Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
ONCE a symbol of western sanctions and industrial decay, Hwange coal mining town is now booming in economic resurgence, with residents heaping praise on President Mnangagwa and his administration for steering a dramatic turnaround that has sparked a construction boom, created thousands of jobs, and restored hope to a community that had long been written off.
Over the past few years, Hwange has witnessed unprecedented investment in the mining and energy sectors.
The opening of several new coal mining companies, the expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, and the establishment of more than two new power stations have collectively breathed life into a town that was gasping for survival.
According to official figures, employment now stands at approximately 80 percent of the active adult population, a significant reversal of fortunes for a place where joblessness had become endemic.
A Zimpapers news crew recently toured the town and witnessed a hive of activity, with cranes, tipper trucks and excavators working round the clock at various mines.
Hwange Colliery Company, through its Real Estates unit, has embarked on an ambitious renovation, refurbishment and repurposing programme, breathing new life into properties that had either dilapidated or become white elephants.
The economic boom has attracted household names, including Simbisa Brands and TV Sales and Home, among other major companies now scrambling for a foothold in one of the country’s fastest-growing urban economies.
For lifelong resident and businessman Mr Message Nzara, the transformation is visible.
“I have lived in Hwange for over two decades, and I have never seen anything like this. Under President Mnangagwa, we are witnessing a genuine renaissance,” he said.
“New businesses are opening every week, and for the first time in years, our children are finding work here at home instead of leaving for South Africa or Botswana. The President promised to leave no one behind, and here in Hwange, we are living proof of that commitment,” said Mr Nzara.
Youth representative Ms Luyando Sibanda, who is now employed as a front-end loader operator at Zhongjin Heli, echoed those sentiments, pointing to the ripple effects of the mining and energy boom.
“As young people, we were desperate. Now, even those without formal qualifications have found opportunities in construction, transport, and retail,” he said. “The power station expansion alone created thousands of direct and indirect jobs. I now work as a front-end loader operator in one of the new industrial parks here. This Government has given us a second chance,” she said.
Another resident Mr Jabulani Dube said the change in livelihoods was palpable.
“You can see it in the faces of our people. There is money circulating, new houses are going up, and our local authority is collecting revenue that is being reinvested into roads, schools, and clinics. President Mnangagwa and his administration have delivered,” he said.
“We are no longer a dying town, we are a model of what can be achieved when policy meets reality,” Mr Dube said.
One of the most visible indicators of Hwange’s rapid transformation is the explosion in housing development.
Power generation companies – notably the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and Hwange Electricity Supply Company (HESCO) – have spearheaded major housing projects, with 680 new properties already contributing to local authority revenue through property taxes and fees.
Recently, 49 out of 74 houses constructed by ZPC and HESCO at Baobab Hill were occupied.
The two entities are also developing 537 properties at Empumalanga Medium and Low-Density suburbs, including 300 units for ZPC employees relocated from Ingagula due to air pollution concerns.
In addition, ZPC has completed 20 houses at Don Bosco Low Density and 49 units at Empumalanga Phase 4 High Density. Financial institutions have also joined the fray, with FBC Building Society commencing the servicing of 764 housing stands and a high-rise flat stand at Empumalanga Phase 6. Stage 1, covering 145 residential stands, is expected to be completed by year-end.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Housing and Social Amenities is spearheading the servicing of over 2,000 stands at Empumalanga West high-density suburb. Collectively, these projects position the Hwange Local Board (HLB) as one of the biggest contributors to the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) goal of delivering one million housing units by 2025.
Hwange Local Board Secretary Mr Ndumiso Mdlalose confirmed that the ongoing economic boom has led to increased demand for commercial and institutional stands.
“Numerous companies have approached Council for residential and institutional land for their employees,” he said.
“Council recently allocated several commercial stands and plans to open more next year to meet growing demand. Retail construction is also on the rise, reflecting Hwange’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing urban economies in the country. “The revitalisation of Hwange Colliery Company has further stimulated property investments within our jurisdiction,” said Mr Mdlalose.
The surge in population has prompted Council to plan for additional social amenities, including schools and recreational facilities. Three sites have already been identified for new schools, and Council has begun constructing a new primary school at Dynamic Village.
To cope with increased wastewater generation, HLB is prioritising the rehabilitation of the Empumalanga Waste Water Treatment Plant, which has been non-functional for nearly 20 years.
Council is seeking partners to assist in this and other key projects, such as the completion of the Empumalanga Flea Market and the rehabilitation of Nengasha Stadium, for which an Expression of Interest has been advertised.
HLB continues to maintain strong working relationships with the mining and energy sectors.
A partnership with South Mining recently delivered a state-of-the-art library – one of the best in the country. Discussions are ongoing with Hwange Colliery Company for further project support.
Once defined by its struggles, Hwange is an example of what many residents call the Second Republic’s delivery. For the thousands whose lives have been transformed, the renaissance is not just statistics, it is a new beginning.
