Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
CHINHOYI is grappling with a shortage of accommodation and conference facilities as it prepares to host major national and international events, creating significant investment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Mashonaland West capital is expected to welcome at least 4 500 delegates during Zanu PF’s People’s National Conference in October, which will be held at the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) grounds.
The soon-to-be city is also set to benefit from increased visitor traffic ahead of the 2027 Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, which will be hosted in Mashonaland West Province.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry acting provincial deputy director, Mr Elyson Chigerwe, said the growing demand for accommodation and conferencing facilities presents an attractive opportunity for investors to develop hotels, lodges and conference centres.
“We have not more than 350 rooms in Chinhoyi and the surrounding areas within a radius of about 60 kilometres,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for investors to consider developing hotels, lodges and conference facilities.”
Mr Chigerwe said the city’s limited hospitality infrastructure was constraining its ability to attract and host large-scale events.
“We have a serious deficit in Chinhoyi. We are failing to host major events because we do not have enough conference facilities with a holding capacity of at least 500 people. This gap alone presents a significant investment opportunity for the private sector,” he said.
He noted that preparations are already underway to accommodate delegates attending the ruling party’s annual conference, with some visitors expected to be housed at CUT student hostels due to limited hotel space.
Chinhoyi currently relies on a small number of hospitality establishments, including the CUT Hotel, Chinhoyi Caves Motel and several registered lodges and guest houses, which are insufficient to meet anticipated demand during major events.
The expected influx of local and international visitors for upcoming conferences and tourism gatherings has intensified calls for expanded investment in tourism infrastructure across the province.
Stakeholders believe increased investment in hotels, lodges, conference centres and related facilities will not only address current shortages but also position Chinhoyi and the wider Mashonaland West Province as competitive destinations for business tourism, conferences and leisure travel.
With the town’s elevation to city status on the horizon and major events already lined up, tourism officials say the need for additional hospitality infrastructure has become more urgent than ever.
