Rufaro Marketing shifts focus from beerhalls to real estate development

Obey Musiwa

Herald Reporter

Rufaro Marketing, the Harare City Council-owned company historically known for operating beerhalls, has unveiled an ambitious turnaround strategy aimed at transforming the entity into a modern real estate and property development business capable of generating sustainable revenue for the local authority.

The transformation plan includes the rehabilitation of underutilised municipal assets, tighter internal controls, resolution of lease disputes and the creation of new income streams through property development projects and public-private partnerships.

The initiative comes at a time when local authorities are under increasing pressure to improve service delivery, create economic opportunities and restore public confidence in municipal enterprises.

Speaking in an interview, newly appointed chief executive officer Mr Ngoni Chimbalu said the reforms are designed to reposition the company for long-term growth while ensuring compliance with the law and improved accountability.

Mr Chimbalu, who was recently elevated from Finance Director to Chief Executive Officer, said his financial background places him in a strong position to drive operational efficiency and sustainable value creation.

“A healthy balance sheet is the foundation of every successful organisation. The objective now is to convert financial stability into operational excellence and sustainable value creation,” he said.

He said the company’s restructuring programme is aligned with Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026, which seeks to strengthen accountability within local authorities and local authority-owned entities by criminalising acts and omissions that result in service delivery failures.

“SI 69 is a welcome development because it reinforces accountability. By ensuring our internal systems operate efficiently, we minimise compliance risks and create the foundation for stronger revenue performance,” said Mr Chimbalu.

He pledged immediate reforms aimed at strengthening governance systems, improving operational performance and ensuring the company meets its obligations to residents and stakeholders.

Mr Chimbalu said the turnaround strategy would also focus on unlocking value from municipal properties and other assets that have remained underutilised for years.

Rufaro Marketing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harare City Council established to manage and commercialise council-owned recreational, hospitality and business assets.

Over the years, the company became widely associated with the management of municipal beerhalls, although its mandate extends to property management, facilities administration and revenue generation on behalf of the city.

The latest reforms are expected to reposition the company from its traditional business model towards a broader property development and asset management role.

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