Zimbabwe developers must build power infrastructure before selling stands

Zimbabwe introduced Statutory Instrument 128 of 2026, requiring property developers to finance and construct electricity backbone infrastructure before selling or leasing new stands. iHarare News reported the law aims to ensure new developments have power access. This shifts significant costs onto developers, who previously relied on state utilities. The friction: developers warn the regulation will increase housing prices and slow construction, while the government argues it addresses chronic power shortages. The core vulnerability: the policy may deter investment in a sector already struggling with high costs and unreliable electricity, potentially worsening the housing deficit and slowing urban development.