By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Chigarapasi Beerhall, once the beating heart of social and economic life in Chiredzi, is on life support, and renowned businessman and Zimbabwe Chamber of SMEs chairperson Venancio Kurauone has issued a stark warning to the local authority: scrap the outdated single-tenant model, diversify the facility’s income streams, or watch the landmark continue to bleed money and remain a shadow of its former self.
Speaking to TellZim News, Kurauone, who is also the national secretary of the Zimbabwe Chamber of SMEs and Masvingo province SMEs chairperson, has called for a radical restructuring of the 1.6-hectare facility, arguing that the current arrangement is fundamentally flawed.
Under the present model, a single tenant is expected to pay the council US$4,000 per month from alcohol sales alone, an obligation that has proven untenable, with the tenant reportedly falling behind on payments.
“Expecting a single tenant to pay $4,000 a month strictly off traditional alcohol sales on a 1.6-hectare footprint is economically unviable. Over 80% of the asset sits idle and unmonetized. You cannot expect one revenue stream to carry the weight of an entire commercial property of this size,” said Kurauone.
Straddling over 16,273 square metres and opened in the early 1980s, Chigarapasi was once a flagship recreational facility for low-income workers in the Lowveld sugarcane industry.
Its popularity was such that it was arguably the country’s largest beer garden, a hive of activity where vendors, sex workers, and patrons from all walks of life converged, creating a bustling informal economy.
However, neglect and financial mismanagement took their toll. The beerhall has faced numerous closures and controversies over the years. In 2014, reports surfaced of Chibuku beer going sour and a lack of refurbishment. In 2017, the council closed it down citing viability problems, sparking an outcry from residents who depended on it for their livelihoods.
It was later leased to a private operator in a bid to revive it , but the facility has continued to struggle, with the latest lease to EVS Inc Pvt Ltd under a controversial agreement failing to yield consistent returns .
Kurauone argues that the solution lies in transforming the beerhall into a mixed-use commercial hub. He has proposed a restructuring of the facility into distinct commercial zones designed to unlock its underused space and diversify its income streams.
He suggested the use of lock-up shops, tailoring outlets, hardware stalls, and vehicle service bays along the boundary of the property.
Kurauone proposed the introduction of upgraded braai stands and food stalls to serve the lunchtime and evening trade, a secure, family-friendly outdoor dining and play space for daytime patrons and sports lounge and event arena, venue equipped for HD broadcasts of major sporting fixtures, live concerts, and community expos.
He argued that shifting away from total dependence on alcohol sales toward a blended income model could push the facility’s aggregate monthly income beyond US$10,000, more than double what the current model has failed to consistently deliver. He also recommended that the local authority tighten its tendering process for future operators, requiring prospective bidders to demonstrate proof of capital and submit a clean Bill of Quantities for proposed site upgrades.
“Chigarapasi shouldn’t just sell drinks, it should be Chiredzi’s premier commercial, dining, and lifestyle hub,” said Kurauone.
