VICTORIA FALLS, Aug. 19 (NewsDay Live) — The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Board of Trustees is seeking to establish a hotel in Victoria Falls after the city council provisionally approved its application to develop a two-storey facility in the resort city.
The proposed hotel will be built on Stand Number 75 Victoria Falls Township, a 5 710-square-metre property currently designated for commercial use.
The application was considered by the City of Victoria Falls Spatial Planning Committee on April 16 before being presented to the full council for consideration.
According to recent council minutes, the development requires special consent from the local authority in terms of Section 26 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act.
“The application falls within the provisions of Section 26 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act in that it requires Special Consent of Council,” the minutes state.
Plans submitted to council show that the proposed development will comprise a two-storey hotel, with no new road access required.
Keep Reading
No additional structures have been proposed as part of the development.
Council management supported the application and recommended provisional approval, subject to the required procedures being followed.
“Members supported the Department proposal and recommended that the application to establish a Hotel on Stand number 75 Victoria Falls Township … by Zimbabwe Republic Police Board of Trustees be provisionally approved by Council pending the usual procedure being followed,” the minutes state.
The Spatial Planning Committee subsequently endorsed the recommendation before the matter was taken to the full council.
“Members supported the Committee recommendation,” the minutes state.
Council then resolved to provisionally approve the application.
The development is planned for the 5 710-square-metre commercial property in Victoria Falls Township, Wankie District.
The council minutes do not state the estimated cost of the project, the number of rooms planned or when construction is expected to begin.
They also do not indicate whether the ZRP Board of Trustees will operate the hotel itself or engage a private hospitality operator.
The application was proposed by proportional representation councillor Mariya Phiri and seconded by Ward 4 councillor Richard Mguni.
The full council subsequently adopted the Spatial Planning Committee report and its recommendations.