Egyptian Experts to Lay Groundwork for Mt Hampden Smart City

By Knowledge Muneri

Egyptian experts are expected to arrive in Zimbabwe soon to commence preliminary works on the construction of a new smart city in Mt Hampden. The project is a result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Zimbabwe and Egypt in July 2023, aimed at collaborating on the planning, design, construction, and management of the new smart city development.

The new city is set to become the country's capital, and Egypt's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Maha Kamel, has expressed optimism about the project's timing, coinciding with Zimbabwe's rollout of its five-year economic plan, the National Development Strategy (NDS2). Egypt is prepared to support Zimbabwe's development efforts and share its experiences in constructing smart cities, such as the New Administrative Capital (NAC) and New Alamein City.

The partnership will begin with a government-to-government phase, creating opportunities for the private sector to engage in the implementation stage. Dr. Kamel emphasized that this collaboration would pave the way for Egyptian private sector participation in the construction of new cities, leveraging Egypt's experience and expertise.

Egypt has successfully developed smart cities like the NAC, which features a fibre-optic network backbone, automated waste collection, smart grids, and a digital twin for city management. New Alamein City is another example, blending tourism, residential, and technological ambitions with a focus on smart utilities, digital governance, and sustainable water and energy use.