Renowned Zambian gospel artist Pompi has expressed deep disappointment following what he described as poor customer service and lack of professionalism during a family visit to the Livingstone Crocodile Park.
In a post shared on social media, Pompi revealed that he had planned a special outing for his family, including five nieces and nephews and his two babies, with hopes of giving the children a memorable experience of seeing crocodiles and snakes for the first time.
However, the visit reportedly ended in frustration after the family was denied entry despite arriving within the park’s advertised operating hours.
Pompi explained that they arrived at around 16:40 hours, while the park’s posters indicate operating hours of 08:00 to 17:00, only to be turned away at reception.
“We arrived at 16:40, well within the advertised operating hours… however, we were met with a very rude refusal at the reception,” Pompi wrote.
According to the artist, staff informed him that they could not allow them to enter because “sessions take long” and insisted they should have arrived earlier.
Pompi questioned why the park’s official information does not mention a “last entry” time, arguing that visitors cannot be expected to guess such rules.
“None of their posters or official information states a last entry time. How is a visitor supposed to just know this?” he asked.
The gospel singer further expressed concern that such service damages the image of Livingstone as Zambia’s tourism capital, where hospitality should be held to the highest standards.
He said it was unfair for a group of excited children to be driven all the way only to be turned away without empathy or apology.
Pompi added that he requested to speak to the manager, hoping for a more professional response, but was instead told that staff were tired and had not had lunch due to the Easter weekend rush.
While he sympathised with hardworking employees, Pompi stated that poor internal management should not be transferred to paying customers.
He also emphasised that he deliberately avoided using his celebrity status during the encounter, stating that quality service should be a right for everyone, not a privilege for public figures.
“I chose not to mention my platform or who I was while I was there, because great service should be a right for every customer,” he said.
Pompi concluded by questioning whether it is fair for a business that advertises closing at 17:00 to deny customers entry 20 minutes earlier without any prior notice.
The post has since sparked debate online, with many Zambians sharing similar experiences and calling on tourist facilities to improve customer service standards, especially during peak holiday seasons.
