Ken Sharpe’s WestProp woos South African retailers for $100 million Mall of Zimbabwe

Months after unveiling the first phase of its $4 billion Pomona City development, Zimbabwean property developer West Properties Holdings (WestProp) is stepping up efforts to attract major South African retailers to its planned $100 million Mall of Zimbabwe, a flagship project expected to reshape retail in the country’s capital.

The Harare-based developer, led by businessman Ken Sharpe, recently sent a delegation to South Africa alongside senior government officials to meet with leading retail brands and potential investors. The meetings were aimed at encouraging regional retailers to expand into Zimbabwe and at easing concerns about the country’s economic outlook.

WestProp courts Southern African retailers

WestProp is seeking anchor tenants for the Mall of Zimbabwe, which the company says will become the country’s first fully enclosed, air-conditioned regional shopping mall. If completed as planned, the project could draw major brands already operating across Southern Africa and deepen retail investment in Zimbabwe.

Sharpe said discussions with retailers were constructive, although some companies remain cautious about Zimbabwe’s economic conditions. “We were in South Africa to encourage retailers to move north,” Sharpe said. “Some of them are already in Zambia and neighboring countries, but they were worried about the economy.”

Mall of Zimbabwe draws tenants

According to Sharpe, government officials who joined the trip assured investors that authorities are working to improve the business climate and are willing to review incentives where necessary. “They were encouraging investors to come into Zimbabwe, confirming that the government is serious about business,” Sharpe said. “If there are incentives investors are looking for, or exemptions from restricted sectors, the government is willing to consider them.”

Early signs suggest the outreach is gaining traction. Several retailers have already expressed interest in leasing space in the planned mall, Sharpe said. The Mall of Zimbabwe is expected to offer roughly 90,000 square meters of gross lettable space when fully developed.

The first phase will focus on 50,000 to 60,000 square meters, with strong early demand from potential tenants. “We currently have about 60 percent uptake of the mall so far,” Sharpe said. The developer plans to complete planning and pre-leasing during the second quarter of the year and hopes to begin construction in the third quarter.

VFEX-listed developer targets retail, housing

Sharpe has become one of Zimbabwe’s most closely watched property developers in recent years through projects under WestProp Holdings, which also operates businesses ranging from food distribution to sanitary products across Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa. It is also the first real estate development company listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, a move that helped raise its profile among regional investors.

The company’s retail push follows progress on Pomona City, a large-scale $4 billion development designed to reshape urban living in Harare. The first phase, Pomona Flats, broke ground in August last year. Located near Wingate Golf Club in Harare North and close to the city’s expanding green zone, Pomona City is planned as a mixed-use community where residents can live, work and access essential services within the same district.

Apartments in Pomona Flats — ranging from one- to three-bedroom units — are expected to start at $70,000, with the developer also offering bulk purchases to corporations and government agencies seeking housing for staff. The project adds to WestProp’s growing portfolio, which includes Millennium Heights, Pokugara, and The Hills Luxury Golf Estate, a residential estate expected to feature Zimbabwe’s first PGA-standard golf course.