HARARE — Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s newly announced infrastructure unit, Econet InfraCo, has outlined its first major developments, including a large-scale industrial park near Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, a data centre, and a 100-megawatt solar power plant, NewZWire reports.
The plans, according to NewZwire come just days after Econet revealed the infrastructure spin-off, which will house the group’s extensive network and utility assets. According to the company, land near the airport will be transformed into a modern industrial park anchored by renewable energy generation and digital infrastructure.
The proposed development will feature up to 100MW of solar power, deployed in phases in line with demand, alongside a large-scale data centre. Core infrastructure such as power and water services will also be installed to support industrial and commercial activity.
“Our vision is to create the infrastructure needed for a modern industrial park, making it easier for investors to come in, take advantage of the facilities, and create jobs,” Econet Group chief executive officer Douglas Mboweni said.
Mboweni confirmed that work on the first phase of the project has already commenced. Once all regulatory and development approvals are secured, the 300-hectare site is expected to rank among the most ambitious private-sector developments undertaken in Zimbabwe since Independence. The project is also expected to align with the Government’s national industrial development strategy.
He added that the airport industrial park is one of several major infrastructure initiatives that have already received approval from Econet Group founder Strive Masiyiwa.
“This is going to be huge, and we will soon be presenting our plans to the Government,” Mboweni said.
The disclosures follow the formal announcement of Econet InfraCo, which Mboweni stressed is not a new business but a long-established unit within Econet Wireless that has historically supported the group’s internal infrastructure requirements.
Earlier this week, Econet issued a cautionary statement indicating its intention to list Econet InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
