Business Reporter
Ken Sharpe, CEO of West Prop Holdings Limited, has outlined a compelling roadmap for Zimbabwe to leverage its estimated US$100 billion immovable property assets to drive accelerated economic growth.
Speaking at the 2026 CEO Africa Roundtable, Sharpe emphasized the urgent need for Zimbabwe and other African nations to convert their vast asset base into tangible capital—an essential step to unlocking economic potential.
Drawing on insights from renowned economist Hernando De Soto’s book, The Mystery of Capital, Sharpe highlighted a pervasive issue facing many African countries: the failure to transform latent assets into usable financial capital. Zimbabwe, Sharpe noted, is no exception.
“Zimbabwe has over one million legally titled homes, with potentially three times that number in untitled properties, representing an estimated $100 billion in total asset value,” Sharpe explained. “However, over 99% of this value remains dormant, unable to be leveraged for economic growth due to limitations within the formal financial system. This represents a massive opportunity that has yet to be tapped.”
Sharpe suggested that unlocking just 20% of this dormant value—equivalent to $20 billion—could provide substantial long-term financing for infrastructure and development projects. He emphasized that the gap between asset potential and accessible capital is what keeps Zimbabwe’s citizens “asset-rich on paper but cash-poor,” preventing wealth creation and financial inclusion.
Drawing a comparison with Switzerland, where mortgage lending exceeds 150% of GDP, Sharpe stressed the importance of integrating property assets fully into the financial system.
“Switzerland’s model exemplifies how *alive capital* works—where assets are deeply embedded in the financial ecosystem, driving liquidity, investment, and economic prosperity,” Sharpe said. “In contrast, Zimbabwe’s housing value, while significant, remains largely disconnected from the formal financial system.”
Sharpe also underscored the critical role of currency stability in facilitating mortgage markets and supporting long-term capital formation. “For mortgages to function effectively, they must be backed by a stable currency that ensures value preservation, investor confidence, and policy credibility,” he noted. “Without these conditions, the market has naturally defaulted to the US dollar as a store of value.”
Sharpe raised concerns about the potential risks of de-dollarization before creating the necessary conditions for a stable local currency capable of supporting long-term lending. “Are we attempting to de-dollarize prematurely, without establishing a reliable financial system that can support 15–20-year loans in local currency?” he asked. “This could hinder, rather than enable, the unlocking of capital.”
In his closing remarks, Sharpe endorsed the extension of the multi-currency framework until 2030, arguing that the framework is vital for maintaining confidence and stability in Zimbabwe’s financial system.
“The USD is not the problem; it is part of the solution, providing a trusted store of value in an otherwise volatile economic environment,” he concluded.
Sharpe’s call to action points to a clear strategy: reform the financial system to harness the full potential of Zimbabwe’s property assets, while addressing currency stability to create the conditions for long-term economic prosperity.
