WestProp Holdings, a property developer, has announced plans to develop mixed-use communities that combine residential accommodation, commercial facilities, recreational amenities, and sustainable infrastructure. The company's portfolio includes Pomona City in Harare, Chivhu Eco City, Swanville City in Bulawayo, and Millennium City, which encompasses Pokugara Residential Estate, Millennium Heights, and the planned Mall of Zimbabwe. These projects aim to address Zimbabwe's housing backlog, estimated at about 1.5 million units.
WestProp's projects have the potential to provide thousands of housing units. Pomona City and Chivhu Eco City are expected to collectively have the capacity to provide about 40,000 housing units and accommodate more than 160,000 people when fully developed. Millennium Heights is projected to deliver slightly more than 1,000 units upon completion, while the planned Swanville development in Bulawayo is expected to add about 500 units. These figures represent WestProp's projections for the projects rather than completed housing stock.
WestProp's developments follow the company's "live, work, shop and play" model, which aims to place homes, workplaces, shops, and recreational facilities within easy reach of residents. This approach reduces commuting pressure and reflects the internationally promoted "15-minute city" concept, under which most essential services can be reached within a short journey. The company has also introduced a 10-year mortgage option at Pomona City and is marketing stands at Chivhu Eco City with payment periods extending to 30 years.
WestProp chief executive Ken Sharpe emphasized that such developments could support sustainable urbanization if implemented inclusively. He noted that smart cities like Chivhu Eco City and Pomona City are testbeds for sustainable urbanization, absorbing population growth, offering affordable housing models, and embedding green infrastructure. Sharpe added that if scaled inclusively, these developments will help Zimbabwe meet its 2030 urbanization targets while reshaping the narrative from informal sprawl to planned, resilient communities.
WestProp has adopted a "One Billion Bricks by 2050" vision, through which it aims to expand its contribution to housing, infrastructure, and urban development. Sharpe stated that World Habitat Day offered governments, developers, and communities an opportunity to consider the challenges caused by rapid urbanization. He emphasized that through its new cities, WestProp is offering answers – sustainable, modern communities that affirm the basic right to adequate shelter for all.
Rapid urban growth has placed mounting pressure on Zimbabwe's housing, roads, water systems, and other essential services. WestProp believes private developers can play a larger role in addressing these pressures through planned housing developments and partnerships with the public sector. The company is moving beyond Harare to establish new towns and cities where sustainable urban development is the foundation.
World Habitat Day, observed on the first Monday of October, falls on 5 October in 2026 under the theme "Adequate Housing for All". The annual United Nations observance encourages reflection on the condition of towns and cities and the right of everyone to adequate shelter. WestProp's expansion plans are not confined to Harare, as the company aims to make a real difference in addressing Zimbabwe's housing shortage.
Key points
- WestProp targets 40,000 new homes in Harare, Chivhu, and Bulawayo.
- The company's projects follow the "live, work, shop and play" model.
- WestProp aims to expand its contribution to housing, infrastructure, and urban development through its "One Billion Bricks by 2050" vision.
