KZN promotes cross-border route

2011-09-26 18:00

Johannesburg - A route linking KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland and Mozambique is being promoted as a tourism and investment opportunity, a KwaZulu-Natal government official said on Monday.

"We wanted to create a route that links all three as a tourism initiative and promote trade within the region," economic development and tourism spokesperson Harry Mchunu said.

"It follows on from the Lubombo spatial development initiative... to develop this into an economic zone."

The East3route was launched by KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu, Swaziland Tourism Minister Macford Sibandze and his Mozambican counterpart Fernando Sumbana Junior in Johannesburg.

Although the exact route had not been mapped yet, it was likely to span from the N2 in KwaZulu-Natal, up through Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique and west towards Swaziland, before returning south to South Africa.

Mchunu said a steering committee would finalise the exact route and other details before the end of the week. He said the department would take its first group of tourists along the three-day route at the end of next month.

The Democratic Alliance had expressed opposition to a proposed new harbour and industrial zone in Mozambique, saying it would threaten conservation efforts.

"[The proposed development] will cut through a borderless conservation zone linking two KwaZulu-Natal conservation areas with Maputo Elephant Reserves," DA conservation spokesperson Radley Keys said on Monday.

He said the project was the single biggest threat to the conservation and eco-tourism value of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, and would affect the Ndumo and Tembe game reserves.

A proposed transfrontier park would also be threatened by the development, he said.

The DA called on the KwaZulu-Natal conservation and environmental affairs department to oppose the development.

- SAPA