Marisha Beerhall to be turned into an Innovation Techno Centre

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to give one of its idle facilities a new lease of life by converting the Marisha Beerhall in Old Magwegwe into a state-of-the-art Innovation Techno Centre, designed to promote technology development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.

According to the latest council report, the initiative seeks to provide a dynamic space where young innovators, startups, and small businesses can access training, mentorship, and resources in both traditional and digital skills.

"The centre would provide training in carpentry, welding and leather work. This is part of a bid to extend skills training and capacitation of the City's youths to enhance service delivery in underserviced areas," reads part of the report.

The council noted that the facility's existing infrastructure and strategic location make it ideal for conversion into a community innovation hub. It is expected to serve a wide catchment area, including Old Magwegwe, New Magwegwe, Pelandaba West, Pumula East and North, Magwegwe West and North, Lobengula West, and New Lobengula.

BCC further highlighted that many young people in Bulawayo lack access to operational spaces and incubation support for their enterprises. The proposed centre will therefore serve as a collaborative platform linking youth with development partners and stakeholders for training and equipment support.

"Converting Marisha Beer Garden into a training centre would put the facility, which was lying idle, into good use and enhance youth empowerment in the city. Youths in surrounding communities had no working space to earn some livelihoods hence they would get an opportunity and space to operate from, avoiding the scourge of drug abuse," the report added.

The transformation of the former beerhall marks a significant step in the council's broader efforts to revitalise underutilised municipal assets and support the growth of Bulawayo's innovation ecosystem.