BILLIONAIRE investor, Kenneth Bordewick has partnered
Zimbabwe-born and Dubai-based businesswoman, Edith Chibhamu, to invest in an
hotel in a deal worth US$50 million, NewsDay Business has learnt.
Bordewick, who is based in the United States, made most of
his wealth in fashion interior designing and has worked with heads of State,
royal families, celebrities, financial magnets and titans of industry, among
others.
“We are building a seven-star hotel in Zimbabwe in the
middle of a game park,” Chibhamu told NewsDay Business via WhatsApp.
“The land is 1 000 hectares so in there we are going to put
a game park. More like a garden of Eden.”
She said the proposed land was in Harare, along the Mutare
highway, with the piece having already been purchased.
The partnership between Bordewick and Chibhamu will see the
former inject 75% of the proposed investment capital while the latter comes in
with 25%.
“In one year, it will be complete as we will be using
modern technology for construction,” Chibhamu said.
The game park will act as the main attraction for the
planned seven-star hotel with Chibhamu already in the process of applying for
the necessary paperwork to start building the proposed establishment.
The construction as well as the running of the hotel and
game park is set to employ many locals who live in the vicinity of the proposed
hotel.
According to Bordewick’s company website, Beverly Hills
Luxury Interiors, the investor’s interior designing portfolio includes palaces,
mansions, five- and seven-star hotels, super yachts, Rolls Royce cars, and
private jets.
Bordewick confirmed the investment in the hotel and game
park as well as the partnership with Chibhamu.
He said the reason why he chose to invest in Zimbabwe was
the potential the country had.
“I met Edith while I was in Dubai and we were discussing
animal conservation and protecting the wildlife which is what led us into
partnering to create a hotel in Zimbabwe. I feel Zimbabwe has a beautiful
wildlife and intelligent people which is something we need to exploit,” he
said.
He said Zimbabwe’s tourism could attract serious investment
and dismissed reports of the country’s negative image. Newsday
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