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Econet InfraCo, the infrastructure arm being carved out of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, says it plans to build a 300-hectare industrial park and a large data centre near Robert Mugabe International Airport, betting that reliable power and connectivity can draw manufacturers and exporters to the site. The development is expected to include a 100-megawatt solar power plant to supply the project as it ramps up, the company said.
Douglas Mboweni, Econet Group chief executive, said the park is designed as a logistics and industrial hub that uses its proximity to the airport for businesses that need quick access to cargo routes, from light manufacturing to processing for export. He said the company intends to provide core services such as power and water to lower the upfront burden on tenants. Mboweni said the goal is to make it easier for investors to move in quickly, using ready utilities and space, rather than building basic services from scratch.
Work on the first phase has begun, Mboweni said, and the solar plant will be deployed in stages based on demand. The project will still need development approvals, and Econet said the park would rank among the country’s biggest private sector developments since independence once those steps are completed.
The plan is one of several major initiatives that have received approval from Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa, according to Mboweni, who said the company expects to formally engage the government as planning advances. Details on costs and a construction timetable were not disclosed.
Econet introduced InfraCo publicly in December as part of a broader restructuring that separates passive infrastructure from the mobile operator. The group said InfraCo is not a new business, describing it as a long running unit that manages towers, fibre, power systems and data facilities that support Econet’s network.
In a cautionary statement, Econet said it intends to list InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, as it seeks to unlock value from its infrastructure assets. Media reports have described the VFEX as a U.S. dollar bourse aimed at attracting foreign investment.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is the country’s largest mobile network operator and has expanded into broadband and financial services. With the planned airport adjacent park, Econet is aiming to package renewable power, data capacity and serviced industrial land into a single offering it hopes can compete for factory and logistics tenants in the region.
Sources: Company details and project description were reported by MarketScreener and other outlets.
