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Lifestyle Writer

For people, it is an ancient rhythm of life to dream big, even big enough to aspire to own a grand house or at least rent the best home.

Home − by its nature − is defined through its ambience, the accompanying comfort and little everything else that triggers a feeling of goodness.

Nature’s exhaustless generosity has given human beings creativity, and most modern houses are indeed a manifestation of this creativity, giving wider choice for the most discerning home-seeker.

Many Zimbabweans have always dreamt of owning a property and even leasing one in some of the country’s affluent suburbs, all in search of ultra-luxury.

Harare is host to several such suburbs situated in the leafy northern parts of the capital, which boasts of the most opulent mansions and enclaves.

As a result, the pressure to own a property, a house and even lease one in the northern part of the capital is increasingly becoming unbearable, as attested by the interest shown by both homeowners and seekers, who have coined street lingo that speak glowingly of these upmarket neighbourhoods.

Areas such as Mount Pleasant, Avondale, Pomona, Kambanji, Glen Lorne and Borrowdale have earned an avalanche of names such as “North of Samora”, “kuma dale dale”, “ uptown”, “leafy suburbs”, “kumbinga” and other stretching euphemisms used to describe the ultra-luxury enjoyed by many in these hoods.

High end fashion mainly of designer clothes, original house décors that bespeak class, modern cars, and a litany of upmarket eateries, restaurants which guarantees one high-end dinning and exciting recreational spaces tucked into an oasis in these neighbourhoods, make these suburbs the ideal places to live.

However, aspiring home owners, eager to live in beauty and grandeur while keeping humility and simplicity in style could soon achieve that following the launch of Tantallon Estates, dubbed Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme, in Harare, recently.

The scheme is set to create the same ambience and aesthetics that resemble lifestyles in the northern suburbs of Harare.

Following high on the heels of an upmarket but middle-income residential area − Aspindale Park − Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme, located in Manyame behind Chitungwiza along the road to Chihota and sitting on 590 hectares, is set to widen accommodation options for middle-income earners keen on upgrading their standards of living.

The newly launched scheme boasts modern flats, apartments and houses with amenities such as schools, restaurants, filling stations and health centres, which will all would be gated.

The adoption of the gated communities, concept blends well with the Second Dispensation’s Vision 2030 which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.

Launching the Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme by property development firm, Pinnacle Properties, in Harare on Friday night, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described the project as a milestone achievement which dovetails with the ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene    vayo’ mantra.

“When you see the private sector coming on board to do such massive developmental projects, you know that that country is moving forward in a manner that is pleasing,” he said.

The beauty about this scheme is that it is moulded along international trends that now focus on the residents’ comfort, security and retaining property value through the establishment of gated communities.

Unlike other schemes that focus on one type of accommodation, homeseekers will be spoilt for choice as they will have an option to buy apartments, flats, land or houses.

Each of the availed options under Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme would be in gated communities, to protect and safeguard iconic architecture, and stunning views while giving buyers value for money.

Gated communities have not only proliferated worldwide, but they are also an increasing phenomenon in Zimbabwe.

The Ken Sharpe-owned Pomona City, Nyeredzi Ridge, Pomona Estate, all situated along Alpes and Borrowdale Brooke, are some of the gated communities that are already creating glamorous experiences within an exclusive community where security is also guaranteed.

These gated developments manifest in various types and forms, including enclosed neighbourhoods, large luxury estates, gated townhouse complexes and many non-residential types of gated communities.

Those who live in such areas say the charm of gated communities lies in their meticulously maintained properties, upmarket amenities and a sense of exclusivity that sets them apart from other areas.

“The term “North of Samora” might soon be bastardised and also have its flip side, “South of Samora”, which will have pockets of happiness, thanks to the establishment of Aspindale Park and the recent launch of Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme,” said a Harare property analyst, Governor Dota.

He added that the emergence of the two affluent housing schemes boasting luxurious ambience and exclusive amenities – all under one room – is already changing the planning landscape of property developers, giving Harare a new identity.

“People are willing to pay for convenience, high quality life and have no problems in investing in schemes where their aspirations are taken care of,” he said.

He added that although some sections of society have come out guns blazing, criticising these developments, especially gated communities as a contemporary form of segregation, this has since become the trend globally.

“Such housing schemes are the new normal. Owning a house is no longer about just having a roof above your head, it is now about comfort and an unrivalled standard of living,” said one of guests at the launch of the Nyore Nyore Housing Scheme in Harare recently.