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PRIVITISATION of government lodges in South Luangwa national park is said to have contributed to less number of Zambians visiting the park, tour operators have observed. Speaking in an interview, conservationist Robin Pope said in the past local tourists h PRIVITISATION of government lodges in South Luangwa national park is said to have contributed to less number of Zambians visiting the park, tour operators have observed. Speaking in an interview, conservationist Robin Pope said in the past local tourists had visited the game park regularly unlike these days. Mr Pope who is the founder and director of Robin Pope Safaris said the privitisation of lodges that were owned by government made local people lose interest in visiting the park.ad visited the game park regularly unlike these days. PRIVITISATION of government lodges in South Luangwa national park is said to have contributed to less number of Zambians visiting the park, tour operators have observed. Speaking in an interview, conservationist Robin Pope said in the past local tourists had visited the game park regularly unlike these days. Mr Pope who is the founder and director of Robin Pope Safaris said the p PRIVITISATION of government lodges in South Luangwa national park is said to have contributed to less number of Zambians visiting the park, tour operators have observed. Speaking in an interview, conservationist Robin Pope said in the past local tourists had visited the game park regularly unlike these days. Mr Pope who is the founder and director of Robin Pope Safaris said the privitisation of lodges that were owned by government made local people lose interest in visiting the park.rivitisation of lodges that were owned by government made local people lose interest in visiting the park.Mr Pope who is the founder and director of Robin Pope Safaris said the privitisation of lodges that were owned by government made local people lose interest in visiting the park.
“The privitisation brought by government to sale state owned lodges in the valley seem to have restrict local people in visiting the park,” he said. He said local used to afford the rates offered by government but now they feel the rates are high because of private ownership. He said although it had affected the visitation on local people to the park, it was good for the private sector because of the open market that called for competition in delivering services. Mr Pope said private ownership and opening of other lodges has increased employment opportunities among the local people. He said it was pleasing to see people from urban areas migrate to rural areas for employment. Mr Pope said in the past there was most foreigners who worked in the park but these days the majority were Zambians. He said his desire was train more Zambians to be managers at lodges and tour guides. “It is good to see Zambians taking up the jobs that were given to whites long time ago when I came into the valley. I have do train my staff and now most of them can guide tourists unlike in the past few local people were employed,” he said. He despite lodges doing their best in considering special rates for local people, government should help tour operators to encourage the people to visit the park and see the wildlife.
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THE on going load shedding in the country has raised concerns among tour operators in Mfuwe in fear of losing and disappointing clients because of unnecessary blackouts. The tour operators have asked Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to explain the ongoing load shedding so that they know the time they would have no power because of the dangers it could cause to the clients as wild animals wondered about in park.
The operators said since the load shedding started they have never received proper explanation of ZESCO and that they were still in dark.
Speaking to the Mail Mrs Patsy Hahn and Adrian Coley said it was going to be better if the operators were told about the timing business their clients were in danger to wild animals that were in the park. The two said despite the guards the lodges had it was still risk for clients to move when there was no power. The called on ZESCO to speedy up its rehabilitation works of generators. Mrs Hahn said it was sad for that tours operators did not know when power would go because they did not know the schedule. She said it was too expensive to use generators that used fuel. She said it was with high price of fuel they were not spared.****SOME tour operators in Mfuwe have cried foul on government's decision to reintroduce Visa fees on international tourists saying that it had affected their business because of the decline of people going to the valley. The operators spoke in Mfuwe said that the Visa fee had affected their business because they scared the tourists who were eager to visit Zambia.
They said in separate interviews that government should consider waiving visa fees if their operations were to be effective and help generate income to help develop the nation.
Among those talked to are Adrian Coley (director of Flatdogs safari camp), Andy Hogg (director-Mfuwe Lodge), Levy Banda (Manager-Mchenja camp),Josphat Musoni and Wilson Malambo (managers-Kafunta River Lodge), Robin Pope (director-Robin Pope safaris) and Patsy Hahn (director-Wildlide camp).
Mr Coley said people from outside the country withdrew their bookings when they heard about the visa fees.
Mr Coley also said it was not fair for government to exempt other tour operators in the country from paying taxes when they all provided same services.
He refered to Livingstone operators who have been exempted to pay tourism tax.
Mr Hogg echoed the same sentiments saying it would be good if the playing field for operators was leveled.
He said it was high time government promoted other tourist attractions in other areas if Zambia was to known for its wildlife.
Mr Banda said it was going to be fair if visa fee was reasonable for people to afford and be attracted.
Mr Banda said government should think of putting up measeures that would help local tourists get to see the wildlife by having a national airline with lower rates.
Mr Malambo and Mr Musoni echoed that the government should put policies that would sell Zambia's natural wonders. they said by putting up policies to sell Zambia it was the only way it would attract investors.
And Mrs Hahn said government should consider breaking the taxes so that roads were maintained to help the operators do their business well and satisfy their clients.****HOSPITALITY investors in Mfuwe town have taken it upon themselves to help the education and health sectors in the area by raising funds to upgrade school infrastructures and pay doctors to give aid to the community. Atleast each lodge and camp in the valley is committed in helping the community. According to the survey in the area revealed that schools had benefited a lot from the services provided by the operators. The operators are supporting the schools by building classrooms, teacher’s houses and giving them tokens to sustain themselves in their day to day livelihood. And managements of the lodges have vowed to continue helping the community saying that in future the people would help the lodges with skills that they would acquire after their trainings. Most of the people employed at these lodges have been helped to get education by the investors. Robin Pope, Andy Hogg and Patsy Hahn said in separate interviews that helping the community was not a burden but an achievement because they were developing the community. They said although they was a little profit from the services, it was vital to help the community so that the development was maintained. Among the schools receiving such services are Mfuwe basic, Kawaza, Nsefu Chiwawatala, and Chilongozi.
The lodges are also helping the community by finding a voluntary doctor to help treat the people.
***CONSERVATIONIST has asked government to consider opening a police post in Mfuwe town because of increasing population. Robin Pope said in interview that it would be better if the area had a police post saying that growing population would in danger of crime activities. He said being a small town it should not been considered to be crime free. He said the police would not look at crime in the area but help the people to settle differences. Mr Pope said area has been looked after by Chief Kakubi. He said the chief’s protection was not enough because of people had different mind of understanding. And another tour guide has asked government to help the community to up grade the roads in the area as a way of attracting investors. Levy Banda said the road network was poor such that many people did not want to visit the area and boost tourism. Mr Banda also said lack of national airline also contributed to the less number of people going in the area. He said it was important if government had considered having a national airline which would also help the local people have access to the area.ENDS..
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