Licence for multi-racial hotel stirs controversy

The Rhodesia Herald, 2 April 1966 A CONTROVERSY over plans to build a multi-racial hotel next to Harari Township ended yesterday when the Liquor Licensing Board announced it would give Harare (Holdings) (Pvt) Ltd an hotel liquor licence despite objections by the Salisbury Municipality.

No date had been set for the start of construction of the hotel, which would be situated in Rodin’s Plot, Mr L Pocket a director of the company, said yesterday.

The hotel will have room for about 30 guests and is aimed mainly at African commercial travellers and farmers, said Mr Pocket. “At present there is no hotel to cater for these type of people. The luxury multi-racial hotels in the city are too expensive.”

Told of the board’s decision, the newly-elected chairman of the Liquor Undertaking Committee Councillor, JH Clinton said: “I’m glad, because an hotel was needed and now the council will not have to spend the money to build one.”

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ Present-day Mbare high-density suburb, which is not far from the Central Business District is

Harari Township.

◆ Since there is no hotel in Mbare or near Mbare, the only hotels that we believe are being referred to could either be Hotel Elizabeth, Queens Hotel and/ or Holies, which used to be called Fed Hotel.

◆ Noteworthy is that hotels in pre- independent Zimbabwe were for white people only, the same way clear beer was reserved for white people, and the same way shops and banking services were dealt with from a racial perspective. When colonisers mentioned the K-word or “native” and African it was done in racist manner.

◆ It is good that Independence brought an end to all this. People are now allowed to entertain themselves in any hotel or tourist resort of their choice, as long as they can afford the services.

For historical information contact: Zimpapers Knowledge Centre at Herald House on: knowledgecentre@zimpapers.co.zw