At the South Africa–Zimbabwe Business Expo earlier this year, property developer Ken Sharpe laid out a bold vision for the future of Zimbabwe’s cities. Speaking with conviction, he described not only his company’s ambitious plans but also the potential of a country often underestimated by international investors.
Sharpe’s message was simple: the time to believe in Zimbabwe is now. He challenged both citizens and the diaspora to commit resources, knowledge and capital to rebuilding the nation. Quoting the Jewish philosopher Hillel, he reminded delegates: “If not now, when? And if not me, then who?”
While Zimbabwe’s government has set its sights on achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030, Sharpe explained that his company, WestProp Holdings, decided to think further ahead. The developer has pinned its ambitions to the year 2050, under what it calls the “Billion Brick Vision”.
The idea is straightforward but transformative; the land currently owned by WestProp would require roughly one billion bricks to be fully developed. Today, that land is worth about US$5 billion. By 2050, the company believes its value could grow to between US$30 and US$40 billion.
This long-term outlook, Sharpe said, keeps the business focused on building for generations rather than chasing short-term profits. “We are not looking at this year or even 2030,” he told delegates. “We are focused on the next 25 years of development, brick by brick.”
At the heart of WestProp’s strategy is the creation of world-class lifestyle estates, anchored by the concept of “live, work, shop and play”. Developments such as Millennium Heights, Pokugara Residential Estate, and the long-anticipated Mall of Zimbabwe are already reshaping the northern suburbs of Harare.
Perhaps the most ambitious project is The Hills Estate, a US$370 million master-planned community being built around a USGA-standard championship golf course on the edge of the capital. It promises luxury villas, townhouses, apartments, a five-star hotel and a retirement village, alongside extensive sporting and leisure facilities.
Sharpe argues that these projects are not just about homes but about creating modern lifestyles. “A house without supporting infrastructure is just a box,” he said. “But when people can walk from their homes to offices, shops, parks or sports facilities, that becomes a true city.”
Sharpe used his investment journey to illustrate Zimbabwe’s unique property dynamics. A building he bought in Harare in 2008 for just over US$100,000 sold last year for US$500,000 and later changed hands for US$1.2 million. By contrast, a luxury property he purchased in Johannesburg for US$2 million in the same year sold 15 years later for just US$700,000, largely due to the rand’s depreciation.
The lesson, he argued, is that Zimbabwean property, priced in US dollars since dollarisation in 2009, offers rare stability and real growth. Far from being overvalued, he believes the market is still undervalued and set for strong appreciation over the coming years.
Much of Sharpe’s optimism lies in Zimbabwe’s demographics. With an average age of 18 and more than 60% of the population under 25, the country has one of the youngest populations in the world. By 2050, today’s youth will be the driving force of the economy.
“I see the energy and calibre of our young ministers, entrepreneurs and citizens,” he said. “This is the generation that will build Zimbabwe into a first-world nation. The future is not about the past; it is about them.”
WestProp’s progress has begun to draw international recognition. The Radisson Hotel Group recently broke ground on a new property in Harare, its first in Zimbabwe. Ramzi Ramakoussi, the group’s Vice President for Africa, the Middle East and Asia, hailed the partnership with WestProp as the right step at the right time.
The move emphasises Sharpe’s belief that Zimbabwe can compete with the best in the region. From luxury golf estates to branded residences, he insists the country is capable of delivering developments that match or even surpass those in South Africa and Mauritius.
WestProp’s projects have also sparked investment beyond its ventures. Within a kilometre of its flagship sites in Borrowdale, at least 20 separate developments worth US$108 million have taken root. Sharpe calls this the “ripple effect” of leadership in property development: one bold step encourages others to follow.
Altogether, the combined value of projects underway in Millennium City, a cluster of estates, malls and office parks, is estimated at US$500 million, injecting long-term capital into Zimbabwe’s economy.
As Sharpe concluded his address, he returned to the theme of home. For him, Zimbabwe is more than a business opportunity; it is where his heart lies. He urged the diaspora to see beyond the country’s current challenges and recognise the possibilities of tomorrow.
“If a man from Dubai can spend 24 hours in Harare and say he wants to make it his second home,” he said, “then why shouldn’t you, who already call Zimbabwe your first home, return and be part of the story?”
With projects underway, global partners on board, and a young population ready to lead, WestProp’s billion-brick dream is as much about nation-building as it is about real estate. Whether that vision is realised will depend not only on one developer, but on the collective commitment of Zimbabweans at home and abroad.
