falls
to that list in 1989.
This was based on its unique geomorphologic
formation and remarkable natural beauty.
UNESCO is assessing if the destination
still qualifies as a World Heritage Site.
As the custodian of these sites, UNESCO
recently sent a monitoring team to assess the current state of Victoria Falls
and its environs.
The UN body has the mandate to carry
periodic assessments.
Zambia National Commission Secretary
General for UNESCO, Charles Ndakala, led the monitoring team.
He mentioned possible outcomes, which
include downgrading/red-listing or removed from the list.
"We were assessing as mandated to
check the effects of developments on the World Heritage site. This also
includes the planned Batoka project as we wanted to engage stakeholders to find
out how it will affect tourism upstream," said Ndakala.
He was speaking during a recent meeting with
tourism stakeholders in Victoria Falls after similar meetings on the Zambian
side.
Ndakala said the committee will compile a
report with its findings.
"This process will result in a report
that will be presented to superiors at the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage
Convention in June," the official said.
"The report will determine whether
Victoria Falls continues as a listed World Heritage Site or it gets downgraded
which is also called red-listing, or is totally removed from the list."
"This is only assessment for potential
impact of the threats since there are certain parameters to be followed in
terms of the need to preserve tourism and value of the product," Ndakala
said.
Tanyaradzwa Mundoga, Zimbabwe Environment,
Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry deputy director responsible
for Natural Resources, said there is need to safeguard the natural habitat so
as to keep Victoria Falls in its pristine state.
Tourism executive, Clement Mukwasi, who is
Shearwater Adventures spokesperson, said the industry will be guided by the
UNESCO findings.
Victoria Falls' falling water blanket is
about 1,7km wide and falls 108 metres down the gorge and is classified as the
largest waterfall in the world.
The waterfall is within Victoria Falls
National Park, which together with the Victoria Falls bridge, attract a
significant number of tourists annually.
It is one of the five World Heritage Sites
in Zimbabwe, others being Khami and Great Zimbabwe ruins both declared in 1986,
Matobo Hills (2003) as well as Mana Pools (1984).