New Era

WINDHOEK - Sossussvlei and Kalahari Desert may be suspended from the New 7Wonders of Nature Campaign due to lack of official backing, says the New 7 Wonders.

The two, which represent Namibia's beauty, were chosen by people worldwide to be part of the campaign and are supposed to be elected to the official New 7Wondrs of Nature.

But with no official support until now, the two may be suspended.

A statement from New 7Wonders said currently, the Sossusvlei is Namibia's national champion and the Kalahari Desert an iconic multinational nominee in the thrilling global election to choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature.

It said unlike any of the 261 natural sites that qualified for the second phase of worldwide voting, neither the Kalahari nor the Sossusvlei has an Official Supporting Committee (OSC) representing it, without which they both risk rapid disqualification.

"If this happens, no nominee from Namibia will have the chance to become one of the Official New7Wonders of Nature, as chosen by people across our planet," said the statement.

The Kalahari is ranked second, while the Sossusvlei is ranked number 16 in their category.

"The Kalahari Desert is currently among the Top 77 nominees, while the Sossusvlei could well rise into this group," the statement added.

The Top 77 will on July 7 have the chance to be one of the 21 official finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, based on the voting.

Sossussvlei and Kalahari are among the about 60 nominees from Africa.

Tia B. Viering, Head of Communications for New7Wonders told New Era on Monday the company needed the official backing as soon as possible to enable the two to participate in the election process.

"Africa has a great chance to be among the New7Wonders and we do not want them to be disqualified," she said

She said the New7Wonders platform is a powerful vehicle that can be used to great effect, reaching millions around the world.

A publication in Peru for instance reported that the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu has increased by over 70 percent since its election as a New7Wonder of the World.

The first New7Wonders campaign chose the man-made Official New 7 Wonders of the World, thanks to more than 100 million votes in the world's first-ever global vote.

The statement said New7Wonders sent letters on February 19 to Minister of Environment and Tourism Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Digu //Naobeb and Director of Tourism Sem Shikongo, asking them to support the formation of an official supporting committee.

However, //Naobeb on Monday denied any knowledge of the letter and of the New 7 Wonders.

"We do not know about it," he said, adding that the NTB had received no letter in this regard.

Shikongo was locked up in meetings Monday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.

Viering said it was important for the fast-paced and powerful global campaign that each nominee has an OSC to communicate and work with New7Wonders.

"Only thus can a country take advantage of the great opportunity offered by this worldwide platform""best results are achieved when New7Wonders can work closely with a local representative for each natural site," she added.

She said the New 7Wonders hoped to welcome the Kalahari Desert and the Sossusvlei as Official Supported Nominees in the extraordinary global campaign soon.

In 2007, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Christ Redeemer in Brazil, the Colosseum in Italy, Taj Mahal in India, the Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan and Machu Picchu in Peru were elected the Seven wonders of nature.

Nominees can include landscape and ice formations, islands, mountains and volcanoes, caves, rock formations and valleys, forests, national parks and nature reserves, lakes, rivers and waterfalls and seascapes.

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