Published: 1 hour ago

More than 15,000 jobs are set to be created under the ambitious Elmswood Cyber City Development Project, a multi-million-dollar smart city initiative aimed at transforming Zimbabwe's urban and industrial landscape while ensuring inclusive growth under the theme "Leaving no one and no place behind."

Spearheaded by businessman and land developer John Fadzisayi Jani, the project seeks to convert the 468-hectare Elmswood Farm on the south-eastern edge of Marondera into the country's first integrated, technology-driven city outside Harare.

The cyber city will combine residential, industrial, and digital innovation hubs with green infrastructure, creating a model that balances economic productivity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

"Elmswood Cyber City is not just about buildings and roads; it's about people and opportunity," Jani said. "Every Zimbabwean, regardless of income or background, should find a place and purpose within this development."

Aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1, the project will roll out in three phases from 2026 to 2032, positioning Marondera as a regional technology and industrial hub. At full implementation, it is expected to generate over 15,000 jobs through construction, ICT innovation, manufacturing, and agricultural value chains.

A key feature is a state-of-the-art cyber and innovation hub, intended as a nucleus for ICT training, start-up incubation, and digital entrepreneurship, with partnerships planned with universities and tech firms to create Zimbabwe's own "Silicon Valley."

The project emphasises inclusive development, offering affordable housing for civil servants and low-income earners alongside premium smart homes for professionals and investors. Women, youth, and informal traders will be integrated into the economic ecosystem through vocational training, SME zones, and cooperatives in agriculture, waste management, and construction supply chains.

Renewable energy and eco-friendly systems are central to the city's design: 60% of power will come from solar farms and small hydro plants, while a waste-to-energy plant will convert refuse from Marondera into bioenergy. The city will also include agricultural green belts, supporting climate-smart farming, aquaculture, and food processing.

Funding will come from a mix of public-private partnerships and foreign direct investment, with local residents expected to hold shares in some components, ensuring broad-based benefits. Analysts say the project could reduce migration pressures on Harare and catalyse economic activity in Mashonaland East.

"The Elmswood Cyber City is more than a dream — it's a statement that Zimbabwe's future can be both digital and inclusive," Jani said.
- The Standard