International convention centre: How beneficiary?

The move that stakeholders should take a leading role in the building of an international convention centre at the international convention centre in Bulawayo to revive economic activity in the city and boost the economy, can be viewed as a positive direction towards success.

Before I go any further, I would like to explain convention as a sense of meeting or gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. Trade conventions typically focus on a particular industry or industry segment, and feature keynote speakers, vendor displays, and other information and activities of interest to the event organizers and attendees. So in this case, international convention involves stakeholders from different countries across the world.

However, some may ask why Bulawayo needs a conventional center? Yes, Mr Dirk Elzinga, an international expert in the meetings industry said an international convention centre is critical to promote economic growth.

“Its establishment at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre will generate economic spin-off ($100 million to $150 million per year; job creation (2 000 to 4000 direct and indirect jobs will be created,” Elzinga said.

He also reiterated that the cumulative contribution to Zimbabwe GDP after five years can amount to $500 million.

“ZICC will also create hundreds of jobs during construction with a possibility of 2 500 additional direct and indirect jobs after a few years of operation. Seven years after opening, all cumulative foreign exchange expenses will normally have been earned back; cumulative tax contribution of ZICC after five to 10 years will have exceeded the initial investment,” he said.

If we take a close look, one can therefore debunk that an international convention center is very useful especial in Bulawayo where de-industrialisation has taken the center stage. Therefore, because of de-industrialisation issue, Zimbabwe experienced high rate of workers entrenchment in the city.