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WestProp Unveils Multi-Million Dollar Chivhu Eco-City Project<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
By Business Reporter\u2013<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n The project, which forms part of a broader push to develop secondary urban\u00a0centres, is being marketed as a mixed-use lifestyle estate built around a \u201clive, work, shop and play\u201d model. The company says the development will combine residential, commercial\u00a0and\u00a0recreational spaces, including a proposed game reserve and educational facilities.<\/p>\n The first phase \u2014 known as the\u00a0Founders\u2019 Phase<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 will comprise 2,400 stands and is already on sale, with the company reporting strong interest from prospective buyers.<\/p>\n Acting chief marketing and sales officer, Collin Zvenhamo, described the initial release as limited, aimed at early investors.<\/p>\n WestProp is also introducing\u00a030-year mortgage financing<\/strong>, one of the longest repayment options currently available in Zimbabwe, targeting middle-income buyers seeking more affordable entry into property ownership.<\/p>\n Chief executive officer Ken Sharpe said the Chivhu project represents a strategic shift towards balancing\u00a0affordability with lifestyle development<\/strong>, while complementing the company\u2019s existing high-end projects such as Millennium City, Pomona City\u00a0and\u00a0The Hills.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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,\u201d Sharpe said.<\/p>\n Located approximately 150\u00a0kilometres\u00a0south of Harare along the Harare\u2013Masvingo highway, Chivhu is increasingly\u00a0being viewed\u00a0as a potential commuter town, with some workers already\u00a0travelling\u00a0daily to the capital due to lower living costs.Its position along a major transport corridor linking cities such as Masvingo, Mutare, Gweru\u00a0and\u00a0Bulawayo adds to its strategic appeal.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n WestProp says the eco-city concept will\u00a0emphasise\u00a0green spaces and environmental planning<\/strong>, drawing from previous developments where significant portions of land\u00a0were reserved\u00a0for open areas. The company aims to replicate this balance in Chivhu while increasing residential density.<\/p>\n Plans for the development include a\u00a0Big Five game farm, a nature reserve\u00a0and\u00a0potential higher education facilities<\/strong>, which the company says could stimulate tourism, investment\u00a0and\u00a0local economic growth.<\/p>\n The project is currently in the planning phase, with consultations underway involving town planners, architects\u00a0anddesigners. WestProp expects to\u00a0finalise\u00a0designs by the end of the current quarter, with construction anticipated to begin before July.<\/p>\n While the project signals growing\u00a0private sector\u00a0interest in\u00a0decentralised\u00a0urban development, its long-term success will likely depend on infrastructure rollout, affordability, and sustained demand in a challenging economic environment.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n I prefer this\u00a0response<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n \nRelated<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n