Official caught in restaurant bribe

The letter dated February 15 said the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA) had permission to construct any structure at the Victoria Falls Rainforest, including the restaurant, which was first closed in October. The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe took control of the Victoria Falls Rainforest in November with the help of armed policemen and removed long-time managers, NPWMA.

The two government departments have been fighting for management of the rainforest, which generates an average of $7,000 daily and the contentious letter was used in court to grant the opening of the restaurant. The wrangle over the construction of the restaurant has seen it closed and reopened four times.

Matabeleland North operations coordinator, assistant commissioner Musarashana Mabunda, said: The claim that we discarded an order by the AG and the court is wrong. Dirty money changed hands when Shearwater engaged one Mr L.M Murasi from the office of the AG and he wrote an opinion.

We have copies of the letter. It was his (Murasi) personal opinion and not that of the AG because when he (AG) was shown that letter he took him to task. The letter, heavy with legal jargon, grants NPWMA explicit rights to manage the eatery. However, Mabunda said the restaurant would never be opened again because it threatened the natural inhabitants of the rainforest, and put the Victoria Falls at risk of delisting as a World Heritage Site.

Tourists must walk in the rainforest in its natural state, he said. He said it had since been discovered that the restaurants licence was fraudulently obtained and The Zimbabwean understands its licence will be cancelled before the end of June.

Shearwaters corporate communications manager Clement Mukwasi said the closure of the restaurant was a threat to investment in the country.

Shearwater constructed and are running the restaurant which was built on a Public Private Partnership through the concept of the Build Operate and Transfer, he said. If it is to be closed that will be a threat to investment in the country because no investor will want to engage into partnerships in an uncertain environment. We also condemn the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwes ineffectiveness.