Governement has approved construction of a semi-permanent conference centre at African Sun Limited's Elephant Hills resort in Victoria Falls, a move likely to boost the listed hotelier's operations ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly next August.

The aluminum glass fabrication structure with a lifespan of 30 years and capacity of more than 1 000 delegates is set to be the main conference centre for the assembly which Zimbabwe will co-host with Zambia.

Sources close to the development said government is working with private players to finalise the project, including proper evaluation. Government had been pushing for construction of a permanent 4 000-seater conference centre in Victoria Falls to become the country's legacy for generations after the assembly, but sources said it had ditched the plan.