Zambian gospel artist Pompi has stirred widespread discussion on social media after sharing his frustrating experience at Livingstone Crocodile Park. What was meant to be a memorable family outing quickly turned into disappointment — and now, the situation has divided public opinion across Zambia.
According to Pompi, he visited the park with his wife, Esther Chungu, their children, and several nieces and nephews. The group reportedly arrived at 16:40, well within the park’s advertised operating hours of 08:00 to 17:00. However, despite arriving before closing time, they were denied entry.
“We were told we couldn’t enter because sessions take long and that we should have arrived earlier,” Pompi explained in his post.
The artist expressed frustration, particularly over what he described as a lack of clear communication regarding the park’s last entry policy.
He noted that the trip had been carefully planned, especially for the children who were eager to experience seeing crocodiles and snakes for the first time. After a long journey, being turned away left the entire group disappointed.
Pompi also revealed that attempts to resolve the matter with management were unsuccessful. According to him, staff cited exhaustion during the Easter period, explaining they had not had time to eat. While he acknowledged the effort of frontline workers, Pompi questioned the response:
“While I empathize with hardworking staff, how is that the customer’s burden to bear?” He further criticized the lack of professionalism, saying: There was zero accountability and, frankly, the lack of a simple apology was offensive.
The incident has also sparked discussion about customer service standards in Livingstone, widely regarded as Zambia’s tourism hub. Pompi emphasized that businesses operating in such a key destination should prioritize hospitality and transparency. “Time is valuable, and today, ours was completely disregarded,” he said.
Following his post, reactions online have been mixed. Some users supported Pompi, arguing that:
- Businesses should clearly state cut-off times for entry
- Customers within operating hours deserve service
- Better communication could have prevented the situation
Others, however, disagreed, suggesting that:
- Arriving shortly before closing time may not allow for a full experience
- Staff also have operational limits and closing procedures
- The situation should be viewed from both sides
The situation involving Pompi has gone beyond a simple customer complaint, opening up a broader conversation about service delivery, communication, and expectations. While the facts remain clear, public opinion continues to differ — making this one of the most talked-about local stories at the moment.