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Strive Masiyiwa, founder and group chairman of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, has announced plans for Econet Tech City, a high-tech industrial park on an 800-acre site near Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, with an estimated valuation of around $1 billion.
The project will be developed under Econet InfraCo, a recently listed vehicle on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange. Masiyiwa said the concept draws on successful developments across Africa and Asia, including the Eko Atlantic project in Lagos, where Econet already operates a major data center.
"Modern international investors don't like hassles when they plan to build a factory or high-tech facility," Masiyiwa said. "They prefer locations where everything they need is readily available."
Econet Tech City is designed to function as a one-stop shop, integrating reliable power, water, fiber connectivity, security, logistics and legal support under a single management structure. Planned infrastructure includes a 100-megawatt solar power plant, high-speed fiber, industrial waste management systems and drone-assisted CCTV security. The complex will also include a shopping center and a clinic but no residential housing.
Once fully operational, the hub is expected to host up to 300 companies and create more than 20,000 jobs, making it one of Zimbabwe's largest private-sector infrastructure projects. Econet InfraCo plans to develop the site in phases pending government approvals, with early interest already emerging from international investors. Architectural and engineering designs are underway, with some solar components expected to be sourced from China.
Masiyiwa acknowledged that Zimbabwe is competing against established regional investment hubs including Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi and Kigali, and said the project's success will depend on government incentives and regulatory backing. "This could be a great partnership if it is supported," he said.
The development also carries a digital infrastructure play. Econet already operates a 5-megawatt data center in Willowvale and plans to expand capacity with a 10-megawatt facility within the Tech City precinct, positioning Zimbabwe as a potential regional hub for digital services.
Industry analyst Tinashe Chikomba said the project's viability hinges on policy discipline. "Large-scale industrial parks require investor confidence, stable regulations and efficient approvals," he said. "If those conditions are met, this project could be transformative."
Masiyiwa said the model is designed to be replicable and urged similar initiatives across the continent. "It's about creating ecosystems that support industrial growth and economic transformation," he said.
