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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
REDCLIFF Municipality has engaged a number of investors who are set to construct state-of-the-art infrastructure along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway as the town intensifies its expansion drive.

The local authority seeks to attain city status by 2030 and has embarked on an expansion drive that will see it relocating its central business district (CBD) to the more lucrative Redcliff Turnoff along the highway in line with the smart cities concept.

Since the completion of the first multi-million-dollar infrastructure by Rockodox last year, there has been a lot of activity with a lot of ground clearing to pave way for more construction works earmarked to take place at the new site.

The fuel service station, which has shops for rental, Simbisa flagship outlets, energy services, among others, has breathed life into Redcliff with more investors now attracted to the once sleepy town for investment opportunities.

According to Redcliff business development manager, Mr Ernest Gibb Chigwagwa, gone are the days when the town solely relied on the steel manufacturing company, Ziscosteel, as it is now exploring alternative development routes.

“We had to think outside the box as we relocated our CBD from its current location as it does not have any more land for expansion both commercially or otherwise,” he said. “We thus discovered land at the Redcliff turnoff along the highway where we seek to construct state-of-the-art buildings.

“We have engaged a number of investors who are willing to work with us in achieving the dream,” said Mr Chigwagwa.

Among other key infrastructure to be built are a hotel, flats, service stations and lodges.

Mr Chigwagwa said about 54 stands have been set aside for heavy industrial development and commercial purposes while a substantial number has been earmarked for small to medium purposes.

Ziscosteel company

“We have set aside about 200 hectares on the site where about 13 high rise flats will be constructed. One investor has already purchased 4,4 hectares for the construction of a hotel at the turn off,” he said.

“We also have another investor who is coming in with a transport interchange to cater for long distance buses and truck stops, as well as service stations and truck stops at the site. There is going to be a lot of development.”

Town Clerk, Mr Gilson Chakauya said the local authority was working on addressing water challenges that have been dogging the town for a long time.

“We have been facing water challenges but we are working on addressing those. We are still in talks with an investor with the view of constructing a water treatment plant so that we can become water self-sufficient,” he said.

The cash-strapped local authority owes about $100 million to Kwekwe City Council for water supplies.

Mr Chakauya said Redcliff had a key turnaround strategy to be one of the jaws of driving the economy toward the attainment of vision 2030 in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS1).