Zambia's 'Heart of Africa' launched

Zambia's first fully-integrated lifestyle development, Heart of Africa, has been launched. The development is the country's largest residential project complete with private school, country club and an 18-hole, Peter Matkovich PGA-standard designed golf course.That's the news from Mike Rowley of Legacy Holdings, the developer behind the project, which was also responsible for projects such as The Lost City and Nelson Mandela Square.

Janet Irwin, principal of Harcourts Zambia, which has been mandated to market Heart of Africa says that more than 30 homes in the development were reserved prior to launch.

Situated on the periphery of Lusaka, Heart of Africa will also incorporate an international standard 'town centre' comprising offices, a luxury retail node and a five-star hotel.

"Legacy Holdings has once again partnered with world famous Nelson Mandela Square architect and designer Francois Pienaar to create a one-of-a-kind town square which reflects Zambia's proud African heritage yet encompasses all the elements of a contemporary build.

"Overlooking the square will be the 200-room, five-star Legacy hotel, restaurants, 40 000sqm of office space looking over the lakes, a boutique retail sector and fully serviced apartments and penthouses," says Rowley.

The retail node will total 70 000sqm of department stores, supermarkets, fashion and jewellery boutiques, banks and cinemas. According to Rowley, the area situated behind the office blocks will be a pedestrianised node not unlike that of Melrose Arch. Residents will also have the use of the nearby Baobab School, a country club, tennis courts, gym and pool, health spa and 70ha of recreational parklands, a large proportion of which will be occupied by the golf course.

In the golf estate, buyers have a choice of townhouses, cluster homes and luxury villas measuring between 300sqm and 1200sqm. Buyers can create their own design from scratch or utilise the turnkey packages being made available whereby they can select their design from approximately 78 pre-approved plans created by three of Africa's leading architects. Construction of these homes has to begin within 12 months of purchase and be completed within 24 months.

The first of four townhouse villages within the estate has commenced in conjunction with the launch. Dubbed Copperfields, this segment comprises 72 two and three-bedroom townhouses which can be bought off-plan. According to Rowley, a large number of these units have already sold.

Stands in the Heart of Africa are priced from US$70 000 and townhouses are selling from US$168 000. The development is intended to attract buyers from across the spectrum, but foreign buyers need to either be permanent residents of Zambia or own a company in the country in order to be able to purchase property there.

Get commercial property news by email

Free alerts when we publish — pick a focus or get everything, unsubscribe in one click. Subscribe »