harare24dmin Staff Reporter
The PT Foundation has announced an ambitious plan to renovate and reposition Elangeni Gardens into a modern, youth-centred recreational and cultural hub, marking a significant investment in Bulawayo’s creative economy and social infrastructure.
Led by lawyer, businessman and philanthropist Pardon Tapfumaneyi, President of the PT Foundation, the initiative seeks to transform the long-underutilised venue into a safe, legal and inclusive space where young people can socialise, create and grow, while also accessing skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The redevelopment will be rolled out in phases beginning mid-January, combining physical renovations with cultural programming designed to activate the space and build a sustainable creative community around it. Planned activities include site clean-ups, visual art installations, live painting, pop-up performances, media engagements and weekly activations, culminating in a National Youth Day celebration on 21 February at Elangeni Gardens.
Speaking on the vision behind the project, Hope Sendamai, Director of Elangeni Gardens, said the initiative addresses a long-standing gap in safe and meaningful recreational spaces for young people.
“Elangeni has always had potential, but it needed intentional programming and a clear vision,” said Sendamai. “This project is about creating a space where young people can enjoy themselves legally, express their creativity and also grow through meaningful interaction, skills development and networking with their peers.
He said the renovation goes beyond improving the physical look of the venue and is instead focused on redefining how public leisure spaces can positively shape youth culture.
“We want to show that drugs are not the only way to enjoy life. These facilities were originally built for young people, and we are now repositioning them as spaces where today’s youth can socialise responsibly and productively,” he added.
Co-Director Njabulo Zhou who spoke to this reporter said ” the Event Elangeni is also focused on establishing a relationship the old leisure Center’s built to accommodate the youth at the time of being built hence its revamping in order to accommodate the youth of this time.
“As we work on ensuring that no one is left behind in this project. We call out to partnerships as well”
At the centre of the project is PT Foundation’s broader community-driven philosophy, which places youth development at the heart of long-term social and economic progress. Tapfumaneyi said the Elangeni redevelopment reflects the Foundation’s belief in deliberate, people-centred investment.
“Communities do not develop by accident; they develop when we intentionally create environments that allow young people to thrive,” said Tapfumaneyi. “Elangeni is not just about entertainment. It is about dignity, opportunity and giving young people a platform to discover their talents, build networks and explore entrepreneurship.”
He added that the Foundation is focused on sustainable impact rather than once-off events.
“When we invest in spaces like Elangeni, we are investing in the future of this city. Youth-focused development must be inclusive, forward-looking and rooted in community needs if it is to be meaningful, “, said Tapfumaneyi.
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The project will culminate in the ELANGENI main event on 21 February, aligned with National Youth Day celebrations. Organisers say the long-term goal is to establish Elangeni Gardens as a permanent home for youth culture, collaboration and responsible recreation in Bulawayo.
As renovations and activations gather momentum, the Elangeni Gardens project is being positioned as a model for how philanthropy, creative communities and revitalised public spaces can work together to deliver lasting social impact.
