US$40 million world class golf estate launched in Zimbabwe
By DUMISANI MLILO
Published on: 15th July, 2009
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ZIMBABWE – HARARE – DEPUTY Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara yesterday launched a US$40 million upmarket housing and recreational project —Warren Hills Golf Estate — while commending Harare City Council for innovation and creativity in harnessing private sector funds to develop the capital.
The project is a joint venture between the City of Harare and Augur Investments of Russia being run under a joint company, Sunshine Developments, which is financing the project.
The housing estate is made up of three projects: a gated high-income residential development comprising 170 housing stands on which custom-designed homes would be constructed; a five-star hotel; and a commercial and retail centre. Warren Hills Golf Club is renowned for producing Zimbabwe’s golfing icon Nick Price.
DPM Mutambara said people should work to make Harare a world-class city by 2015 through partnering the private sector and foreign investors to provide infrastructure such as competitive housing estates, roads, electricity and clean water. “Our dream, our ambition, our aspiration is to be among the top 20 economies by 2015.
We cannot achieve that by working on our own because we do not have enough capital and technology. “Government does not have enough money to build roads, telecommunications, schools and hospitals,” he said.
DPM Mutambara said Zimbabwe should move away from the obsession of ownership and invite those with financial muscle to assist in development to ensure service delivery. “We have in the past been obsessed with ownership. As Government, we must move from ownership to delivery.
Ownership of Air Zimbabwe and Zesa is not sovereignty. The ownership of water is also not sovereignty, but the ability to deliver clean water is sovereignty. Sovereignty can only be achieved if we work with the private sector to deliver,” he said.
He said Zimbabweans had to change their mindset and start contributing to the development of the nation rather than wait for things to be done for them.
The present generation, DPM Mutambara said, should achieve results that posterity would remember them for in the same manner President Mugabe, the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo and late eminent nationalist Cde Eddison Zvobgo, among others, are remembered for
achieving Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.
Construction of the housing estate around the Warren Hills golf course has already started with graders and earthmovers clearing the land. Augur Investments has also partnered the city in the construction of a Truckers Inn at Hopley and business models along the Mukuvisi Corridor.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo said the projects would be replicated across the country.
In the region, South Africa has the most housing estates on golf courses where the rich and famous live because of the high security provided.
Augur Investments chief executive Mr Alexander Sheremet said his company would be involved in several other projects in Harare over the next 20 years.
“Although this first project is valued at US$40 million in development, it is only one of the many developments we have planned in Zimbabwe over the next 15 to 20 years,” he said.
The ceremony was witnessed by senior Government and council officials and several Harare socialites.
However, Harare City councillors were absent from the groundbreaking ceremony.
But Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Masunda gave the explanation that the councillors were attending an induction course at a training centre although sources indicated that the councillors had boycotted the function as they felt they were not given enough notification.
Mr Masunda arrived after all the formalities had been completed but he could be heard arguing with town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi over the failure by latter’s office to properly co-ordinate the launch of the housing project and the induction course.
