Business Incubator for the Redevelopment of a Brownfield in Harare (Zimbabwe)

Abstract

The continuous economic decline and rising unemployment rates in Zimbabwe have led to a dire situation across all sectors, ranging from agriculture to industry. These impacts are a true eyesore to the country’s reputation and represent a case of social blight. Despite the numerous startups in the country, there is no clear evidence of improvement in the general quality of life for citizens. The industrial landscape of the country has faced unprecedented challenges, in some cases leading to premature deindustrialisation, leaving the country with brownfields scattered across all regions, particularly in major cities like Harare and Bulawayo, which contain some of the largest industrial brownfields, visible scars on both the urban landscape and the national economy. By 2022, Zimbabwe’s economic landscape was boasting over 40,000 startup businesses within the 0–2-year range. The country's economic chart is steadily rising, indicating economic growth. However, critics argue that Zimbabwe is becoming a “tuckshop country,” driving away its citizens rather than empowering them. This thesis explores brownfields: how the term is defined, how to identify a site as a brownfield, how brownfields are classified, and the various strategies for remediating, reusing, or revitalising these derelict areas. We also examined successful international case studies of brownfield regeneration to assess feasibility, with special attention to how sites were remediated and historical elements preserved. Research on brownfields is still in its infancy globally, with some countries yet to publish significant studies on the subject. The central proposal is the development of a sustainable business incubator, to be located on the least contaminated portion of a brownfield site, while the remaining sections undergo further research into possible bioremediation techniques. The business incubator will be accessible to both the commercial and light industrial sectors, thus supporting startups, fostering job creation, and contributing to the reduction of derelict sites across the country.