WestProp Unveils Multi-Million Dollar Chivhu Eco-City Project – Eduzim News

By Business Reporter–Property developer WestProp Holdings has unveiled plans for a multi-million dollar Chivhu Eco-City, a 5,000-hectare development expected to deliver up to 20,000 residential stands while positioning the town as a new growth hub outside Harare.

The project, which forms part of a broader push to develop secondary urban centres, is being marketed as a mixed-use lifestyle estate built around a “live, work, shop and play” model. The company says the development will combine residential, commercial and recreational spaces, including a proposed game reserve and educational facilities.

The first phase — known as the Founders’ Phase — will comprise 2,400 stands and is already on sale, with the company reporting strong interest from prospective buyers.

Acting chief marketing and sales officer, Collin Zvenhamo, described the initial release as limited, aimed at early investors.

WestProp is also introducing 30-year mortgage financing, one of the longest repayment options currently available in Zimbabwe, targeting middle-income buyers seeking more affordable entry into property ownership.

Chief executive officer Ken Sharpe said the Chivhu project represents a strategic shift towards balancing affordability with lifestyle development, while complementing the company’s existing high-end projects such as Millennium City, Pomona City and The Hills.

“When we introduced Pomona City, we offered 10-year mortgages. With Chivhu, we are extending that to 30 years to improve affordability and give homeowners more flexibility,” Sharpe said.

Located approximately 150 kilometres south of Harare along the Harare–Masvingo highway, Chivhu is increasingly being viewed as a potential commuter town, with some workers already travelling daily to the capital due to lower living costs.Its position along a major transport corridor linking cities such as Masvingo, Mutare, Gweru and Bulawayo adds to its strategic appeal.

The town has also seen rising demand for housing, driven in part by expanding economic activity in the surrounding areas, including mining operations such as the Dinson project and small-scale gold mining.

WestProp says the eco-city concept will emphasise green spaces and environmental planning, drawing from previous developments where significant portions of land were reserved for open areas. The company aims to replicate this balance in Chivhu while increasing residential density.

Plans for the development include a Big Five game farm, a nature reserve and potential higher education facilities, which the company says could stimulate tourism, investment and local economic growth.

The project is currently in the planning phase, with consultations underway involving town planners, architects anddesigners. WestProp expects to finalise designs by the end of the current quarter, with construction anticipated to begin before July.

While the project signals growing private sector interest in decentralised urban development, its long-term success will likely depend on infrastructure rollout, affordability, and sustained demand in a challenging economic environment.

As Zimbabwe explores new models of urban expansion, developments such as Chivhu Eco-City will test whether smaller towns can evolve into viable alternatives to the capital.

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