By Paul Nyathi|ZimEye.com is reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, Zimparks has increased charges to view the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls town.

Sources reveal that the authorities started charging the new fares last week. Zimparks have set the gate charges at $40 and $20 for adult and child international tourists. Previously, international visitors paid $20 to visit the Rainforest, whose main attraction is the world-famous waterfall.

Local adults will part with $10 per entry into the Rainforest while kids pay $5, up from $7 and $4 respectively, which is charged on day tourists.

The increases come at a time when the residents of the town have a pending petition with Parliament demanding to retain a percent of revenue generated from the Rainforest and related parks fees charged at various tour activities to develop local schools, clinics and libraries.

The residents also want minors below the age of 15 and the elderly above 65 years to be allowed free entry into the rainforest. Residents of the town allege that 75 percent of children in the resort town have never visited the Rainforest as they cannot afford entrance fees.