Publications
Aesthetic Values, Transboundary River Protection, and the Zambezi River Basin
International water law principles, including equitable utilization and the no significant harm principle, can enhance the protection of the Zambezi River Basin by addressing its aesthetic cultural values. The study highlights the basin's global recognition for its natural beauty, exemplified by Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls and Mana Pools National Park. Despite well-developed transboundary cooperation through the Southern African Development Community Treaty, threats from proposed dam development and mining pollution persist. Integrating sustainable development principles and protected areas conventions into legal frameworks offers a pathway to mitigate these risks while preserving the basin's aesthetic and ecological integrity.
High intragenotypic diversity, serogroup heterogeneity, and recombination of African swine fever virus strains circulating in sylvatic and domestic hosts
African swine fever virus (ASFV) exhibits high intragenotypic diversity, serogroup heterogeneity, and recombination among sylvatic and domestic hosts in Zambia. While genotype I viruses dominate in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, genotypes XII and XIV were detected in South Luangwa and Kafue National Parks, respectively, with lower ASFV detection rates in ticks compared to previous reports. Warthogs showed high seroprevalence but no detectable viral DNA. Genotype I viruses displayed marked heterogeneity, including multiple p54/CVR variants and seven CD2v lineages, suggesting recombination-driven diversification contributing to genotypes II, XII, and XIV. These findings underscore the need for broadly protective vaccines that account for intragenotypic diversity, antigenic heterogeneity, and recombination in endemic regions.
Investigation of Anthrax Outbreak in Wildlife of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and Adjacent Communities-Livingstone District, Zambia, October-November 2025
An anthrax outbreak in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia, was confirmed through tissue sampling, revealing high case fatality rates (43.9%) among captive lions and delayed public health responses. The study used descriptive epidemiology, spatial mapping with QGIS, and structured questionnaires to assess knowledge and practices. Findings highlighted significant delays in detection, notification, and response, along with risky community behaviors such as handling contaminated meat. Recommendations include multisectoral engagement for safe carcass disposal to mitigate future outbreaks.
El árbol Mopane
The mopane tree (Colophospermun mopane) stands out in southern African ecosystems, particularly in Namibia, southern Zambia, and Botswana, due to its distinctive bilobed leaves resembling giraffe hooves. This species holds significant cultural and practical importance, with its leaves traditionally used by tribes like the Himba for wound healing and postpartum recovery, while its durable wood serves as fuel for sacred rituals and construction material. A study highlights these multifaceted uses, emphasizing the tree's ecological and anthropological significance in the Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls region.
Post-COVID-19 Review: Challenges and Determinants of E-Learning Adoption with a Focus on Heritage-Based Curriculum in Victoria Falls Cluster, Hwange District Secondary Schools, Zimbabwe
A post-COVID-19 analysis of e-learning adoption in Victoria Falls Cluster schools in Zimbabwe reveals significant barriers hindering effective implementation, including inadequate teacher training, lack of resources, and negative attitudes from both teachers and students. The study, involving 85 respondents (5 head teachers, 65 teachers, and 201 students), highlights the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to address these challenges through in-service training, increased resource provision, and curriculum adjustments. Aligning with Education 5.0 principles, the research advocates for integrating indigenous knowledge and technology to foster self-reliance in education. This study provides critical insights into e-learning dynamics in resource-constrained settings, offering a foundation for future educational resilience.
The Challenges Of Integrating Sustainable Practices In Hotels And Lodges: A Case Study Of Victoria Falls
Hotels and lodges at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, face significant barriers to adopting sustainable practices despite the growing importance of green tourism. Key challenges include high costs for green technology, insufficient stakeholder support, limited financial resources, lack of awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and weak regulatory frameworks. The study highlights that while simple cost-effective measures like energy management, water conservation, and waste management are implemented, their effectiveness is hindered by these internal and external factors. Recommendations emphasize the need for stronger green tourism policies, guest education, and active stakeholder engagement to overcome these obstacles.
Tour guides as co-creators of memorable tourism experiences: Perceptions from tour guides at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A study identifies thirteen core competencies that tour guides at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, perceive as essential for co-creating memorable tourism experiences (MTEs), including entertainment skills, flexibility, cultural knowledge, and emotional intelligence. These competencies vary across gender, marital status, and work experience, with male and single guides exhibiting a broader range of abilities. The findings highlight the need for targeted training programs to enhance tour guiding quality and destination competitiveness, offering practical insights for policy and capacity-building in tourism.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Mitigate Monkey-Human Conflicts in Hospitality Spaces in Zambia
An AI-based deterrent system significantly reduced monkey incursions at a hospitality establishment near Mosi-oa-Tunya, Zambia, altering monkey behavior from habituated aggression to avoidance. The intervention improved staff morale, reduced workplace stress, and enhanced guest satisfaction, demonstrating the potential of intelligent technologies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in hospitality settings. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative behavioral observations with qualitative interviews, revealing positive operational and experiential outcomes despite some concerns about long-term adaptation.
Assessing the Role of Local Authorities in Promoting Tourism in Zimbabwe. A Case of Victoria Falls City Council
Local authorities, such as the Victoria Falls City Council, play a pivotal role in tourism development through strategic place marketing, efficient service delivery, and infrastructure maintenance. This study highlights their critical contribution to sustainable tourism growth, often overshadowed by central government efforts. Using qualitative methods—including interviews, observations, and thematic analysis—the research reveals that sub-national governments significantly influence tourism outcomes through delegated powers. Key recommendations include full implementation of devolution policies, improved service delivery, and investment-friendly policy formulation at the local level.
Cloning Cellulase Genes from Victoria Falls Rainforest Decaying Logs Metagenome
Researchers have identified a highly efficient cellulase-producing microorganism from the metagenome of decaying logs in Victoria Falls rainforest, showcasing the site's potential for enzyme bioprospecting. The study employed degenerate primers to amplify cellulase genes and functional screening to isolate Clone-i, which demonstrated optimal enzyme activity at 50°C and pH 5 after 72 hours. Notably, Clone-i produced 80% more exoglucanases than endoglucanases, highlighting its potential for industrial applications. This discovery underscores the value of metagenomics in exploring microbial diversity and biomass degradation in protected ecosystems.
Coloniality of power and the imaginaries of tourism in Victoria Falls
A study reveals that the tourism industry at Victoria Falls remains unevenly structured along racial and colonial lines, with foreign and white-owned businesses capturing the majority of value despite Zimbabwe's post-colonial status. The research integrates Global Value Chain (GVC) analysis with theories of 'coloniality of power' to demonstrate how historical racial dynamics persist in modern tourism value chains. It proposes a framework for decolonizing these systems to foster equity, offering pathways for transforming tourism in post-colonial contexts. This approach highlights the enduring impact of colonial legacies on economic participation and value distribution.
El Niño’s Implications for the Victoria Falls Resort and Tourism Economy in the Era of Climate Change
Extreme El Niño events, which have intensified with rising global temperatures, significantly impact Victoria Falls' water flows and tourism economy. Analysis of hydrological data from 1980 to 2024, including the recent 2023–2024 event, revealed that drought conditions associated with El Niño reduce tourist arrivals and negatively affect resort towns' economies. The study projects record-low water levels for late 2024, emphasizing the need for climate-resilient tourism strategies. Recommendations include diversifying tourism offerings to highlight low-water activities and promoting year-round visits to mitigate economic losses.
The Tourism Sector in the Zambian Economy
Tourism, particularly nature-based activities centered around wildlife and UNESCO World Heritage Site Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), is identified as a key driver of economic growth in Zambia. A 2018 analysis revealed that tourism contributed over 6.3% to the country's GDP, positioning it as the fastest-growing sector amid challenges in the mining industry. The study highlights its potential for employment creation, foreign currency generation, rural development, and sustainable entrepreneurship, while emphasizing its role in integrating local communities into the mainstream economy and fostering social cohesion. Zambia's vast wildlife estate, covering 31.4% of national territory through 20 national parks and 36 game management areas, underscores its unique tourism potential as outlined in the Government's 2015 National Tourism Policy.
An ecological and epidemiological single‐season survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia positive ticks in Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe
A significant portion of ticks in Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe, were found to be positive for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria, with nearly 30% of screened ticks testing positive. This study highlights a substantial risk of tick-borne diseases, affecting both wildlife and domesticated animals, thereby presenting a One Health concern for the region. Researchers collected ticks from various hosts and used PCR screening to identify pathogen presence, revealing that certain tick species and hosts had higher odds of carrying these pathogens. The findings suggest complex interactions among ticks, hosts, and pathogens, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and research in African ecosystems.
Event Attendees’ Perceptions of the Impacts of a Cultural Event in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A study assessing the triple bottom line impact of the Victoria Falls Carnival revealed strong attendee satisfaction, with participants expressing positive perceptions across socio-cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions. The research, based on systematic random sampling of 307 event spectators and in-depth interviews with organizers, demonstrated that attendees would recommend the carnival to others, highlighting its potential for future success through visitor attraction. Organizers are actively working to enhance each edition to sustain this support. The findings underscore the significance of attendee perceptions in shaping event tourism strategies, particularly in culturally rich tourist destinations like Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls.
For Everyday Life
This reflective essay highlights the interplay between mathematics and everyday life, particularly in decision-making related to career choices, financial planning, and travel experiences. The author, a teacher and poet, explores how mathematical reasoning underpins personal and professional decisions, from evaluating job offers to planning vacations like the trip to Victoria Falls. The essay emphasizes that logical thinking and mathematical skills are essential for navigating life's challenges, whether in business, education, or adventure. It also underscores the importance of balancing practical needs with personal aspirations, such as saving for capital projects or indulging in experiences that enrich one's soul.
Management and conservation of the Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls World Heritage property
Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls, recognized for its geological processes and geomorphological formations, holds exceptional natural beauty that contributes to its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) under criteria (vii) and (viii). This World Heritage property, the only African site among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, features the widest waterfall curtain at 1,706 meters with a deepest point of 108 meters. The study emphasizes its significance as a tourism icon for Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Africa, while addressing its management and conservation challenges. The research likely employs a transnational approach to examine the site's ecological dynamics, cultural importance, and sustainable management strategies, given its status as a shared heritage between two nations.
Challenges of dating quartz OSL samples with saturated grains: Lessons from single-grain analyses of low dose-rate samples from Victoria Falls, Zambia
Researchers found that including data from saturated quartz grains significantly impacts the equivalent dose (D e ) values calculated for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, even when using different methods to combine luminescence measurements. This study highlights the importance of accounting for minimum burial dose information contained in saturated grains, which are often rejected due to early OSL signal saturation. The findings suggest that while various techniques have different advantages and disadvantages, their reasonable agreement indicates that the inclusion of data from saturated grains is more crucial than the specific method used. The research involved single-grain analyses of low dose-rate samples from an aeolian sandscarp near Victoria Falls, Zambia, to explore these challenges.
Tourism Certification for Promoting Tourism Sustainability in the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A study on tourism certification at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, identified key concerns that hinder the adoption of sustainable tourism schemes. The most significant issue was the exclusion of guests from the certification process, contributing to low uptake rates both nationally and continentally. Researchers used a questionnaire with a Likert scale and follow-up interviews with 13 eco-certified facilities to thematically analyze data. Thirteen concerns were highlighted, echoing previous studies. The paper recommends concerted efforts to address these barriers at both country and continental levels to promote tourism sustainability.
Zimbabwe tour guide training challenges: perspectives from tour guides in Victoria Falls
A fragmented and inadequate tour guide training system plagues Zimbabwe's tourism sector, according to a study involving 46 guides at Victoria Falls. Key challenges include disjointed curricula, limited practical training, lack of language skills, insufficient facilities, poor trainer quality, high costs, and the absence of evaluations or refresher courses. The research recommends urgent reforms, such as experiential learning integration, 'train-the-trainer' programs, fee reviews, and unification of training institutions to address these systemic gaps.
An Investigation of Residents’ Perceptions of Positive Festival Impacts, Community Attachment and Well-being: A Study on the Jameson Festival, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Festivals significantly enhance community cohesiveness and attachment, which in turn positively influence residents' well-being. A study on the Jameson Festival at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, found strong relationships between perceived positive festival impacts—particularly those fostering community unity—and both community attachment and well-being. While cultural preservation was linked to attachment, it did not show a significant association with well-being. The research integrates Social Exchange and Affect Theories, employing a quantitative approach with convenience sampling to analyze resident perceptions. These findings offer practical insights for festival organizers and theoretical contributions to the field of festival studies.
Extent of Application of Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies to Enhance Tourism Sustainability: A Case of Selected Tourism Operators in Victoria Falls
Tourist operators at Victoria Falls are leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to enhance competitiveness, particularly through pre-travel services that significantly influence tourists' patronage choices. However, on-site technological applications remain underutilized, leading to tourist dissatisfaction. The study, involving 96 tourists and 30 tour operators, identified key barriers to 4IR adoption, including managerial skill gaps, lack of expertise, and a reluctance to innovate. Recommendations include urgent integration of artificial intelligence, investment in technological upgrades, and cybersecurity measures to support digital transformation.
Impacts of tourism on the livelihoods of women in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Tourism has positively impacted the livelihoods of women in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, by increasing their income. However, women still face significant barriers to formal employment within the tourism industry and have limited influence on community decision-making. The study, which used Sara Longwe’s (1995) empowerment framework to analyze survey data and semi-structured interviews, found that while women have made progress in enhancing their livelihoods, they remain marginalized in terms of access to opportunities and power dynamics within the community.
Implications of Misleading News Reporting on Tourism at the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Misleading media reports about the Victoria Falls drying up due to climate change-induced drought had significant negative impacts on tourism, despite such claims being inconsistent with the natural seasonal characteristics of the Zambezi River. A content analysis of news articles and interviews with tourism operators revealed that inaccurate reporting, often during the dry season, damaged the destination's image and economic prospects. The study underscores the critical need for science-based, accurate media coverage to protect both local economies and the reputation of iconic World Heritage Sites like Victoria Falls.
Evidence for exposure of asymptomatic domestic pigs to African swine fever virus during an inter‐epidemic period in Zambia
Research confirms the endemicity of African swine fever (ASF) in Eastern Province, Zambia, and detects ASF virus (ASFV)-infected soft ticks in Southern Province during inter-epidemic periods. The study found a high seroprevalence (50.9%) of ASF antibodies in domestic pigs, significantly higher in indigenous pigs (11.7% ASFV genome prevalence) compared to crossbreds, and identified ASFV genotype I in ticks. Free-range husbandry was strongly associated with infection exposure. Surveillance included serum and blood samples from pigs across provinces and tick collections from Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, analyzed via ELISA and PCR. These findings highlight the persistent threat of ASF in non-endemic regions and the role of soft ticks in virus transmission.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sustainability in Victoria Falls: Focus on Hotels, Tour Operators and Related Attractions
A significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Victoria Falls is the hospitality sector, particularly hotels and tour operators, followed by road transport dominated by older Japanese vehicles. This study highlights the ecological sensitivity and carbon footprint of the town's tourism infrastructure, emphasizing the need for urgent sustainability measures. Researchers employed surveys, interviews, and field observations to gather data, revealing critical insights that could guide policy and practice toward reducing emissions through renewable energy adoption.
Tourism business operators’ perceptions, knowledge and attitudes towards climate change at Victoria Falls
A significant gap exists between tourism business operators' understanding of climate change and their industry's accountability for its causes, despite recognizing its severe impacts on Victoria Falls. The study reveals that while respondents acknowledged the adverse effects—such as reduced water flow and infrastructure damage due to extreme weather—they also identified critical barriers like limited knowledge, financial constraints, and technical capacity. Conducted through a multidisciplinary approach combining surveys (63% response rate) and interviews with 122 operators, this research underscores the urgent need for enhanced climate change education, financing, and capacity-building to align tourism with Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement commitments.
Tourist perceptions and attitudes regarding the impacts of climate change on Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and iconic water-based tourist destination, is increasingly recognized as a 'last-chance tourism destination' due to climate change impacts. Recent droughts have raised concerns about its future viability, prompting this study to assess tourist perceptions and attitudes toward these changes. Using a mixed-method approach, the research highlights the need for continuous monitoring of resort conditions, diversification of tourism products, and transparent communication—especially during extreme droughts—to mitigate disruptions. The findings underscore the urgency for climate change action among all tourism stakeholders to preserve this vital destination.
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