Africa's New Modern Cities: A Beacon of Hope for the Continent
Dennis W. Wachira, MSC, PMP®, MSP ®
Project Management specialist | PMP® Certified | Project coordination | Construction, Infrastructure & Engineering management | Cross-functional project collaboration |
Africa's urban population is quickly increasing, with the continent's urban population anticipated to quadruple by 2050. Because of this urbanization, there is a demand for new and modern cities that can handle the rising population while also providing chances for economic growth.
Several important contemporary towns are being built in Africa, each with its own distinct vision and development goals. Here are a couple of such examples:
KIGALI INNOVATION CITY.
Kigali Innovation City (KIC) is a $1 billion project being created in Rwanda to serve as a centre for innovation and technology by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Africa50 Group . The city is being constructed on a 60-hectare tract of land and is scheduled to be finished in 2025. KIC is being developed to be a mixed-use, master-planned, innovative city. The universities will be world-class institutions focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and research. The commercial park will house a range of technology enterprises, while the residential portion will be environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Each year, the city is predicted to generate 50,000 jobs and $450m in economic activity. We already have Carnegie Mellon University Africa currently open for business, and the business park is under construction. Construction of the residential sector is anticipated to start in 2023.
Tatu City is in Kiambu County, Kenya, approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Nairobi. The city is being constructed on a 5,000-hectare (12,000-acre) parcel of land by the Tatu City Development Corporation (TDC) and is projected to be finished by 2030. A residential region, a commercial area, an industrial sector, and a technological park will be included in the city. The residential division will house 250,000 people, while the business area will house 50,000 workers. The city will run on renewable energy and sustain a zero-waste policy.
Tatu City is Kenya’s first operational Special Economic Zone, providing reduced corporate taxes, zero-rated VAT and import duty exemptions, among other benefits.
Schools and businesses are already open in Tatu City, and a range of homes suit all incomes. The first phase of the residential area is finished, while the commercial portion is presently under development. The building of the technological park is scheduled to begin in 2024.
Tatu City's recent updates.
KONZA CITY
Konza City is a $14 billion IT park being created in Kenya with the goal of becoming a hub for the African IT sector by the Konza Technopolis (KTDA). Konza (Konza Technopolis ) is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development portfolio. This will be a world-class city, powered by a thriving information, communications and technology (ICT) sector, superior reliable infrastructure and business-friendly governance systems. the city. It was planned as a mixed-use, high-density walkable city that accommodates a diversity of programs and districts. By avoiding superblocks and auto-orientated roadways, Konza will be a livable, sustainable urban environment that encourages high-value development and discourages sprawl. 200,000 people will be housed in the residential area. The city is being constructed on a 2,000-hectare (5,000-acre) parcel of land and is scheduled to be finished by 2030.
Konza City has progressed further than the other two cities. The university is being built, and the commercial park has been completed. Construction on the residential area is scheduled to start in 2023.
Eko Atlantic is the most advanced of the four cities and is located in Lagos, Nigeria, being developed by the Eko Atlantic Development Corporation (EADC). The city is being built on reclaimed land in the Atlantic Ocean, protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea wall and is expected to be completed by 2025. It is a focal point for investors capitalising on rich development growth based on massive demand – and a gateway to emerging markets of the continent.
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The project is privately funded by South Energyx Nigeria Limited – the developers and city planners, a subsidiary of the Nigeria-based @Chagoury Group of companies – working in strategic partnership with the Lagos State Government and supported by the Nigerian federal government. The city will include a residential quarter, a commercial area, and a leisure area. The residential area will be home to 250,000 people, and the commercial quarter will be home to 1 million jobs. The city will also have a number of leisure amenities, like a marina, a golf course, and a beach.
The first phase of the residential area has been completed, and the commercial zone is under construction. The leisure area is expected to begin construction in 2024.
NKOSI CITY
Nkosi City is a major Integrated Human Settlement in Daantjie, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is developed in a joint venture between the Nkosi City Communal Property Association and Dovetail Properties, assisted by the South African National Government, Mpumalanga Provincial Government and the City of Mbombela.
Construction on the R8 billion project is expected to start as early as June, with the city set to include RDP, social and bonded housing, as well as several urban farms.
Project developer Dovetail Properties said that on completion, the development will take the form of an ‘agri-city’, with urban housing located among small-scale urban farming plots.
The farming projects are expected to create employment opportunities for unemployed people in the area, with an estimated 15 000 jobs expected to be created. Power to the new city will be partially supplied by a solar farm and a biomass renewable energy plant.
‘The city will not only be a central business district for the region, but also an agricultural hub of macadamias, citrus and cash crops, eventually totalling about 5 000 hectares,’ said Philip Kleijnhans, director of Dovetail Properties.
Nkosi City will include 3471 houses and flats, 241 hectares of urban farms, nine pre-schools, three primary schools and two secondary schools, says the developer.
CONCLUSION
These cities are at various stages of development, but they all possess the capacity to revolutionize Africa. They show Africa as a leader in innovation, technology, and sustainability in the future.
Constructing these present-day towns is a massive endeavour, but it is critical for Africa's future. These communities will give much-needed housing, jobs, and economic prospects. They will equally contribute to the resolution of some of the continent's most serious issues, like poverty, unemployment and climate change.
The development of these sophisticated cities demonstrates Africa's expanding potential. It indicates the continent is on the move and is committed to developing a more promising future for its people. The construction of these modern cities is a sign of Africa's growing