Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
A US$260 million mixed-use development that will transform the Victoria Falls City Council offices and Rest Camp site into a major commercial, civic and tourism hub is set to get underway following a groundbreaking ceremony held at the council offices on yesterday.
The development, being undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the City of Victoria Falls and Cardinal Corporation, will include a new Civic Centre, a 700-room hotel, a shopping mall, conferencing facilities and public spaces.
The two partners have established a special purpose vehicle, Khula Developments, to implement the project under a hybrid Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.
The project is expected to create between 2 000 and 4 000 jobs, while the construction of the Civic Centre is projected to take 24 months. The wider development is expected to be completed over eight years.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, said the investment will strengthen local governance and support the city’s ambition to become a globally competitive tourism destination.
The ceremony was attended by senior Government officials, traditional leaders, councillors, development partners and business leaders.
“The Civic Centre is a strategic investment that will strengthen local governance and provide a modern facility befitting Victoria Falls’ stature,” said Minister Garwe.
“This development will transform the face of Victoria Falls and improve the working environment for council operations. The City’s vision to become ‘A Smart and Sustainable Tourism
Destination of Choice by 2030’ requires modern infrastructure and sustainable practices.”
Minister Garwe said the project was aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) as well as the Government’s 100-Day Cycle Programmes, which focus on measurable development outcomes.
He commended the local authority for partnering with the private sector, saying collaboration was critical in mobilising resources for infrastructure development.
“Development cannot be achieved by Government and local authorities alone. I commend the City for working with stakeholders, the private sector and development partners,” he said.
Minister Garwe said Victoria Falls’ status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zimbabwe’s first Wetland City and a major tourism gateway, made the development particularly significant.
He added that the project would strengthen the city’s capacity to host regional business engagements and conferences, particularly as Zimbabwe holds the COMESA chairpersonship.
“This Civic Centre will host COMESA business forums, investment conferences and trade facilitation meetings. It positions the city to attract regional investment, boost cross border tourism, enhance value chains for SMEs and create jobs,” said Minister Garwe.
He also highlighted the importance of infrastructure development ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which Zimbabwe will co-host with South Africa and Namibia.
Minister Garwe said Victoria Falls would be an important destination for international visitors and that improvements to infrastructure, roads, water supply and the general environment would be essential in shaping the visitors’ experience.
Khula Developments board chairperson Mr Herbert Nkala described the groundbreaking as a major milestone in the city’s development, saying the project will create new opportunities for business, tourism and investment.
“Today, we are doing more than breaking ground for a new Civic Centre. We are laying the foundation for progress, opportunity and a new chapter in the story of Victoria Falls. We are laying the foundation for Khula, a new heart for Victoria Falls and a legacy for generations to come,” he said.
The development will comprise a new Civic Centre, a 700-room hotel, shopping and commercial facilities, modern conferencing infrastructure, public spaces and improved parking amenities.
Mr Nkala said the intention was to broaden Victoria Falls’ appeal beyond sightseeing by encouraging visitors to stay longer, attend conferences, conduct business and experience the city’s culture.
“Ultimately, we want Victoria Falls to become more than a destination where people visit to see the Falls. We want it to become a destination where people come to stay longer, conduct business, attend conferences, shop, experience our culture and enjoy everything our city has to offer,” he said.
As part of its corporate social responsibility programme, Cardinal Corporation will also construct two classroom blocks at Mosi-oa-Tunya 2 High School.
Mr Nkala said the development had been years in the making, dating back to December 2019 when the City of Victoria Falls invited investors to develop the Rest Camp site.
He said the process had been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic shortly after Cardinal Corporation was awarded the tender, resulting in extensive research, master planning and financial structuring before the project could reach the groundbreaking stage.
Mr Nkala said the developers were also conscious of the need to protect the site’s natural environment, including its indigenous trees as the project takes shape.
Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the project represented the fulfilment of a long-standing development aspiration for the city.
He traced the city’s governance journey from the establishment of the Village Management Board in 1960, through Town Management Board status in 1965 and Town Council status in 1971, to municipal status in 1999 and city status in 2020.
Mr Dube said the new Civic Centre will modernise council operations, improve access to municipal services and provide a one-stop facility where residents and other stakeholders could access various services under one roof.
“The Civic Centre will modernise Council operations, improve access to municipal services and contribute to urban renewal. For residents and stakeholders, it will provide a one-stop centre where various municipal services can be accessed conveniently under one roof, reducing the need to move between different offices and improving efficiency in service delivery,” he said.
