Park: Zim inclusion questioned

Date: 9 December 2002

Source: News24.com

Author: Joseph Oesi

Xai Xai, Mozambique - The inclusion of Zimbabwe into the Limpopo Transfrontier Park has been criticised by some who are concerned that the large-scale slaughter of wildlife in that country might spill over into the rest of the park, thereby jeopardising South Africa's most important wildlife asset, the Kruger National Park.

South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance party on Monday wanted to know what the South African government planned to do to prevent the invasion from spreading into the park.

"The South African government should explain how they will prevent these invasions from spreading into the Transfrontier Park.

"This ambitious cross-border project should not jeopardise the Kruger National Park, the flagship of our entire eco-tourism industry," the DA said.

Optimism

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe expressed optimism.

"Today's event serves to remind us that that which unites us is greater than that which seeks to divide us," he said at the official naming ceremony in Xai Xai on the Limpopo in Mozambique.

President Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano also attended the ceremony.

Uncertainty over Zimbabwe has delayed plans for the park, but on Monday officials said it was time to move forward.

Size of Belgium

Environmentalists have applauded the park, which combines South Africa's Kruger national park, Mozabique's Limpopo park and Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou national park into one huge swathe of savannah home to game including lions, rhinos and elephants.

It covers an area of 35 000 sq km - roughly the size of Belgium - and communities within its boundaries will remain. The park is due to open to visitors early next year.

"The successful merging of our individual parks into the Limpopo Transfrontier Park tells us that nothing is impossible, and yet this increases the challenge on all of us to ensure that we create the correct conditions for the balanced development and advancement of our countries," Mbeki said.

Challenge

Officials hope the new park will draw more travellers to a region.

Along with removing visa restrictions and building new transit links for tourism, the three countries have launched a drive to help wildlife spread more fully across the area.

More than 1 000 animals, including dozens of elephants, have been transferred from South Africa to Mozambique, where a long civil war took its toll on the native animal population.

But major challenges face the Transfrontier Park: Mozambique has never been a major tourist destination, South Africa has been hit by several high-profile attacks against tourists amid fears over its high crime rate, and Zimbabwe's once flourishing tourism industry has been devastated by internal insecurity following Mugabe's controversial land reform programme.