Jason McCormick, Chief Executive Officer of Exemplar REITail Limited, has injected a new jolt of energy into the regional property sector with a powerful declaration about the Mall of Zimbabwe project, confirming the development is officially “moving on this incredible development!!”
The announcement, delivered via a recent LinkedIn post, showed McCormick and his team—dubbed the “#MallofZimbabwe #Leasing dream team”—beaming with enthusiasm at the Harare airport. This update signalled a profound strategic pivot, aiming to establish a world-class retail and commercial hub in Zimbabwe’s capital.
The most significant takeaway is McCormick’s decision to scrap the existing, “historic” blueprints. He is “going back to the drawing board to completely redesign” the plans, arguing they were “simply not modern and progressive enough to do justice to the incredible site.” This massive 16-hectare (16ha) tract is strategically situated in Borrowdale; an area McCormick describes as “the wealthiest and fastest-growing part of the country.” The sheer size and prime location are expected to consolidate the development into the premier retail and commercial destination in Zimbabwe, offering decades of expansion opportunities.
McCormick expressed strong confidence in the project’s commercial viability, stating the initial Gross Lettable Area (GLA) target of at least 45,000sqm can be met even without immediate commitments from South African (SA) retailers. While affirming the intent to move “heaven and earth” to secure SA brands, he stressed, “Their inclusion in the scheme won’t affect our programming,” suggesting a robust focus on securing a mix of local and international retailers.
This is in line with the project’s overarching vision. According to information from WestProp Holdings Limited, the Mall of Zimbabwe is designed to be the country’s first fully enclosed, air-conditioned regional shopping mall, intended as a one-stop ‘Eat, Shop, Work and Play’ destination, complemented by a major food court and family activities.
The construction is being undertaken by the highly experienced McCormick Property Development Group. With a total project value in excess of US$100 million and a potential peak GLA of 90,000m² upon full completion, the mall is poised to be a major economic catalyst. It is projected to create over 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, providing the single largest real estate foreign direct investment in decades and positively impacting numerous downstream industries.
The updated timeline sets the sights on a 2Q 2028 launch. Anchor leasing is scheduled to commence “shortly,” with leasing for line shops following “early next year.” McCormick concluded his update with a powerful personal pledge: “It’s been a long time since I used this strapline but proud to say that McCormick is ‘Pioneering African Development’ once again!!” The renewed vigour underscores a deep commitment to delivering a landmark project that is set to fundamentally reshape Zimbabwe’s retail and economic landscape.
