Staff Writer 
ECONET InfraCo, the infrastructure company being spun out of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, is set to build a 300-hectare industrial Park near Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare.
The group plans to convert the large piece of land into a modern industrial park that will ultimately be supported by 100 MW of solar power. The facility, the company said, will also include a large Data Centre facility.
The company said the idea behind the industrial park was to create facilities for businesses that want to take advantage of proximity to the airport for manufacturing and exports.
“Our vision is to create infrastructure, such as power and water facilities, needed for a modern industrial park. It will make it easier for investors to come in and take advantage while creating jobs,” Econet Group chief executive, Douglas Mboweni, said.
He said Econet InfraCo is developing the project in phases – including phased-deployment of the 100 MW of solar power – in response to demand, adding that work had already started on the first phase of the entire project.
Once the necessary development approvals have been obtained, the company’s 300 hectares of land will easily be one of the most ambitious private developments since Independence, and will support the government’s national plans for industrial development.
In addition, Mboweni said the project is one of several major projects that the Econet Group founder, Strive Masiyiwa, had already given the green light for
“This is going to be huge, and we will soon be presenting our plans to the Government,” Mboweni said.
He disclosed the plans following the public unveiling of Econet InfraCo, which he stressed was not a new business, but had always existed as one of the business units of Econet Wireless.
It had, until now, operated primarily to support Econet’s own vast infrastructure requirements.
In a cautionary statement this week, Econet announced plans to list Econet InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
