THE Bulawayo City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to attracting new investors, stressing that it is open for business and ready to host transformative investments to attain smart and sustainable city status by 2030.
This comes as several major developments and projects take shape and the city registers an investment surge in 2026. Among the projects underway in Bulawayo is the US$12 million Fairgrounds Retail Centre, a state-of-the-art development within the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (Zices).
Bulawayo City Council Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, said the city’s investment landscape has become more attractive.
Bulawayo City Council
“The Fairgrounds Retail Centre milestone is highly important for Bulawayo’s investment landscape because it signals tangible progress in unlocking strategic land for productive economic use.
It will be a modern retail development that will enhance the commercial profile of the city, create employment opportunities during construction and operation, stimulate supply chain activity, and improve service convenience for residents and visitors to the ZICES,” he said.
“Importantly, it also sends a strong message to both local and international investors that Bulawayo is open for business and ready to host transformative investments aligned with our vision of becoming a smart and sustainable city by 2030.”
He said the local authority welcomes Terrace Africa’s confidence in the city and believes its investment can catalyse further interest.
Mr Dube emphasized that continued focus must be placed on maintaining an investor-friendly environment with efficient municipal processes.
“Continued focus must also be placed on servicing land with critical infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer and power connectivity, strengthening public-private partnerships and promoting policy certainty and ease-of-doing-business reforms,” he added.
“There is also a need for packaging bankable investment opportunities in retail, housing, manufacturing, tourism, logistics and ICT sectors, while we showcase Bulawayo’s strategic geographic position as a regional trade gateway linking Zimbabwe to SADC markets and beyond.”
He noted that Bulawayo remains uniquely positioned with available industrial land, skilled human capital, established transport networks and a rich industrial heritage.
This follows a Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) report showing that Bulawayo was one of the provinces that recorded significant investment inflows in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“Increased investment inflows validate the ongoing efforts by the City, Government, and private sector stakeholders to reposition Bulawayo as Zimbabwe’s industrial and investment powerhouse. Investment inflows create momentum for industrial revival, infrastructure renewal, innovation, and job creation,” Mr Dube said.
“Bulawayo has historically been the country’s manufacturing center, and renewed capital inflows can help modernise factories, attract new industries, support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and integrate the city into regional and continental value chains under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
The ZICES concept itself is transformative, Mr Dube noted, as it seeks to combine exhibition facilities, retail, hospitality, conferencing, residential and business infrastructure into one integrated smart city ecosystem.
“Such developments will enhance Bulawayo’s competitiveness as a destination for trade, tourism, conferences, and investment. As the City of Bulawayo, we remain committed to working with investors, development partners, and the Government to unlock sustainable economic growth that benefits our residents and future generations.”
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland regional manager, Mr Mduduzi Ncube, said the city should attract more high-value investments.
“The entry of Terrace Africa into Bulawayo is both encouraging and instructive.
“To attract more projects of this magnitude, there is a need for continued strengthening of the ease-of-doing-business environment through efficient regulatory processes, competitive cost structures, and investor-friendly policies at both local and national levels,” he said.
“Strategic public-private partnerships, infrastructure development, and proactive investment promotion will also be key.
Importantly, sustained engagement between the business community and local authorities will ensure that Bulawayo remains responsive, competitive, and aligned with investor expectations.”
He said the ZIDA-reported increase in investment inflows during the fourth quarter of 2025 is a critical indicator of the city’s re-emergence as a viable industrial and commercial center, reflecting growing confidence in the policy environment.
“This momentum must be consolidated through deliberate efforts to support industrialisation, enhance infrastructure, and promote value addition across key sectors.
“In line with the ZNCC 2026 theme, these inflows represent a transition point—where resilience built over time is now translating into tangible competitiveness and sustainable growth,” Mr Ncube added.-herald
