Parks Dismisses Media Reports

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Date: 10 December 2007

Author: Anon

The Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is happy with progress that has already been made in developing Gonarezhou National Park which is part of the giant Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

GLTP links Mozambique's National Limpopo Park, Kruger National Park in South Africa and Gonarezhou.

Parks's public relations manager Retired Major Edward Mbewe said infrastructure development work at the park was progressing well, allaying media reports that Zimbabwe was lagging behind when compared to its partners -- Mozambique and South Africa.

"We cannot really say we are behind," said Mr Mbewe.

"The merging of the park only provides free movement of tourists and developing the parks at each particular country is unique. We are quite happy with the progress that we have made so far."

Mr Mbewe said the authority's deve- lopmental thrust was to maintain the wilderness.

"But we also have areas that need to be developed and we have already identified investors who are working towards that.

"Some are already on the ground, while some are working on their plans."

The authority would soon commission eight lodges it refurbished.

Some parts of the park have since been electrified while construction of the bridge linking Gonarezhou and Kruger National Park was at an advanced stage.

"We have already allocated some money for construction of the road that would link us to the site of the bridge," Rtd Maj Mbewe added.

"Also we have made considerable progress on roads construction and rehabilitation."

The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park will be a world class Eco-tourism destination, with extensive private sector involvement.

It has also managed to optimise benefits for sustainable economic development of local communities and bio diversity conservation of the three nations.