More than 300 families and 750 students are benefiting from these transformational facilities at the complex built through a US$37,7m investment by the Public Service Pension Fund and its partners.
AS the sun rose from the east on August 15, 2025, the communities around the dust mining town of Zvishavane also rose to high expectations of a new dawn for the urban settlement.
Coming from a tale of near neglect, the palpable anticipation was a good omen after a sad story, developed over the years where the town had grown from being a success story to an example of a dying mining town.
After years of progress due to an abundance of natural resources that saw the rise of mining giants like Shabani Mashava Mines (asbestos) to the growing concern at platinum mining giant, Mimosa, the “death” of Zvishavane was a sad story to tell for the community.
But as President Emmerson Mnangangwa commissioned the Zvishavane Midlands Park Development project, which is one of the flagship multimillion-dollar investment projects being undertaken under the Public Service Pension Fund, the residents were left in awe.
A snap survey ahead of the commissioning revealed that the residents had put the project as a benchmark for the future development of Zvishavane.
“What we are now anticipating is value-addition of the land surrounding the complex with further development benchmarked by the project.
“We do not expect people to start building sub-standard structures, especially service centres that could be built near the complex,” Otillia Gonye said while waiting for Mnangagwa’s arrival.
Another resident, Brian Francis Banda, said the community was also under pressure, not only to look after the complex, but to leverage on the develop and match the standards set.
“It is also a challenge for those charged with the duty of maintaining the complex to keep the standards high,” he said.
“We are also expressing the local authority to make sure that services like water and sewer are available.”
Tongai Charakupa called on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to lead similar development across the country.
“It has become common across Zimbabwe to see mining towns like Zvishavane crumbling over the years. The decay in mining towns is all over Zimbabwe, especially Mhangura, Eiffel Flats, Shurungwi, Penhalonga and several others,” he said.
“But as we have witnessed that there is nothing that can stop Zimbabwe from developing its communities, the PSC should take these projects across Zimbabwe.
“We have witnessed similar developments in Chinhoyi, where the main target was students’ accommodation projects, so we expect these to be reciprocated across the nation.”
Meanwhile, speaking at the function, Mnangagwa said the commissioning of these state-of-the-art accommodation facilities stands as a symbol of what Zimbabwe can achieve working together
He said the Zvishavane Midlands Park Development project goes beyond the provision of housing and embodies the spirit of patriotism and our collective determination.
“Our country is, indeed, on an irreversible journey towards Vision 2030. As the second republic, we shall continue to decisively embrace the future where strategic investments, national solidarity and home-grown solutions propel us into a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income economy, with a high quality of life for all the peoples of our great country.
“These projects illustrate how government policies, anchored on efficiency and accountability, can be executed by our national institutions with both urgency and precision.”
The project started in March 2024 and reached completion within the set timeframe, with Mnangagwa indicating that the Public Service Pension Fund and its partners showed that purposeful execution of national assignments is critically important to accelerate development.
“This is the standard and work ethic we must uphold across all our public sector entities as we deliver quality infrastructure and services that meet the needs of our people.
“The principle of value for money, quality workmanship and modern designs as well as timely completion, must now be an embedded characteristic of all public sector infrastructure projects.”
More than 300 families and 750 students are benefiting from these transformational facilities at the complex built through a US$37,7m investment by the Public Service Pension Fund and its partners.
“The residential and student apartments are an investment in the dignity of our people through quality living spaces.
“By deliberately addressing the housing needs and responding to the demand for modern student accommodation, we are also nurturing and developing young people from across our country’s 10 provinces to be versatile and have high self-esteem as they pursue their education and innovation.
“Families on the other hand are being enabled to live in secure, peaceful and stable environments. This project has had a direct and profound impact on the local economy.”
The project also created more than 3 000 job opportunities, offered incomes, transformed livelihoods and ensured the development and transfer of skills, particularly among the youth and women, Mnangagwa said.
“This is commendable. It is also pleasing to note that the local community has benefited from the upgraded water and sanitation systems as well as road infrastructure.
“The success of this project demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships. I, thus, commend all stakeholders, including contractors and service providers as well as Local Authorities for their immense contribution to this achievement.
“The broadening and diversification of the investment footprint by the Public Service Pension Fund is worth noting. The exponential growth of the Fund from a seed capital of US$4,5 million to the current value of about US$650 million, shows that this is a self-sustaining development financing model, which can be emulated by other State-owned enterprises and local authorities.”
Mnangagwa also applauded the pension fund for establishing industrial warehousing hubs, student accommodation complexes, as well as investments in renewable energy projects and the tourism sector, among others.
“These multi-faceted investment portfolios showcase the Fund’s critical role in complementing the socio-economic growth of our country.
“Beyond playing its part in the physical infrastructure ecosystem, the Public Service Pension Fund remains a vital pillar of social security,” he said.
“It must ensure that our pensioners, who have served this nation with dedication, receive a dignified and sustainable income in retirement.”
Mnangagwa also called on all stakeholders, community representatives and citizens alike to remain steadfast in advancing Zimbabwe’s national aspirations.
“The weighty duty to build our country lies with us. To date, our country is rising through the ingenuity, strength and resilience of all our people,” he said.
“Let us keep the momentum and protect the unity, peace and stability which are guarantors of sustainable development.”
