Zwigananda roped into Egodini Mall project

Better Brands Construction, a company owned by businessman and ZANU-PF politician Scott Sakupwanya, has been brought on board in a last-ditch attempt to revive the long-delayed Egodini Mall redevelopment project, according to a Bulawayo City Council report.

The Egodini project, first awarded to South African-based developer Terracotta Trading (Pvt) Ltd in 2015, was initially billed as a US$60 million modernisation of the city's historic taxi rank into a state-of-the-art transport hub and shopping complex. However, nearly a decade later, the site remains largely incomplete.

Only Phase 1A  -  the taxi rank section  -  has been completed and operational since January 2024. Construction once again came to a standstill in February this year, prompting the council to issue multiple warnings to Terracotta over its continued non-performance.

In a report dated 10 April 2025, the Acting Director of Works revealed that progress at the site stands at a mere 11%, with no visible development of Phase 1B, which was supposed to include a bus rank, fuel station, additional taxi bays, and retail anchor shops.

Faced with the looming threat of contract termination, Terracotta responded to a formal Notice of Cancellation issued by the Town Clerk in December 2024 by announcing a new partnership with Better Brands Construction. The developer advised in a letter dated 25 February 2025 that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sakupwanya's firm in a bid to salvage the stalled project.

"The Developer had been issued with a six-month Notice of Cancellation of the Lease for failing to comply with conditions outlined in the earlier notice issued in September 2023, and for abandoning the site," the council report stated. "Terracotta responded requesting withdrawal of the cancellation notice, citing the MoU with Better Brands Construction."

Despite this development, councillors expressed growing frustration, noting that Terracotta has yet to submit essential documents, including a comprehensive programme of works, cost estimates, architectural designs, and a performance bond from a reputable financial institution.

Councillor Dumisani Netha called for swift and decisive action, while Councillor Donaldson Mabuto criticised Terracotta's continued failure to meet its contractual obligations. "Terracotta was expected to respond and adhere to the contract, but they have not," he said.

Councillor Mmeli Moyo warned that the protracted delays were harming the city's reputation. "The Egodini issue is sending the wrong signals to investors and damaging the council's image," Moyo said, urging for tougher measures.

Other councillors, including Roy Sekete and Aleck Ndlovu, went further, calling for the immediate termination of Terracotta's contract. They also questioned whether the council had done enough to manage the site, particularly in relation to vendor spaces and rental obligations.

Responding to the councillors' concerns, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the matter was being handled with care and confirmed he had been in contact with the project manager. "We have been promised a formal response by April 15, 2025," he said.

Dube reaffirmed the city's commitment to seeing the redevelopment through. "The Egodini Mall project is a critical undertaking for Bulawayo, and we are determined to ensure that all future steps are in the best interest of the residents."

The inclusion of Better Brands Construction marks a major shift in the trajectory of the Egodini project, which has come to symbolise stalled urban renewal efforts and frustrated investment in Zimbabwe's second-largest city. Whether this new partnership can deliver the long-promised transformation remains to be seen.