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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
The Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) has extended a plea to the Government as it works towards revamping its 101-bed hotel located on the institution’s campus in Darwendale, Mashonaland West.
The ZIPAM board believes that the dilapidated rooms and the failure to utilise the nearby Darwendale Dam for outdoor water activities have contributed to a decrease in room occupancy, which currently hovers around 48 percent.
ZIPAM board chairman Mr Noah Matimba recently shared plans to enhance the campus’s aesthetic appeal, revamp and increase the number of rooms, and invest in water activities to attract more clients to the hotel.
“Hotel occupancy has averaged 48 percent over the past five years. This level is subdued due to some rooms not being up to standard. In 2019, we had a room occupancy rate of 65 percent, which then dropped to 51 percent in 2020.
“In 2021, we experienced a further drop of 16 percent, landing at 35 percent, before picking up to 43 percent and 46 percent in 2022 and 2023, respectively,” he said.
Mr Matimba indicated that ZIPAM has developed plans to take advantage of Darwendale Dam as a source of entertainment.
“As we train people here, we want them to have time to relax after their courses, and water activities may help achieve that. We hope to come up with something during this year’s strategic planning workshop next month.
“The current bedrooms need upgrading. We need to improve the hotel facilities to the point where we can also engage with the tourism sector and be registered with the tourism authority,” he said, adding that the impending revamp will also attract high-level Government officials.
He implored the Government to provide further assistance to the facility in order to revamp the rooms and introduce additional water activities.
“As we meet to craft this year’s strategic plan, the focus will be on expanding infrastructure, which includes more than doubling the current accommodation facilities and increasing the number and size of auditoriums, among other targets,” he added.
ZIPAM is a national apex training institution created to promote, assist, and encourage the development of skills in administration and management.
Online Reporter