Ken Sharpe, a prominent businessman and the Executive Chairman of West Property Zimbabwe has played a pivotal role in reshaping the real estate landscape of Zimbabwe over the past three decades.
His remarkable journey from a dream shared with his wife in a truck to owning multiple properties has not only fulfilled his personal aspirations but also revolutionised the country’s real estate industry, bringing a touch of Dubai-style luxury to the heart of Southern Africa.
In a country with a backlog of housing demands exceeding half a million, Ken Sharpe and West Property Zimbabwe have taken a unique approach. While addressing the accommodation challenges, they have set their sights on high-value premium properties, committing to delivering homes in batches of thousands to the market.
Their mission focuses on the creation of high-end, sustainable, and well-planned residential and commercial properties within the Greater Harare Area.
Sharpe’s journey began in 2007 when he registered West Property Zimbabwe and acquired the housing development company “Houses for Africa.” This acquisition marked the start of a strategic move to take over several properties and land units, targeting the capital city of Harare. During this period, Sharpe also learned the intricacies of land acquisition processes and regulations, navigating through the challenging economic landscape of hyperinflation in Zimbabwe.
Since its inception, West Property Zimbabwe has successfully established various developments, including the Mbudzi People’s Market, Pokugara townhouses, Pomona City, and the grand Millennium Heights. In 2023, the company listed on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange becoming the first property development company to list on VFEX.
They are also in the process of creating Hills Golf Estate, a luxurious lifestyle area featuring a hotel, residential villas, a premium golf course and retirement homes.
“Although we are trying to address accommodation challenges in Zimbabwe we are not looking into high-density properties for low-income earners,” said Sharpe.
“We are looking at high-value premium properties and of course, we are delivering homes but we are committed to putting in batches of thousand units to the market which would be either at the stage of the servicing, sold, or even not sold but still under construction.”
The aspiration of Ken Sharpe and West Property Zimbabwe is nothing short of ambitious: to bring the opulence and quality standards of Dubai to Zimbabwe. This vision is not confined to the residential sector but extends to commercial and lifestyle properties. The company envisions creating an environment where residents can live, work, shop, and play, much like the thriving cities of Dubai.
Innovation is at the core of West Property Zimbabwe’s business model. The company has introduced the concept of leasing, a model that is relatively new in Zimbabwe but has been successfully used in countries like South Africa and Dubai. This model allows individual companies and investors to pay for developed properties, instilling confidence in a market often plagued by uncertainties.
“We thought that this could be an opportunity for individual companies and investors to pay for something that has been developed rather than paying for something that does not yet exist. We have seen that in Zimbabwe we have a crisis of confidence and as West Prop we are walking the talk through giving people hope and making sure they realise it,” he added.
Ken Sharpe’s journey from a dream shared in a truck to the realization of a property empire reflects his unwavering commitment to creating spaces that inspire, uplift, and endure. West Property Zimbabwe’s innovative and sustainable designs, coupled with a touch of Dubai’s luxury, are transforming Harare into a modern city at the forefront of real estate growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sharpe’s architectural journey embodies the values of cultural integration, sustainability, technological advancement, and harmonious design. He believes that architecture is an opportunity to shape the future and create a better world that reflects the collective aspirations of a nation.
As Zimbabwe’s GDP is set to improve, the real estate industry, led by visionaries like Ken Sharpe, is poised to be a significant beneficiary, providing the country with world-class retail and office spaces and helping to elevate its global standing.
They are also in the process of creating The Hills Golf Estate, a luxurious lifestyle development featuring a 5 star hotel, residential villas and apartments, a PGA standard golf course and retirement homes.
“Although we are trying to address accommodation challenges in Zimbabwe we are not looking into high-density properties for low-income earners,” said Sharpe.
“We are looking at high-value premium properties and of course, we are delivering homes but we are committed to putting 1 billion bricks in the ground which is tens of thousands of homes in the market.”
