Gymkhana to be named after Mnangagwa

MASVINGO provincial authorities have formally proposed renaming the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre after President Emmerson Mnangagwa in recognition of what they described as his leadership and contribution to the development of the province.

The proposed new name is Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Recreational Park.

The venue recently hosted the Sanganai/Hlanganani Zimbabwe World Tourism Expo, which was officially opened by President Mnangagwa and ran from September 9 to 12.

Speaking on Thursday, Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa said the provincial leadership had approached Masvingo City Council to initiate the formal renaming process.

"We have agreed and proposed that the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre be renamed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Recreational Park in honour of the President, whose sound and visionary leadership has successfully pivoted Zimbabwe to become an upper middle income economy by the year 2030," Dr Pazvakavambwa said.

"We are pushing for the name change at the instigation of the Minister (of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution), and Masvingo City Council has to approve the process to take effect."

The proposed name change still requires a formal resolution by Masvingo City Council before it can become official.

Dr Pazvakavambwa said the council had already been approached and expressed optimism that the process would be completed.

He said the provincial leadership believed the renaming was justified by the transformation of Gymkhana and the role played by the President's devolution programme in decentralising major national events.

"The President is a visionary leader whose stroke of genius saw him implementing the devolution programme and decentralisation of national events to all corners of the country in line with his philosophy of ‘leaving no one and no place behind'," he said.

Gymkhana underwent significant infrastructure upgrades ahead of the tourism expo, including the construction of a new restaurant, conference centre, bar and a 1.4km tarred access road.

Dr Pazvakavambwa said the developments had increased the venue's attractiveness to investors.

"There is a stampede by investors who want to build a five-star hotel at Gymkhana, and this huge interest is partly because of the new legacy infrastructure that is now at the place as a result of hosting the just-ended world tourism expo," he said.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira had initially suggested during the tourism expo that Gymkhana should be renamed after President Mnangagwa.

Chadzamira also described the name Gymkhana as a colonial legacy that should be removed.

He said the Sanganai/Hlanganani expo had provided a major boost to Masvingo's economy and that the province was targeting an economy worth US$8 billion by 2030.

Tourism is currently the province's third-largest contributor to gross domestic product.

The renaming proposal will now require consideration and approval by Masvingo City Council before the new name can formally take effect.