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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
A DRIVE to create employment and develop his home town catapulted Gwanda-based businessman and farmer, Engineer George Mlilo, into investing in the tourism and hospitality industry by establishing a lodge.
Situated on the outskirts of Gwanda Town, Singwazi Lodge was established in 2020 to alleviate accommodation challenges faced by travellers passing through the mining town.
Eng Mlilo, who has a farm in West Nicholson, sold 200 cattle to raise money for the project.
Singwazi Lodge is also an ideal venue for events such as weddings and parties.
A former top civil servant having served first as Bulawayo City Council (BCC) director of engineering services and later as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Eng Mlilo retired in 2019 to venture into full-time cattle farming.
“When I retired from civil service in 2019, what immediately came to my mind was to come up with an idea to help develop Gwanda, my home town. I noticed that there was a shortage of accommodation to cater for travellers passing through the town,” he said.
“I noticed that during peak periods such as holidays, people struggled to secure decent accommodation because there are fewer lodges in Gwanda resulting in people being forced to travel to Bulawayo. To fill the gap, I decided to build the lodge.”
Eng Mlilo said he is still in the process of developing the lodge so that it becomes a state-of-the-art facility.
He recently completed constructing a bar, restaurant and conference centre. The facility is powered by solar energy as a cost-effective measure.
Eng Mlilo said a lot of people book the lodge for social events due to the atmosphere and spaciousness.
“I didn’t want to get into debt by securing a loan hence I decided to sell some of my cattle to build this lodge and I am in the process of completing it. I started with a few rooms and have added more,” he said.
“Initially, I offered accommodation services only before I had finished setting up conference rooms, a bar and a restaurant. I know I can’t do it all, which is why I am developing it bit by bit until I have put together a state-of-the-art facility.”
Eng Mlilo said he has also created employment for locals.
“In line with President Mnangagwa’s philosophy, ‘Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo’, as citizens, we must complement Government efforts to achieve Vision 2030 by developing our localities. We have a lot of people who have the means and what is needed is for them to invest,” he said.
“We have to ensure that our localities have the necessary services which can attract revenue. Gwanda is along the Beitbridge- Bulawayo Highway which creates a lot of business opportunities.”
Eng Mlilo implored businesspeople in Gwanda to take advantage of the busy Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway by developing tourism facilities that will help the town grow and compete with others. – @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter