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The Zimbabwe Tourism Association (ZTA) has refuted claims that the country’s major tourism drawcard, Victoria Falls, is drying up.
A recent BBC report claimed effects of severe drought and climate change were impacting on the Victoria Falls.
The report cited Elisha Moyo, the principal climate change researcher for the Zimbabwean government, who said the average flow over Victoria Falls in 2019 was down by about 50%.
However, ZTA acting chief executive Givemore Chidzidzi who travelled to Victoria Falls with other players in the industry, said the Zambezi River was seasonal.
“The majestic Victoria Falls is the biggest waterfall and remains our biggest drawcard. As you can see, it’s as amazing as ever as the amount of water falling through is actually amazing,” he was quoted as saying by a local daily, The Herald.
“One thing people need to know about this natural waterfall is that it is also seasonal like any other river and right now, we have got improving water levels.
“We encourage anyone who would love to see the Victoria Falls to visit the attraction more than once and in different seasons. For now, there has been no effect on tourism and people have been coming as usual.”
ZTA board member Blessing Munyenyiwa said there is no known research, which shows that the falls will dry up in this lifetime.
“It’s normal to have low water this time of the year but the Falls will never dry in our lifetime. We haven’t had as much water as we have had in the past years but it’s not dry,” he said.
Visuals broadcasted by the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) on Monday evening showed a part of the falls with water plunging down the gorge, leaving the tourists wet and in awe.
The water level at Victoria Falls varies throughout the year.
It is at its peak in April, at the end of the rainy season when on average 500 million liters of water flow and it is at its lowest level in October and early November.
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