Mt Hampden must become growth engine

81

Leonita Mhishi

THERE are moments in a nation’s develop­ment when a construction project becomes something much bigger than bricks, steel and concrete. Zimbabwe’s New City at Mt Hamp­den is one such moment.

For years, the conversation around Zim­babwe’s property market has largely revolved around housing shortages, ageing infrastructure and unplanned urban expansion. Today, that con­versation is beginning to shift westwards, where a bold vision is taking shape on more than 15,000 hectares of land. It is a vision that seeks not merely to build another suburb, but to redefine how Zim­babwe grows, invests and competes.

The completion of the new Parliament build­ing was the first visible statement that Mt Hamp­den was no longer a concept on paper. Now the conversation has moved to something far more consequential: transforming the area into a fully integrated administrative, commercial, residential and technology-driven city capable of attracting investment for decades to come.

Recent Cabinet updates show that the project has entered a new phase. Government has ap­proved the city’s master plan, established an im­plementation model and organisational structure, while moving ahead with land acquisition and compensation. Authorities say 48 farms covering approximately 15,300 hectares have been iden­tified for the development, with 33 parent farms already acquired. More than US$75 million has been earmarked for compensating affected land­owners, although only a small number of pay­ments have so far been completed.

Those figures illustrate both the promise and the complexity of what Zimbabwe is attempting.

It is tempting to judge Mt Hampden solely by the speed at which buildings rise or roads are completed. That would be a mistake.

Cities that transform economies are rarely judged by their skylines alone. They are judged by the opportunities they create.

For a young architect graduating from the Uni­versity of Zimbabwe, Mt Hampden could mean the chance to design commercial buildings rather than seek work abroad. For an engineer, it could mean years of employment on infrastructure proj­ects. For a local contractor, it could mean con­tracts that allow a small business to expand into a medium-sized enterprise.

Behind every kilometre of road are surveyors, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, transport oper­ators and suppliers whose livelihoods depend on construc­tion continuing.

Real estate has always been more than property.

It is one of the few sectors capable of stimulating almost every other industry simultaneously.

A single office block requires cement, steel, glass, insur­ance, banking services, legal expertise, telecommunications, landscaping, security, furniture and information technology. When multiplied across an entirely new city, those economic linkages become significant.

That is why Mt Hampden deserves to be viewed not sim­ply as a property development but as an economic develop­ment strategy.

The project also reflects a changing philosophy about Zimbabwe’s urban future.

Harare’s central business district has for years struggled under the weight of ageing infrastructure, traffic congestion and changing commercial patterns. Businesses have steadily migrated towards suburban office parks, while residential de­velopments have spread further beyond the city’s traditional boundaries.

Rather than allowing that expansion to occur in an un­coordinated manner, authorities are attempting to create a planned administrative and commercial hub designed around modern infrastructure and future growth.

International experience suggests such projects can be­come powerful economic catalysts when executed effective­ly.

Countries including Malaysia, Brazil, Nigeria and Egypt have all developed new administrative capitals or govern­ment precincts to ease congestion, stimulate investment and modernise public infrastructure. Their experiences demon­strate that success ultimately depends not on the architecture itself but on whether private investment follows public in­vestment.

That is where Mt Hampden’s next chapter becomes crit­ical.

Government alone cannot build an economy. Its role is to create the conditions that encourage businesses, financial institutions, technology companies, developers and manu­facturers to invest with confidence.

Encouragingly, those foundations are beginning to emerge.

Construction has commenced on a major industrial park intended to support manufacturing, logistics and commercial activity around the New City, while discussions with inter­national construction partners continue around financing models and technical collaboration. The proposed Cyber City is expected to incorporate commercial, residential and technology-focused developments, potentially positioning Mt Hampden as a modern business district rather than simply a seat of government. This matters because cities compete.

Investors deciding where to establish regional headquar­ters increasingly evaluate infrastructure, digital connectivity, transport networks, utilities and the availability of modern commercial space.

If Zimbabwe intends to position itself as a regional in­vestment destination, it must offer environments capable of supporting 21st century business. Mt Hampden presents an opportunity to do precisely that.

The challenge, however, is ensuring the project remains inclusive.

Every great city ultimately succeeds because ordinary cit­izens believe they have a place within it. That means afford­able housing cannot become an afterthought.

Small and medium enterprises must have opportunities alongside multinational corporations. Young professionals should see careers rather than barriers. Local suppliers must participate alongside international contractors.

The project must also maintain credibility through trans­parency and timely implementation.

Government’s commitment to compensating affected landowners is therefore not merely a legal obligation; it is an economic necessity. Investors pay close attention to how countries manage property rights, compensation frameworks and project execution. Completing those processes efficient­ly will strengthen confidence in Zimbabwe’s broader invest­ment environment.

There is another reason Mt Hampden matters.

Zimbabwe’s economy is gradually becoming more di­versified. Mining continues to generate record export earn­ings. Agriculture is recovering through irrigation investment. Manufacturing is showing signs of renewed activity. Tourism is rebuilding.

Real estate now has an opportunity to become another pillar of that growth story.

Construction remains one of the economy’s strongest employment multipliers, creating jobs for both highly skilled professionals and workers entering the labour market for the first time.

For thousands of Zimbabwean artisans, builders and en­trepreneurs, Mt Hampden is not simply another government project.

It represents future income. It represents contracts. It represents business expansion. Perhaps most importantly, it represents confidence.

Confidence is difficult to quantify, yet it often determines whether investors commit capital or remain on the sidelines.

When cranes dominate a skyline, businesses notice.

When roads are built, banks become more willing to fi­nance projects. When commercial buildings rise, retailers, hotels, restaurants and service providers begin planning their own investments.

Momentum creates momentum.

Zimbabwe has spoken for years about becoming an up­per-middle-income economy. Such aspirations ultimately require physical places where that ambition can take shape. Mt Hampden could become one of those places. Not because it houses Parliament. Not because it may eventually feature impressive skyscrapers or smart technologies.

But because it offers Zimbabwe an opportunity to demon­strate something more valuable: that long-term planning, co­ordinated infrastructure and public-private investment can work together to create sustainable economic growth.

The measure of success will not be how many buildings stand on the skyline. It will be whether a graduate finds em­ployment without leaving the country. Whether a contractor expands into a national company. Whether a family opens a business that serves a growing community. Whether in­vestors increasingly view Zimbabwe as a destination where long-term capital can earn long-term returns.

If those outcomes begin to emerge, Mt Hampden will be remembered not simply as Zimbabwe’s new administrative capital. It will be remembered as the place where the country started building a new economic future.

l Mhishi is the principal registered estate agent at HSP Realty and can be reached at +263 772 329 569 or via email at leonita@hsp.