Africa’s digital and industrial infrastructure push is drawing fresh momentum from Zimbabwe, where Econet InfraCo says it is planning a large-scale, airport-adjacent industrial development backed by renewable energy and data capacity.
- Econet InfraCo is initiating a substantial industrial development project adjacent to the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe.
- The proposed location aims to blend power, connectivity, and logistics to attract manufacturing and export-focused businesses.
- This project will incorporate a 300-hectare industrial park powered by a 100-megawatt solar energy plant and equipped with advanced data infrastructure.
- The endeavor is part of a broader strategy, driven by Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa, that emphasizes artificial intelligence and infrastructural innovation.
Econet InfraCo, the infrastructure arm being spun out of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, plans to develop a 300-hectare industrial park near Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, anchored by a 100-megawatt solar power plant and a large-scale data centre, according to Marketscreener.
The company is betting that combining power, connectivity and logistics access in a single location can attract manufacturers and export-focused businesses seeking lower operating risk.
An Airport-linked Industrial and Export Hub
The proposed park is designed as a modern industrial and logistics hub, targeting companies involved in manufacturing, processing and value-added exports.
By providing serviced land, renewable power and digital infrastructure, Econet InfraCo says it aims to reduce start-up costs for tenants while speeding up investment decisions.
“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,” said Douglas Mboweni, Econet Group chief executive.
Mboweni said the project will be implemented in phases, with the solar power plant deployed in stages based on demand.
Work on the first phase has already begun, though the development remains subject to regulatory and planning approvals.
Once completed, the group expects the project to rank among Zimbabwe’s largest private-sector developments since independence and to support the government’s industrialisation and export-led growth strategy.
Masiyiwa’s AI-led Shift in Strategy
The industrial park is among several major initiatives approved by Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa, who has recently placed artificial intelligence at the centre of the group’s long-term strategy.
In December, Masiyiwa reflected publicly on how AI reshaped his entrepreneurial focus:
“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 also pointed to the launch of Econet’s first AI Factory in Cape Town, South Africa, as a defining moment in that shift.
“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.”
InfraCo Restructuring and Market Plans
The Zimbabwean billionaire unveiled Econet InfraCo in December 2025 as part of a broader restructuring that separates infrastructure assets from Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s mobile operations.
The company said InfraCo has long operated internally, managing towers, fibre, power systems, and data facilities that underpin the group’s services.
In a cautionary statement, Econet said it plans to list InfraCo on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, as it seeks to unlock value from its infrastructure portfolio.
As demand for power-backed digital and industrial infrastructure grows across Africa, the Harare airport-adjacent industrial park illustrates how telecom groups are repositioning themselves at the intersection of energy, data, and manufacturing.
