Online Reporter
Emmanuel Kafe
The ongoing US$2 million refurbishment of Montclair Resort and Conference Hotel in Nyanga is set to provide fresh impetus to the Government’s ambitious Integrated Provincial Special Economic Zones (IP-SEZs) programme, with Manicaland earmarked as a key hub for tourism, agro-processing, renewable energy and diamond processing.
Cabinet recently approved the landmark IP-SEZ framework, a major economic policy shift designed to decentralise investment and unlock provincial economic growth.
Under the framework, Manicaland’s competitive advantage lies in tourism and related industries, making strategic investments in hospitality infrastructure critical to the province’s transformation into a regional economic powerhouse.
Against this backdrop, Rainbow Tourism Group’s (RTG) investment in Montclair Resort and Conference Hotel is being viewed as a timely intervention that strengthens tourism infrastructure in the Eastern Highlands, one of Zimbabwe’s most picturesque destinations.
The refurbishment, which commenced on June 1 and is scheduled for completion by July 31, covers extensive upgrades to guest rooms, public areas, and restaurants, while modernising key infrastructure, including plumbing, electrical, and heating systems.
The hotel will remain fully operational throughout the works. The investment follows RTG’s acquisition of the hotel in 2025 and forms part of a broader strategy to unlock value from the property and elevate service standards.
At the end of the programme the hotel’s room capacity will increase from the current 85 to 105 rooms through innovative space optimisation, enhancing the hotel’s ability to cater for growing domestic and international tourism demand.
RTG Corporate Affairs and Quality manager Ms Pride Khumbula said the investment aligns with the broader national vision of positioning the Eastern Highlands as a premier tourism destination.
“The refurbishment of Montclair Resort and Conference Hotel forms part of RTG’s broader strategy to modernise its portfolio, strengthen Zimbabwe’s tourism offering and create sustainable value for guests, employees, shareholders and the communities in which it operates,” said Ms Khumbula.
She said the investment demonstrates the private sector’s confidence in the future of the Eastern Highlands and its potential to become one of the country’s leading tourism destinations.
“The Eastern Highlands is one of Zimbabwe’s most spectacular tourism assets, and we believe it has immense potential to become the country’s next major tourism destination alongside Victoria Falls.
“Through investments such as this refurbishment of Montclair Resort and Conference Hotel, RTG is playing its part in opening up the region, enhancing tourism infrastructure and creating experiences that attract both domestic and international travellers.”
Analysts say such investments dovetail neatly with the Second Republic’s decentralisation agenda, which seeks to ensure that provinces leverage their unique endowments to drive economic growth, create employment and attract investment.
Beyond tourism, the hotel is also advancing sustainable agriculture through RTG’s Agro Initiative, which promotes farm-to-table food production using locally grown produce.
This initiative supports local supply chains and contributes to the circular economy, reinforcing Manicaland’s dual role as both a tourism and agro-processing hub under the IP-SEZ framework.
