Online Reporter
Lifestyle Writer
Imagine waking up to the chirping of birds and taking a morning jog beside a picturesque lake stretching as far as the eye can see.
With no worries about a hectic school-run schedule, you can design your day, leaving plenty of time to relax and unwind.
At exactly 9am, you walk into a five-star boardroom located in one of the wings of the industrial park within the same complex.
When the day ends, you can go kayaking on the lake, wine glass in hand, as you watch the sun set.
Welcome to the Great Dyke Estate — Zimbabwe’s answer to the future of luxury living for discerning individuals eager to live in grandeur and style.
Located 11 kilometres before Kadoma, the Great Dyke Estate is not merely a residential development, but a smart, upmarket city within a city.
Situated on a sprawling 279 hectares on the eastern approach to Kadoma from Harare, the estate is one of the largest projects of its kind to emerge in Zimbabwe.
It is a mixed-use smart estate designed for luxury living, combining essential amenities that offer not only comfort and convenience, but also a complete lifestyle without the chaos of conventional cities.
Luxury is no longer measured in square metres alone. It is now also measured in time, peace and ease.
That is what the Great Dyke Estate is set to offer once the project is complete.
The project, which began in May this year and is being developed by Develop IT Zimbabwe, will combine luxury residential living with sustainable infrastructure and revenue-generating commercial hubs.
Designed as the country’s answer to Johannesburg’s Steyn City or Nairobi’s Runda, the Great Dyke Estate will comprise 1 000 residential stands of varying sizes. It will integrate housing, education, healthcare, arts, commercial, sporting and recreational facilities within a single mixed-use community.
About seven hectares will be set aside for a recreational zone, while three hotels are expected to be built within the estate.
Once complete, the estate will feature integrated security systems, including 24-hour surveillance and controlled access. It will also provide safe spaces where children can cycle and play freely.
Speaking about the project, Develop IT Zimbabwe spokesperson Mr Samuel Mudavanhu said the decision to establish the smart city was inspired by the need to develop a gated community that is safe and convenient, while also delivering long-term property value to those interested in investing in real estate.
“Properties in gated estates retain their value better. They are in demand, easier to resell and come with a lifestyle brand attached to them.
“In developing this project, our vision was to redefine urban living in Zimbabwe through technology, sustainability and unparalleled luxury.
“We wanted a gated community that offers safety, convenience and a complete lifestyle. People are tired of traffic and long commutes, so we came up with a solution that enables them to work, learn, shop, play and access services such as retail outlets and service stations, while also enjoying nature.”
Unlike other housing schemes that focus on a single type of accommodation, prospective homeowners will be spoilt for choice, with options including flats, apartments, residential stands and houses.
Each option available within the gated Great Dyke Estate will be designed to preserve and enhance the development’s iconic architecture and stunning views while giving buyers value for money.
Those who live in gated communities can attest that the appeal of such developments lies in their meticulously maintained properties, upmarket amenities and sense of exclusivity, which set them apart from other residential areas.
Work has already begun in earnest at the estate, where several houses have been completed and will soon be offered for sale under the first phase of the development.
Project manager Mr Douglas Manyadze said construction had begun and would be carried out in phases until the entire project is complete.
Mr Manyadze added that the estate would feature smart infrastructure, including solar backup systems for use during power outages, artificial-intelligence dashboards to detect water leaks and automated lighting to improve security within and around the development.
Underground leaks can waste thousands of litres of water before anyone notices them, hence the developer’s decision to use a dashboard that keeps tab on underground pipes .
“We will have a water reservoir within the estate to prevent supply disruptions while maintaining standards comparable to those of other smart cities around the world.
“It will not be merely an estate, but a smart, upmarket city within a city, designed to blend exquisite architecture with effortless living.
‘‘Once completed, manicured gardens and green spaces, irrigated using recycled water, as well as indigenous landscaping, will beautify the estate’s open spaces.
“With the effects of climate change taking a toll across the world, we believe land developers should take robust action to protect and restore the environment while implementing their projects. We want to play our part in environment conservation.”
Develop IT Zimbabwe’s adoption of the gated-community concept aligns with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The project comes at a time when the Government is calling on the private sector to play a pivotal role in advancing the national development agenda. Already the country faces a national housing deficit estimated at 1,5 million housing units . However the Government plans to deliver one million houses by 2030
The Great Dyke Estate gated-community model also reflects an emerging trend that has not only proliferated globally, but has also become increasingly popular locally.
Pomona City, Pomona Estate, Nyeredzi Ridge — all situated along Alpes Road — as well as Borrowdale Brooke and Arlington are among the gated communities creating glamorous living experiences within exclusive and secure environments.
These gated developments take various forms, including enclosed neighbourhoods, large luxury estates and gated townhouse complexes.
Property buyers are increasingly choosing to invest in gated communities because this style of living gives them back the hours they would otherwise lose navigating the city.
Gated developments also offer the luxury of space and access to nature, with manicured gardens, lakes, golf courses and nature reserves effectively becoming part of residents’ backyards.
Instead of spending time in traffic travelling to shops, banks and healthcare facilities, residents can access all these services without leaving the estate.
It is what many describe as the luxury of time.
Property analyst Governor Dora said the emergence of affluent housing developments offering a wide range of amenities and institutions reduced the burden on municipalities and local authorities, which are often responsible for providing and maintaining such services.
These developments also give individuals an opportunity to choose the type of property they wish to own.
“The world is evolving, and we should not be left behind.
‘‘Gated communities and densification have become global trends. We now have people willing to pay for additional conveniences, such as having a school a stone’s throw away from their property.”
