As the executive chairman of Fairview Properties, Mr. Albert Kamhunga drives and implements the company’s strategy.
At the heart of our fairy-tale Success story has been our chairman’s ability to sniff out opportunities from a distance and convert them with the swiftness of a golden eagle. Our Executive Chairperson always takes calculated risks and exploits opportunities for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Mr. Kamhunga has established a formidable team that, like him, believes that leaders can only be successful if they embrace innovation.
True to our philosophy, Fairview Properties has proved to be a creature of innovation since its formation in 2013, which has helped give the business an edge over our competitors. Our innovation model rests on several critical pillars which include how we allocate scarce resources; our willingness to continuously improve our product offerings; our ability to energise staff to rally behind Fairview Properties’ vision; the creation of a conducive workplace environment that allows ideas to flourish as well as the quality of our people, systems, and processes.
In their report titled; Building a Culture of Innovation – and the Company’s bottom-line, Francois Nel and Coral Milburn-Curtis (2017), made the point that organisations that invest in people thrive no matter their economic circumstances. At Fairview Properties, our performance since inception vindicates this finding. Crucially a key idea associated with making that transformation is the entrepreneur who in Fairview Properties’ case, has been our Executive Chairman.
But who exactly is Mr Kamhunga?
Mr Kamhunga is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of Fairview Properties, which has become one of the most respected, trusted, and dynamic property development and marketing companies in Zimbabwe, since its establishment.
He has used his extensive experience and contacts in marketing and logistics to develop a model that works for the business, anchored on converting Fairview Properties’ massive 1300-hectare land bank into an opportunity for value addition and annuity income for its stakeholders.
Mr Kamhunga spearheaded the creation of lifestyle housing communities, fittingly called Fairview communities, designed to attract people of common interests who want to enjoy shared amenities. Their flagship housing development, Utopia Mews, is unlike any other lifestyle community found in Zimbabwe.
Located within Fairview Estates in a secure lock-up-and-go environment, Utopia Mews boasts of semi-detached, two-family four-bedroom duplex houses with timeless architectural designs and elegant accomplishments to meet the tastes of modern families looking beyond just raising their families in homely environs. It features 68 eye-catching semi-detached duplexes, complete with top-class amenities, which sets it apart from similar housing communities elsewhere in the country.
To cater to other tastes, through Mr Kamhunga’s leadership Fairview Properties has also created Diamond Mews, which is a prime cluster development within Phase 2 of Fairview Estate.
Diamond Mews has 11, freestanding duplex units, with a swimming pool and single carport. Added security includes an additional perimeter boundary wall around the clusters. The Development is ready to build and units are available for sale off-plan under Sectional Title.
Another of Fairview Properties’ development is Pelican Mews – a cluster development of eight, single-storey freestanding houses. Each unit also enjoys a private splash pool and a single carport. Added security includes an additional perimeter boundary wall around the clusters.
Pelican Mews is ready to build and units are available for sale off-plan under Sectional Title.
More developments are in the offing, including outside of the Fairview Estate.
Already, Varaidzo Villas is taking shape in the upmarket northern suburb of Hogarty Hill in Harare.
It encompasses 18 units, six freestanding double-storey five-bedroomed houses, and 12 semi-detached duplexes. Communal recreational facilities will also be located in the cluster development. The duplexes will form part of a B’n’B resort. The Development is ready to build and units are available for sale off-plan under Sectional Title.
But what motivates Mr Kamhunga and his team?
As far as Mr Kamhunga is concerned, their top priority is to make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities around them. Profit is their secondary objective rather than their primary motive.
There is a method to the madness!
For example, Fairview Properties’ developments are helping absorb the burgeoning numbers on the country’s housing waiting list, through the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure which has restored dignity in the investing public at a time when the nation is witnessing the mushrooming of housing developments with no amenities such as electricity, water and sewer facilities.
Having honed his leadership skills at some of Zimbabwe’s top corporates, Mr. Kamhunga believes that in their pursuit of Fairview Properties’ vision of becoming “the partner of choice in the provision of unique property investment opportunities to our customers through innovative, sustainable real estate solutions,” there shouldn’t be any shortcuts.
Thus, their conduct and practices are anchored on a solid governance culture and values anchored on collaboration, honesty, accountability, leadership, and innovation.
Before founding Fairview Properties, Mr Kamhunga served as managing director for Manica Zimbabwe for over 15 years. While at the logistics company, which was acquired by Bidvest around 2000, he served on its regional board, in charge of Bidvest’s freight business –overseeing South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi. During the same period, he headed the marketing portfolio within the Southern Africa Railways Association board.
Before joining Manica Zimbabwe, the Fairview Properties founder had worked for the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) for 14 years, 11 of which were at the executive level. When he left NRZ for Manica Zimbabwe, he had risen to become the deputy chief executive officer in charge of marketing and operational functions of the parastatal.
A holder of a business studies degree from the University of Zimbabwe, Mr Kamhunga has held several other high-level positions and directorships, including chairing the CMED board for two, three-year terms.
An astute leader with a proven track record, Mr Kamhunga has also succeeded in building a cohesive team of professionals in the field. Fairview Properties’ executive, management, and staff have a shared goal of creating value for their stakeholders – customers, communities, staff, partners, and shareholders.