The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Leisure Reporter
OVER the past few years, the once flourishing neighbourhood of Fourwinds experienced a rather depressing paradigm shift, where activity in the neighbourhood dwindled, owing much to the lack of business activity in the area.
However, the recent establishment of a leisure centre in the neighbourhood’s shopping area by renowned Bulawayo businessman — Wilton Ncube, who also runs Redwood along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road has given life to Fourwinds.
Known as the first or last urban business centre along Matopos Road, where most people from the rural areas get their first taste of life in the city, the business centre — Retreat Shopping Centre, is slowly but surely regaining its esteem as a hive of activity, since the opening of the leisure centre, which is also a one stop shop.
Adorned with signature landscape markings, a miniature hill covered by lawn, cozy sheltered barbecue area, butchery and of course a sassy sports bar — Blue Turkey, has since its establishment, about two months ago developed a large patronage.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure, Ncube said the leisure centre was ideally a family environment, which would also cater for children as well.
“People want to go to a place where they can relax on weekends. That was the idea behind opening Blue Turkey in Fourwinds.
Also the neighbourhood needed a lifeline as business activity was extremely low,” he said.
Ncube said his investment in leisure was to offer people an escape from the woes of the world.
“The response so far is encouraging. This is a subsidiary of Redwood, the infrastructure is modern and we are moving with the times. Improving infrastructure is important. People need to understand that in order to reap profits they need to invest. We haven’t completed work at the spot and still have plans to improve the place and we will do so as we go,” he said.
Ncube said most of the infrastructure at the complex had dilapidated and his investment had changed the face of the shopping centre and neighbourhood, making it attractive.
“If you knew how the place was before, you will realise that there is a major change. The refurbishment we did has positively and attractively changed the face of the environment. The change has also brought life to the neighbourhood,” he said.
Ncube added that the leisure centre would soon introduce activities to cater for children, as they had since put up a trampoline.
“As we exclusively want this place to be a family environment we have put up a trampoline near the barbecue area and will soon have all swing sets for the kids,” he said.
