Mosi-oa-Tunya or Vic Falls - Live Discussion

(19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873)

by Moyo Roy

17 Dec 2013 at 03:53hrs | Views

The world famous Victoria Falls was named in honour of Queen Victoria by Scottish Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone.

David Livingstone is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side.

Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya - "the smoke that thunders" - continues in common usage as well.

Zanu-PF's committee on sports, culture, religion and liberation war heritage made the resolution to rename the great water falls at the party's annual conference which ended in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

Chombo said: "Institutions bearing colonial names must be changed and be given indigenous names . . . School syllabuses must also change."

Why did David Livingstone rename 'the smoke that thunders' after his Queen?
What was wrong with the name that the locals had used for ages?
Should we rename to its original name?