Reason Machigere

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company intends to develop its 17-hectare fairgrounds in Bulawayo into a mixed-use commercial complex through masterplan which it announced in a statement last week.

The development, which is set to be executed in stages is expected to cost US$300 million.

“The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company has released exciting details of their vision for the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC), which will be renamed the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES). The works will transform the precinct into a dynamic mixed-use development on the prime 17-hectare real estate located close to Bulawayo central business district. The visionary masterplan is a long-term plan that will develop the fairgrounds by introducing modern world-class amenities to the city of Bulawayo.

“As the leading exhibition venue in the country, this ZICES master plan represents a significant step forward in revitalising the region and enhancing its appeal as a premier destination for business tourism, commerce, culture, and recreation,” read part of the statement.

The plan includes the development of a 5 000-seater international conference centre, which will be linked to a 500-room hotel. A five-star boutique hotel with facilities to host travelling heads of state and VIPs will form part of the development. The master plan includes a retail shopping centre to provide daily convenience and offer visitors and residents a diverse range of retail, dining, and entertainment options.

According to the master plan, the development will include a theme park that will celebrate the diverse heritage and landmarks of Zimbabwe. Office parks and eco-friendly parks and walkways will be part of the development.

ZICES is also expected to retain over 25 existing structures of historical significance, which will be modernised to provide a new contemporary look aligned to the overall vision.

“The unveiling of the new ZITF Masterplan and Smart City represents a transformative moment for Bulawayo and underscores our commitment to driving sustainable growth and development in the region. By revitalising the ZIEC, we aim to create a vibrant hub for commerce, hospitality, and leisure, while also celebrating Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage,” ZITF Company chairman, Busisa Moyo said.

The Company highlighted that it was in the process of engaging stakeholders to begin the implementation of the plan on various key anchor developments. These projects may be structured through a public-private partnerships (PPP) model and will be supported by the Government through key investment incentives.

According to newzwire.live, property developer, Terrace Africa which assisted the Company in crafting the master plan, will kick off the first phase of the project by developing a shopping complex. The developer is also building a shopping complex named Greenfields at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS)-owned Business Hub (Harare Showgrounds) in Harare.

From as far back as 2013, the ZITF Company had plans to build a 300-bed hotel and conference centre at its fairgrounds, but they failed to materialise due to financial challenges occasioned by the ongoing economic challenges.

When the Company’s hotels and conference plans materialise, the development will contribute towards the reduction of accommodation shortage in Bulawayo that characterises the ZITF week every year. In 2022 Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) executive director, Reason Machigere noted that Bulawayo could not host events with large numbers of people owing to the lack of the necessary infrastructure.

The national tourism promotion body, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has expressed the need for more investment in accommodation and conferencing facilities in Bulawayo to enhance the city’s attractiveness as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination.

Speaking during the Tourism and Transport Infrastructure Finance Conference held in Dubai last week at the ongoing Expo Dubai 2020, ZTA executive director, Reason Machigere noted that Bulawayo lacked the capacity to host events with large numbers of people owing to the lack of the necessary infrastructure.

“Bulawayo hosts our annual trade event, the ZITF but come trade fair time, because of lack of capacity, we have to house some of our delegates in holiday homes. So, Bulawayo does require serious investment in terms of conferencing, luxury hotels and budget hotels,” Machigere said.

Machigere highlighted that Zimbabwe had a deficit in terms of tourism infrastructure with a combined capacity of about 6 000 rooms.

He indicated that most of the existing MICE infrastructure in the country was concentrated in Victoria Falls, Kariba and the Eastern Highlands.

“From an investment point of view, we have a wide range of facilities to invest in, ranging from luxury to budget hotels. Beyond Victoria Falls we have got other tourism hotspots such as Binga in Matabeleland North, Masvingo and Lake Kariba, the largest man-made water body in terms of reservoir capacity. These can be accessed by road or air transport,” Machigere noted.

Bulawayo is home to three major hotels, namely the Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, the Holiday Inn and Cresta Churchill Arms. The three hotels have a combined accommodation capacity of 388 rooms and a total conference capacity of 1 060 delegates. The Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC), the ZITF venue also has conferencing and meeting facilities, which can seat up to 100 people. Apart from the hotels, Bulawayo has a number of smaller facilities and lodges which come in handy during the demand occasioned by the ZITF.

The ZITF Company, the organisers of the ZITF and owners of ZIEC, has plans to use part of its 17-hectare property to build a 300-bed five-star hotel and a world-class conference centre.

ZITF Co announces masterplan to develop ZIEC into a commercial centre

ZTA calls for more MICE infrastructure investment in Bulawayo