In Zimbabwe, the Harare City Council has resolved to sell part of the Harare Gardens to African Sun Limited for a planned hotel expansion. African Sun Limited said it would spend $25 million to expand the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel.
The resolution, which has reportedly been on the agenda for more than four months, had to be decided by a vote because some councillors argued that the park could not be sold to a private developer. The land will be sold at $80 per square acre, bringing $1.76 million to the council. The expansion is expected to be completed in 18 months.
“If we really want Harare to be a world-class city by 2025, we will only have less than 10 buildings left by then. Most buildings will not survive the status. We need such kind of development,” mayor Bernard Manyenyeni said at the time of the vote.