WESTPROP Holdings has unveiled plans to construct Chivhu’s first apartment blocks at its newly launched Chivhu Eco City, as the property developer seeks to redefine urban living in the southern Zimbabwean town.
WestProp chief executive Ken Sharpe said the pace of apartment construction would ultimately be determined by demand, but the design and character of the buildings would reflect the safari-inspired concept of the development.
The apartments will form part of WestProp’s signature “live, work, shop, and play” lifestyle concept.
The development will also feature a sprawling 2,000-hectare private game reserve situated within the estate, with the company envisioning a future where residents could encounter the Big Five and other wildlife as part of their everyday surroundings.
Sharpe said the apartments would be designed to complement the wider character of the eco-city and its natural environment.
WestProp, which has traditionally focused its operations in Harare, has in recent years expanded beyond the capital with the establishment of Chivhu Eco City.
Chivhu has long been known to travellers as a key halfway point along Zimbabwe’s north-south highway, serving as an important stop on the country’s major transport corridor.
The town occupies a strategic position along the national route linking Harare with Masvingo and, further south, South Africa’s major trade gateways.
It also serves as a key crossroads connecting routes to Mutare, Gweru and Bulawayo.
The Chivhu Eco City master plan envisages a fully integrated community capable of accommodating up to 80,000 residents.
The development is planned to include at least 20 schools, state-of-the-art commercial hubs and extensive green open spaces designed to preserve the region’s natural flora.
Sharpe said the concept behind Chivhu Eco City was influenced by developments he encountered during his travels, particularly in Indonesia and South Africa.
“I once went to a city in Indonesia, near Jarkata, a friend of mine started the city. It is called Sentul City, and he named it God’s city,” he said.
Sharpe said Chivhu Eco City could similarly be nicknamed the “Lord’s City”, describing the name as a tribute to what he called the “overwhelming grace his company has encountered in implementing its projects.”
