Victoria Falls City Council and Rest Camp development breaks ground

by Rob
(Victoria Falls)

A ground breaking ceremony was held this November for the proposed new Civic Centre in Victoria Falls – a US$260 million development set to transform the heart of the tourist resort.
Visitors to Victoria Falls may not have paid much attention to the existing but inconspicuous City Council offices and adjacent Rest Camp site located on perhaps the most prime and central location in the city.
The project, being undertaken through a Public-Private Partnership between the City of Victoria Falls and Cardinal Corporation, will combine a new Civic Centre, a 700-room hotel, a shopping mall, conferencing facilities and public spaces.
The entire development is expected to take eight years to complete, with the Civic Centre scheduled for completion within 24 months.
The two parties to the Public-Private Partnership have established a special purpose vehicle, Khula Developments, to implement the project under a hybrid Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement.
Zimbabwe’s Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe led the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by senior government officials, traditional leaders, councillors, development partners and business leaders.
Minister Garwe said the occasion marked more than the start of construction, but represented a shared commitment to building a modern, prosperous and globally competitive Victoria Falls.