Who Owns the Special Area at Victoria Falls World Heritage Site? Political, Organizational and Governmental Interests

Abstract

This article examines the dispute between the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) over the ownership of a part of the Victoria Falls, a transboundary world heritage site located between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It scrutinizes efforts by the NMMZ to take over the management of the site from the ZPWMA based on its designation as a national monument. Different interests are examined and the history of management is traced, showing how part of the site ended up under the custodianship of the ZPWMA and why the NMMZ is being refused its ownership. Finally, ways of resolving this protracted dispute are suggested for the better management of this celebrated world heritage site.