By Derick Tsimba
Government through its investment vehicle Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company has committed itself to develop tourism facilities in Victoria Falls to promote future growth of the town. Development will see the construction of hotels, shopping malls, a medical facility, a convention centre amongst other facilities for the promotion of tourism.
During a Twenty Seventh Post Cabinet press briefing yesterday Cabinet said Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company was going to operationalise the development of land set aside for the construction of tourism facilities in Victoria Falls, following Cabinet’s resolve to expedite processes for the completion of the Master Plan for the whole of Victoria Falls.
“To operationalise developments on the 271 hectare land, Mosi-Oa-Tunya has developed a Draft Concept Plan, which identifies the projects to be undertaken in the different zones as well as the infrastructure required to attract investment into the area. Preparations for a comprehensive Master Plan covering 1 200 hectares in the Masuwe Estate land area are being spearheaded by an Inter-Ministerial Committee of officials and Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). To give impetus to the Victoria Falls tourist and investment Special Economic Zone, Cabinet resolved to expedite processes for the completion of the Master Plan for the whole of Victoria Falls,” the Cabinet resolved.
Cabinet also said Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company is working with a private sector concern to conduct feasibility studies for the proposed Victoria Falls Integrated Tourism Park in Masuwe Estate.
“Currently, Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company is working with a private sector concern to conduct feasibility studies for the proposed Victoria Falls Integrated Tourism Park in Masuwe Estate. This will pave way for the development of bulk infrastructure facilities at the site Projects earmarked for this phase include hotels, shopping malls, a medical facility, a convention centre and an up market golf course,” it said.
The Harare Post has learnt Cabinet considered and adopted a report on the operations of Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company, which was presented by the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndlovu. The company was formed in 2012 as an investment vehicle for Government in the development of tourism facilities in Victoria Falls.
It assisted in mobilizing resources for the development of infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly, with initial focus being on the construction of an Integrated Tourism Resort comprising a 5000-seater Convention Centre as the anchor project. The 271 hectare piece of land earmarked for this development, which unfortunately failed to take off back then, has now been identified as the future growth node of Victoria Falls Town.
