By Wallace Mawire
The Urban Development Corporation (UDCORP) is positioning itself at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s transition toward sustainable urban development, with a growing focus on green construction technologies and environmentally responsible infrastructure systems.
Joey Shumbamhini, Chief Executive Officer of UDCORP, said the state-owned enterprise, established through an Act of Parliament, carries a broad mandate that extends beyond housing delivery to include urban planning, infrastructure development, and the creation of sustainable human settlements across Zimbabwe.
“Our mandate is not merely to build houses, but to help shape organised, modern, inclusive and sustainable communities that improve the quality of life of Zimbabweans,” Shumbamhini said.
At the centre of UDCORP’s latest sustainability drive is the launch of Phase One of the Knockmalloch Housing Project in Chegutu District, a development Shumbamhini described as a significant milestone for Zimbabwe’s urban development sector.
As part of the project, UDCORP has adopted modern bio-digester technology as an alternative sewer management solution, replacing traditional sewer pond systems that have long dominated urban infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe.
The Knockmalloch project is one of UDCORP’s flagship mixed-density housing developments, incorporating high-, medium-, and low-density residential phases alongside supporting infrastructure such as roads, water systems, sewer reticulation networks, and other public utilities aimed at building a modern and sustainable community.
The first phase of the development is expected to accommodate approximately 700 households. UDCORP says the decision to move away from conventional sewer ponds reflects a deliberate strategy to establish itself as a leader in green urban development and sustainable infrastructure solutions in Zimbabwe.
Shumbamhini noted that while traditional sewer systems played an important role in earlier decades, they have increasingly become associated with major environmental and public health challenges, including pollution, water contamination, unpleasant odours, and costly maintenance requirements.
According to UDCORP, bio-digester systems use biological processes to break down waste in a more environmentally controlled and sustainable manner, significantly reducing pollution risks and harmful emissions while enhancing environmental protection.
Beyond waste management, the corporation says the technology also creates economic value by converting waste into useful by-products such as biomass and organic fertiliser.
The project is being implemented by UDCORP in partnership with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, while Onyx Earth Renewables is serving as the contractor.
Engineer Ronald Zhou of Onyx Earth Renewables said the initiative aligns closely with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including those focused on clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
Onyx Earth Renewables CEO Engineer John Makombe revealed that the company is constructing bio-digesters with capacities of up to 2,000 cubic metres as part of complete biogas and sewer treatment plants designed to harness human waste for energy production.
Makombe said the recovered gas will also be used to power turbines capable of generating electricity for street lighting within the new communities being developed.
Shumbamhini emphasized that Zimbabwe’s push toward green infrastructure mirrors broader global trends, pointing to countries such as Germany, India, and China, where bio-digester technologies have already been widely adopted across municipalities, housing projects, agricultural systems, and public institutions.
He noted that India, in particular, has successfully integrated bio-digester systems into both urban and rural sanitation programmes, helping improve environmental management while simultaneously generating renewable energy from waste.
According to Shumbamhini, such international examples demonstrate how sustainable sanitation systems can improve public health outcomes, reduce environmental degradation, lower infrastructure costs, and create new economic opportunities at the same time.
