Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
RADAR Properties is developing the East Bridge Industrial Park as a new light industrial hub in Umguza District, with the project expected to create jobs and anchor economic activity around the expanding King City development.
The industrial park forms part of Radar Properties’ broader King City project, but the developer says the industrial component is being positioned as an important economic pillar that will enable residents to work closer to home while supporting the growth of Umguza District and Matabeleland North.
Radar Properties director Mr Walter Zimunya said the company was prioritising the development of the industrial area this year as it sought to create employment opportunities and stimulate local economic activity.
Speaking on the sidelines of a handover ceremony of title deeds, Mr Zimunya said the East Bridge Industrial Area was strategically located along Wanda Road, providing businesses with space to establish light industrial operations.
“One of the key things that we’re doing this year is we are developing the East Bridge Industrial Area, which is a light industrial area,” he said.
“The idea being we want to create work for our people, for our residents and also in the spirit of devolution, we want our people to sustain and help with the growth of the economy of both our district as Unguza and the province as Matabeleland North. So that’s some of the work that we’re doing in the properties.”
The industrial park is expected to benefit from the growing population associated with King City, which Radar Properties is developing as an integrated community comprising residential, commercial and institutional facilities.
Mr Zimunya said the company’s approach was to develop a community where economic and social services were located within the same broader development.
“As Rader Properties, we are the developers of King City. Within King City, we are developing 18 000 residential stands.
“We have commercial stands, we have institutional stands, covering the whole range of social needs such as schools, churches, hospitals, clinics.
“The idea being that we want to create a self-sustained community with all the amenities and all the services within,” he said.
The industrial park gives the King City project a productive economic dimension, creating potential space for businesses that can provide employment and services to the expanding residential community.
Light industrial developments can accommodate a range of enterprises, including manufacturing, fabrication, warehousing, repairs, construction-related businesses and other small and medium-scale operations, although the specific mix of tenants for East Bridge Industrial Area has not been disclosed.
The development also comes against the backdrop of Government’s devolution programme, which seeks to promote economic development at provincial and local authority level and ensure that communities benefit directly from economic activity in their areas.
Mr Zimunya said Radar Properties wanted the project to contribute to that objective by creating employment and supporting the wider economy.
The emergence of an industrial hub alongside a large residential development could also reduce the dependence of residents on employment opportunities in Bulawayo and other established economic centres.
