The Full Circle

How a Hotel in Kadoma Planted the Seeds for a Movement

By Carl Joshua Ncube

They say that vision is rarely a straight line; it’s more like a series of sketches, drafts, and prototypes that wait for the right season to finally come to life. As I stand here today, looking at the energy building behind #VisitKadoma, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of déjà vu.

Ten years ago, while running the Cotton Country Inn, I wasn’t just thinking about room occupancy or dinner service. I was dreaming about a community. I was obsessed with the idea that a hotel shouldn’t just be in a town—it should be the heartbeat of the town.

Back then, we started a weekend farmers’ market right there at the hotel. It was our way of opening the gates and saying, “Let’s grow together.” I still remember the thrill of engaging with local producers who brought the soul of Kadoma to our kitchen. We had Bruce providing those truly amazing steaks and sausages, Charlene and her incredible curation of fresh vegetables, and Joey, whose cookies were the stuff of legend. We weren’t just buying ingredients; we were building a local ecosystem.

But the vision didn’t stop at the plate. We wanted to tell Kadoma’s story. We actually printed a first edition of a Kadoma Directory, a publication designed to profile local businesses and share news. I remember the pride of seeing that physical copy, used to promote a show at Odyssey, proving that our businesses deserved a platform.

And then, there was the beautiful game. Our sponsorship of Kadoma Stars Football Club was one of my favorite “prototypes.” We didn’t just put a logo on a shirt; we provided the kit, took care of the laundry service, and—most importantly—we brought our hotel customers to the stands to cheer. We wanted to bridge the gap between “tourism” and the “community,” showing that the spirit of a place is found on its sidelines as much as its suites.

From Prototypes to a Platform

Looking back, those moments at Cotton Country Inn weren’t just business activities—they were the “Beta Test” for everything we are doing now.

Today, Visit Kadoma is that dream, but with ten years of added experience, a global perspective, and a much sharper “clinical” diagnosis of what our city needs.

The farmers’ market has evolved into a vision for agro-tourism and farm-to-table excellence.
The directory has grown into a monthly digital magazine and a comprehensive business platform launching this March.
The football kit sponsorship has transformed into a sophisticated sports analytics and management model to elevate our local talent.

We have come back to Kadoma not to start something new, but to finish what we started. Those early days taught me that when you support a local farmer, feature a local business, or cheer for a local team, you aren’t just being “nice”—you are building a destination.

Visit Kadoma is the manifestation of a decade-long itch to see this city shine. To everyone who was there ten years ago—the producers, the players, and the dreamers—thank you for being my inspiration. We’re back, the vision is clearer than ever, and this time, the whole world is invited to watch Kadoma grow.