US$5 MILLION ZHONG JIN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL FOR KWEKWE

THE US$5 million Zhong Jin International Hotel in Kwekwe, Midlands Province, has been officially opened amid hopes the giant investment will stimulate tourism sector growth in the province.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, led the official opening ceremony over the weekend and applauded the owners of the hotel for creating over 120 jobs.

The state-of-the-art facility features modern amenities, including a casino, supermarket, restaurants, conference rooms and recreational facilities.

Its establishment is in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which aims to enhance economic growth and improve livelihoods through strategic investments in key sectors such as tourism.

Addressing business people and other guests, Minister Rwodzi applauded Government for its policies that have created an enabling environment for investment in the different sectors of the economy such as tourism.

She said the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ is yielding positive results as evidenced by new investments being witnessed across the country.

Minister Rwodzi said Zimbabwe is now an investment destination of choice in the region and beyond.

“This state-of-the-art facility we are witnessing today, here in Midlands province is a testament to the favourable investment policies that the Second Republic has put in place,” she said.

Minister Rwodzi said the new hotel was a game changer, not only to the tourism industry but to the country’s economy as a whole.

She said the new investment has not only created jobs but has also stimulated growth of value chain industries in the province and beyond.

Minister Rwodzi said the hotel project was a tangible proof of the benefits of existing excellent bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and China.

“Zhong Jin International Hotel is first of its kind in the Midlands Province and boasts 87 rooms and is conveniently located at the epicentre of the country. I am told that more than US$5 million has been invested in this hotel, it has scenic infrastructure ranging from the casino, which is the games galore centre, the karaoke entertainment city, the exclusively stocked supermarket with a variety of products and commodities, the Chinese and local restaurant as well as the towering hotel itself. All this packaged under one roof for convenience of the tourists,” she said.

Minister Rwodzi said the development emphatically demonstrates the Second Republic’s commitment to attract international investors to take an active role in the growth of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry.

She highlighted that this is being done through fostering structural transformation towards an investment driven economy as the nation embraces the Vision 2030 narrative of leaving no one and no place behind.

“With a dynamic blended workforce at this facility totalling 130 employees, the tourism industry in this province will never be the same again,” said Minister Rwodzi.

She paid tribute to the tourism sector patron, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for her undivided passion and impactful globally acclaimed philanthropic, wellness and tourism programmes.

“She is on record promoting consumption of local traditional cuisine through Gastronomy Tourism Programmes,” said Minister Rwodzi.

In an effort to ensure the growth of tourism, Minister Rwodzi said the ministry has come up with a cluster-based approach to tourism development.  

“We have come up with tourism clusters namely; nature and wildlife, culture and heritage, township tourism, rural tourism cluster, Mice/business, religious tourism, medical tourism and sports tourism,” she said.

The tourism clusters were formed in an endeavour to promote focused growth and development.

“The Midlands province has products that fall into all those clusters and as a province, you need to work towards embracing these clusters. Casinos have long been a key feature of the tourism industry, offering a blend of gaming excitement and luxury,” she said.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said there has been a positive economic growth trajectory realised in the tourism industry.

“Accordingly, Zhong Jin International Hotel stands as a beacon and footprint of the Midlands province and the New Dispensation’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda that empowers communities and improves their livelihoods, guided by the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.

Minister Ncube said the tourism industry recorded significant growth last year as evidenced by increased domestic, regional and international visitors, including those coming for shopping and cultural events.

He said the number of tourist arrivals in the country is expected to grow by an average of 13 percent per year between 2024 and 2028.

“Given the foregoing, I urge the tourism sector in the Midlands province to harness the unfolding opportunities in the tourism sector by embarking on new projects, expansion of existing facilities, and provision of world-class services endorsed by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority,” he said.

Source