Published by the government of Zimbabwe
8 April 2008
Harare — Hotel and Leisure group Zimsun is currently constructing a hospitality training academy in Equatorial Guinea, chief executive Mr Shingi Munyeza has said.
Mr Munyeza said the move would ensure the group would have "brain gain rather than brain drain" and would mean there would be uniformed structures across the continent in terms of qualification and training.
Satellite academies would be opened in West Africa where there would be a centralised record system to cater for the emigrants to the region. Overall, the group said it was aiming for a top three ranking in sub-Saharan Africa under Africa Sun where it hopes to capitalise on strong collateral in southern Africa. Mr Munyeza said the group would grow the International Hotel Group brand, which is the largest operator in Africa In addition, the group would grow its own brands in the resorts, mid-star, long star and bracket ranges with Mr Munyeza saying the growth would be spread in areas where "we can leverage".
The groups' plan was to spread risk across Africa. Mr Munyeza said the local component of rooms should be 30 percent by 2009 year-end from a projected 48 percent by year-end this year compared to the regional 52 percent. Mr Munyeza said the group would open 15 hotels within the next three years under its strategy to grow rooms to 2 246 in 2012. A total of 790 rooms would be added by the end of this year, and 1 733 by 2009 according to projection of work, which was already underway.
The group said "by the end of the year Africa Sun will open a hotel in the Kano province and a spar resort in Lagos, Nigeria".
The group changed its name to Africa Sun to expand and consolidate its position on the continent from now to 2012. Mr Munyeza said: "Since the Africa Sun has a Pan-African feel to it we will register this brand wherever we are going".
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