Harare – In a significant move poised to reshape Zimbabwe’s industrial landscape and bolster its energy security, billionaire entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa, through his company Econet InfraCo, is embarking on an ambitious project: a 100-megawatt (MW) solar-powered industrial park adjacent to the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare. This initiative, unveiled in December 2025, represents a substantial investment in Africa’s future, particularly in the critical sectors of renewable energy and digital infrastructure, and comes at a time when Zimbabwe grapples with persistent power deficits.
Masiyiwa’s latest venture is not merely an industrial park; it is a meticulously planned ecosystem designed to attract manufacturing and export-focused businesses by offering a unique blend of reliable power, cutting-edge connectivity, and strategic logistics. The 300-hectare development will be anchored by its impressive 100MW solar energy plant and equipped with advanced data infrastructure, aiming to mitigate operational risks for potential investors.
Douglas Mboweni, Econet Group chief executive, articulated the vision behind this transformative project. “Our vision is to create the infrastructure such as power and water facilities needed for a modern industrial park. This will make it easier for investors to come in, take advantage of the location, and create jobs,” he stated. The project is slated for phased implementation, with the solar power plant’s deployment synchronised with demand. While work on the initial phase has commenced, the development awaits necessary regulatory and planning approvals. Upon its completion, the Econet group anticipates this project will stand as one of Zimbabwe’s largest private-sector developments since the nation gained independence, aligning seamlessly with the government’s broader industrialisation and export-led growth strategies.
This industrial park is a testament to a broader strategic shift championed by Strive Masiyiwa, who has increasingly positioned artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of his group’s long-term objectives. Reflecting on the profound impact of AI on his entrepreneurial journey, Masiyiwa shared in December 2025, “For me, this was my best year as an entrepreneur… and it was because of AI. For the first time in years, I went back to work with our teams as de facto ‘Chief AI Officer‘ and not just ‘entrepreneur in residence’.” He further highlighted the establishment of Econet’s inaugural AI Factory in Cape Town, South Africa, as a pivotal moment, drawing parallels to his pioneering days in telecommunications. “Setting up our first AI Factory in Cape Town, South Africa, and actually seeing the GPUs being installed by NVIDIA engineers, reminded me of the time Ericsson shipped my first mobile system in 1996; it was an exhilarating experience,” Masiyiwa recounted.
The unveiling of Econet InfraCo in December 2025 marked a significant restructuring within Masiyiwa’s empire, separating the group’s infrastructure assets from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s mobile operations. Econet revealed that InfraCo has historically managed critical infrastructure such as towers, fibre networks, power systems, and data facilities internally. The company has expressed intentions to list InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, subject to shareholder and regulatory endorsements, to unlock further value from its extensive infrastructure portfolio. This strategic move underscores a growing trend across Africa, where telecom groups are repositioning themselves at the nexus of energy, data, and manufacturing, driven by the escalating demand for robust, power-backed digital and industrial infrastructure.
Strive Masiyiwa’s influence on Zimbabwe’s and Africa’s technological and infrastructural development extends far beyond this latest solar park. Through Econet Wireless and Liquid Intelligent Technologies (formerly Liquid Telecom), his enterprises have been instrumental in laying the groundwork for digital transformation across the continent. Econet, initially focused on mobile telecommunications, has diversified into various sectors including fintech, healthtech, and e-commerce, expanding its footprint into over 20 countries. Liquid Intelligent Technologies, under the Cassava Technologies umbrella, has built Africa’s largest independent fibre network, connecting numerous countries and facilitating high-speed internet access. Recent expansions, such as the 730-kilometre fibre extension in Botswana completed in December 2024, have significantly benefited Zimbabwe by enhancing regional connectivity.
Furthermore, Masiyiwa’s group has been actively involved in renewable energy solutions through Distributed Power Africa (DPA). DPA, a pan-African renewable energy company operating in Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, specialises in innovative solar energy solutions. It has been responsible for engineering and installing industrial solar plants, including one for Econet itself, featuring 1,435 panels generating 780 MWh per annum. DPA’s collaboration with Africa Data Centres, another entity within the Cassava Technologies Group, to supply 12MW of renewable solar energy for data centre facilities in South Africa, exemplifies the integrated approach to sustainable development within Masiyiwa’s ecosystem.
Zimbabwe’s energy landscape, however, presents a complex backdrop against which these ambitious projects unfold. The nation has been plagued by chronic power shortages and extensive load shedding for years, severely impacting industries, businesses, and daily life. The primary cause of these deficits often stems from an over-reliance on hydropower, particularly from the Kariba Dam, which typically supplies approximately half of the country’s electricity. Recurring droughts have significantly reduced water levels in Lake Kariba, consequently diminishing the dam’s power generation capacity. For instance, in September 2025, Hwange Unit 3, a crucial thermal power plant, went offline for 44 days for maintenance, further exacerbating the power crisis by reducing output by 80MW. Currently, Kariba generates about 550MW, substantially below its installed capacity of 1,050MW, contributing to the tight load shedding schedules experienced across the country.
In response to these challenges, Zimbabwe is actively pursuing other significant power generation initiatives. One such project is the proposed 600MW floating solar plant on Lake Kariba. Construction of this monumental project is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with an estimated cost of $650 million and a projected completion by 2031. Initially, the plant’s first stage will be built on land adjacent to the lake, with the long-term vision of installing solar panels directly on the water’s surface. This initiative is crucial for diversifying Zimbabwe’s energy mix and reducing its vulnerability to hydrological fluctuations. Given that Lake Kariba is shared with Zambia, the project necessitates bilateral approval from both governments, highlighting the regional cooperation required for such large-scale endeavours. A consortium of Zimbabwe’s largest power consumers secured $4.4 million from the African Export–Import Bank in June 2025 to fund a comprehensive feasibility study for this development.
Another critical project on the horizon is the Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme, a joint venture between Zimbabwe and Zambia on the Zambezi River. This proposed 2,400MW hydropower project, estimated to cost approximately US$4.2 billion, has seen renewed commitment from both nations. In December 2025, Zambia and Zimbabwe each pledged US$220 million in equity, totalling US$440 million, to advance the long-delayed scheme. The Batoka Gorge project, once realised, promises to be a game-changer for regional energy security, significantly boosting the power supply for both countries and potentially alleviating the severe load shedding currently experienced.
The convergence of Masiyiwa’s private sector investments and the government’s large-scale energy projects paints a hopeful picture for Zimbabwe’s future. The 100MW solar industrial park, coupled with the Kariba floating solar plant and the Batoka Gorge hydropower scheme, represents a multi-pronged approach to tackling the nation’s energy woes. These initiatives are not just about generating electricity; they are about fostering industrial growth, creating employment opportunities, and establishing Zimbabwe as a competitive hub for manufacturing and digital innovation in Africa. The emphasis on renewable energy sources also positions Zimbabwe favourably in the global shift towards sustainable development.
In conclusion, Strive Masiyiwa’s unwavering commitment to investing in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure, particularly in renewable energy and advanced digital capabilities, serves as a powerful catalyst for national development. His strategic vision, combined with the government’s efforts to diversify and expand the energy matrix, holds the promise of a more stable, prosperous, and energy-secure future for the country. As these projects progress, they are expected to significantly transform Zimbabwe’s economic landscape, attracting further investment and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
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