Masvingo real estate tycoon transforms Victoria Ranch

By Rutendo Mambume

REAL estate mogul Goddard Dunira says Victoria Ranch Suburb will become a land full of the proverbial milk and honey.

The well-known land developer who owns several lodges and shopping malls in Masvingo says he and others are trying to utilize space in the suburb in order to show the merits of developing land. 

“We are trying to teach Zimbabweans on the value of real estate as opposed to most insurance schemes and policies so that we emancipate ourselves from economic slavery and economic inferiority,” he said.

Dunira is managing Safaris and Fish Eagles lodges in Chivi and has constructed a shopping mall at Victoria Ranch known as Dunira G Mall. 

He has electrified the mall which is now a bastion of activities especially during weekends when people congregate at the shopping complex. 

Dunira G Mall boasts of beer halls, butcheries, supermarkets, food outlets and hardware centres. Shop space has been let out to happy small business owners who are pleased with high patronage associated with the busy environment of the mall.

Victoria Ranch, which is in Masvingo Rural District ward 7, was a bush a few years ago but now also has big supermarkets. These include including Cheure and Gwanoz where people can buy their groceries and collect their money sent via Mukuru money transfer agency. There are also health centres and pharmacies, making it easier for people to accesses services they need in the suburb without going to town. 

One of the vendors who sells a variety of fruits near Dunira G Mall told Great Zimbabwe Times that Dunira had given them a lifeline. They now have a chance to showcase their businesses as the area is now heavily patronised,  like a growth point.

But who is this Dunira who is playing a big role in development of Victoria Ranch?

Dunira was born in Chivi on 4 August 1968. He did his Primary education at Bvute primary school in Chivi and Babambeni Primary school in Bulawayo. He did his secondary education at Gwamakunguvo in Chivi, Njube high school in Bulawayo and Mambo High school in Gweru. He then qualified as a teacher at Masvingo Teachers College in 1994 and did his University education at University of Tswane in South Africa. 

Dunira is also unionist-cum-politician and a sugarcane farmer.