adminNgoni Dapira
A MULTI-MILLION-dollar solar-power project is in the pipeline to power the whole Valley of Kings Township located 10 kilometres north-west of Mutare along the Mutare-Harare highway.
The project, which will be a partnership with a South African-based company, is set to pioneer large-scale solar energy projects in Zimbabwe.
Valley of Kings, formerly known as Irene Township, is approximately 204 hectares and was officially gazetted as a township by the Southern Rhodesia Town and Planning Act in 1956.
The area which extends along the Mutare-Harare highway two kilometres from the Nyanga turn-off up to the areas near the Mutare tollgate, is a scenic, relaxing hub in the tranquil northern valley of Mutanda mountain range in Mutasa South. The original idea in 1956 was to make the township a sanctuary for the white settlers, but the area was, however, never developed before independence because the original owner fell sick for a long time and died in debt, leaving his property in the hands of a liquidator in 1976. In 1993 Sanhanga Group of Companies purchased the land, developed it and changed the name in 1999.
The title-holder of Valley of Kings real estate, Mr Joe Sanhanga, said the solar-energy deal was at an advanced stage, but they were still negotiating on the Build Operate and Transfer agreements, which the investor was particular about before the deal could be sealed.
He said the new model solar-powered township would, however, concurrently run with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distributing Company grid electricity in its pilot stage.
Mr Sanhanga, who says his inspiration to venture into business came after he was called a ‘‘kaffir who would never amount to anything in life” by his former white supervisor before independence, is an international award-winning businessman.
In 2002 he won the International World Quality Commitment Award in Paris, France, becoming the second Zimbabwean to win the IWQC award after Dr Samuel Mumbengegwi, which globally recognises businesspeople with commitment to quality, technology and innovation. He said his vision for the Valley of Kings was to create a model that would surpass modern plush low-density suburbs like Harare’s Borrowdale Brook and Umwindsidale in terms of infrastructure development.
“For 32 years since independence not many projects have been started in Manicaland, but the Valley of Kings will present a real change to the people and enhance economic and social development,” said Mr Sanhanga.
Mr Sanhanga, who has been pushing for the project since 1999, said he had sat on it for a while after facing a number of challenges with potential investors during the height of the agrarian land reform period around 2004.
He, however, said with the incumbent economic recovery blueprint Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, there is now hope if the Government continues to look into the intrinsic economic and developmental issues affecting business such as strengthening property rights for foreign investors.
“In respect of macro-economic policies to attract inward investment we are hoping that Government under Zim-Asset will really look into the issues of strengthening property rights and labour law reforms.
“A lot of people want to come and invest in Zimbabwe, such as the solar-power project, among many other developmental projects, but the issue of guarantee of property rights has to be addressed, especially for us players in the real estate business,” said Mr Sanhanga.
To date Valley of Kings has 61 residential stands that have been sold and 16 are already under construction.
According to the General Plan, the area is expected to house approximately 147 low to medium-density residential stands under 93.5 hectares, commercial stands (31.3 hectares), institutional stands (14.5 hectares) and a public open space (36.9 hectares).
Mr Sanhanga said as mandatory for any gazetted township they have already put up the road networks with gravel and reticulated water supply is available from the Pungwe water scheme, which also feeds into Mutare.
With the matter of housing backlogs being one of the quick wins that Zim-Asset seeks to deal with by 2018, Mr Sanhanga said he was looking for partners to develop modern cluster homes to accommodate more people.
He added that his stands are relatively affordable going for $7 per square metre compared to the $15 per square metre being charged for some low-density stands in the city.
Mr Sanhanga has already set the tone with his plush mansion that he has built at the Valley of Kings with a bird’s-eye view of the scenic mountainous terrain and indigenous forests surrounding the area.
He said plans to build a state-of-the-art conference centre, a modern ultra-city service station and an up-market shopping mall are in the pipeline.
“The Eastern Highlands is still very relatively untapped as a lucrative tourism destination and my vision is to make the Valley of Kings a grand spectacle that will light up the Mutasa South area.
“We are along the Mutare-Harare highway and close to Africa University, Magamba Training Centre and surrounding farmers who all stand to benefit from the services of a nearby township rather than driving all the way Mutare.
“Development is needed in Manicaland and as an indigenous businessman I would be proud to leave this legacy,” said Sanhanga.
Online Reporter