At African Sun (‘the company”) we are committed to managing our environmental footprint while providing the best in-class hospitality and leisure experience to our customers. Sustainable and responsible tourism programs are necessary more than ever to keep our natural, cultural and social environment of people and places intact. It is our commitment to join hands and work diligently with all stakeholders in projects and programs that promote sustainable tourism so that together we can achieve green destination status for Zimbabwe.
Global collaboration
The Group has identified and adopted 7 (seven) United Nations Global Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), and is fully committed to adhering to these. These have been termed the 7 Rays in line with the seven rays of the sun on the African Sun Logo. These SDG goals ties in well with our three key sustainability pillars of environment, community and colleagues. For each selected SDG, the group has set deliverables and these are being implemented, tracked, monitored and reviewed over time.
7 Rays of the Sun – African Sun Hotels Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a series of global ambitions to end Poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. Whilst recognizing the importance of all the SDGs, we believe that African Sun Limited, using its power of scale, can make the biggest contribution through the implementation of seven rays of the sun (7 SDGs). The seven SDGs form the key pillars of the company’s approach to sustainability.
The following are activities done so far this year (2021) under each SDG.
No Poverty
Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre donated to Rose of Sharon Welfare organization. The donation comprised linen, towels and bed sheets.
Up cycling project has seen 250 hospital gowns made by The Victoria Falls Hotel donated to Victoria Falls hospital. These gowns are made from old and out of use bed sheets with fabric still in good condition. Towels have been made into flower pots in a pilot project that will empower youth in Victoria Falls through making these commercially.
Zero Hunger
The Monomotapa hotel hosted a luncheon to feed Harare street kids as well as made donations to Amaruran Home, All Souls and Shammah Children’s Home. The hotel also provided garden implements for Harare Gardens Park and mower spares for the Harare City Council.
Good Health
The Kingdom at Victoria Falls adopted the Post Natal ward at Chinotimba Hospital to ensure that the Hospital is better equipped to service patients so that in-house mothers and new babies are taken good care of. To-date since the adoption of the ward, there has been approximately 2 500 live births.
All our employees and immediate family members are on mandatory medical aid in line with the group policy.
The Victoria Falls Hospital in conjunction with the Victoria Falls Clinic provides ARVs to our employees in need of these drugs.
Fire life and safety training programs for all staff to ensure safety in hotels.
As part of promoting immunity and good health, the group has facilitated the Covid 19 vaccination for its employees and their families.
In April 2021, Caribbea Bay adopted the Kariba Hospital Children’s Ward where the hotel repainted the bathroom walls and refurbished the toilets.
Holiday Inn Bulawayo donated linen to Mpilo Hospital in order to ensure that the facility has sufficient linen
The Kingdom at Victoria Falls Hotel adopted a ward at Chinotimba Clinic, where painting and regular maintenance is done.
Great Zimbabwe Hotel continues to support Nemamwa Clinic with linen and counselling sessions to HIV and AIDs infected children.
Quality Education
The company sponsors and recognizes best Tourism Students from local learning institutions. In line with the United SDG on promotion of Quality Education, the Company is sponsoring Prizes for the best students in tourism and hospitality programmes/degrees at selected local universities.
In its quest to promote quality education, African Sun Limited donated Kitchen equipment to Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) for use by Tourism and Hospitality students during their practical lessons.
In order to ensure lifelong educational opportunities, Great Zimbabwe Hotel and Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre continue to support students at Nemamwa and Chinotimba Primary Schools with fees, uniforms and stationery.
Gender Equality
The company has a deliberate policy which seeks to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. ASL strongly believes that equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace are vital for the success of the company, now and the future.
Equitably, the company strives for fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement of all staff, at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups.
In the same vein, we also celebrate diversity at the workplace. Our recruitment policy does not discriminate against creed, colour, race, religion or ethnicity and our Code of Conduct makes it an offence to discriminate. Our recruitment policies are based solely experience and merit.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Under the green programs, the group implements and oversees programs that run throughout the year. These programs have resulted in hotels saving water, reducing waste and being energy efficient in and for the benefit of the surrounding environment.
Four hotels, namely The Victoria Falls Hotel, The Kingdom At Victoria Falls, Holiday Inn Harare and Monomotapa Hotel have successfully implemented Water purification projects which have seen these hotels supplying all the in-house guests with internally purified water which is safe and clean for consumption, thus doing away with plastic water bottles in the process.
Life on Land
The Kingdom at Victoria Falls, Elephant Hills Resort and Conference Centre, and The Victoria Falls Hotel make monthly contribution to the Victoria Falls Anti - Poaching Unit (VFAPU). The Victoria Falls Anti- Poaching Unit is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our local wildlife and natural resources.
All Hotels participate in monthly clean up campaigns as way of preserving the environment.