Balancing Biodiversity and Tourism: Zimbabwe Navigates New Cricket Stadium Plan
As Zimbabwe celebrates the proposal for a world-class cricket stadium in the tourism hub of Victoria Falls, government officials are working to address concerns over the potential environmental impact of the project.
In an interview on the sidelines of a tourism bill consultations, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbra Rwodzi assured the care being taken to ensure the stadium’s construction aligns with the area’s biodiversity and UNESCO World Heritage site status.
“To start with, let me say, where the stadium will be placed is not really in Victoria Falls. It’s on the land of Kwanke, Borough District Council,” Rwodzi explained.
She added, “And it’s meant, this area called Masuwa is meant to expand Victoria Falls as a city. So we are nowhere near the Victoria Falls heritage site. We are very far away from it. And UNESCO has okayed the project because they have done their due diligence to that.”
Rwodzi said the stadium’s design will also prioritise environmental preservation.
The minister said, “It’s the structure of the stadium. You’ll see it as it comes. I’m sure many people are envisioning this whole big stadium as a national sports stadium. It’s completely different. It’s going to be a stadium that is aligned to the environment. It’s not going up. And it’s not an oval like people are imagining. It even has, it goes to a height that goes to the tallest tree. In that, the place that they are building, and of course, it’s going to be fenced away from the animals.”
The minister emphasised the government’s commitment to balancing human and wildlife needs.
She explained, “We are always talking about human-wildlife conflict. How can we live together with wildlife? Wildlife also needs to live with us for biodiversity, we need wildlife, but how do we balance each other is what we prescribed for Zimbabwe Cricket to do, and it has been okayed by all authorities, and we are happy.”
Rwodzi stated that thorough assessments have been conducted by various stakeholders, including UNESCO, to ensure the project’s viability.
“UNESCO has done their due diligence, and other, even CASA itself has done its due diligence and okayed the project, so we are aligned with what is expected of us to do in terms of the construction of this world-class cricket stadium.”
The proposed stadium is a joint venture between the government and Zimbabwe Cricket, the national governing body for the sport. Rwodzi highlighted economic and tourism benefits the project could bring, while acknowledging the need to address concerns over noise pollution and its potential impact on wildlife.
“For biodiversity, we need wildlife, but how do we balance each other is what we prescribed for Zimbabwe Cricket to do, and it has been okayed by all authorities, and we are happy.”
The proposed cricket stadium in Victoria Falls has generated both excitement and apprehension among Zimbabweans. As the government navigates the delicate balance between development and environmental preservation, the project’s success will be closely watched by the international community.
“We are aligned with what is expected of us to do in terms of the construction of this world-class cricket stadium,” Rwodzi concluded, expressing confidence in the government’s ability to deliver a project that benefits both the country’s economy and its natural heritage.
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