Monthly Blog- June 2025

James Charnaud

I am very happy to be back in Zimbabwe combining both work and holiday!

The real estate market in Harare appears to be doing relatively well. The USD and ZAR are legalised tender. This has encouraged foreign investors and the diaspora to invest – with the property market a beneficiary.

There are small shopping centres and petrol stations popping up around the capital, typically anchored by a supermarket.

The wealthier suburbs of Harare have traditionally been typified by large one-acre residential plots with 3–4-bedroom bungalows constructed in the 1950/60s. Now developers are buying up these plots and constructing townhouses (known locally as ‘Cluster Developments’) which provide onsite security and centrally managed utility services.

Due to infrastructure and congestion difficulties most businesses do not locate in the CBD, however there are only a few out-of-town office parks. The vast majority of businesses take advantage of relaxed planning laws to convert existing residential villas into office premises.

This has kept rents very low – often in the single digit USD per month.