DIVINE NDHLUKULA’S PACHENA RETREAT TAKES SHAPE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF HARARE

Zimbabwean businesswoman Dr Divine Ndhlukula has given an update on her Pachena Retreat project, on the outskirts of Harare, sharing that trenching work for pipeworks is now underway to support new tent lodges being built at the site.

In a post shared through her page, Ndhlukula, working alongside her project partner AZ Studio under the banner “Building The Future,” said the team was digging deep at the retreat “with zero compromises on nature.” The update described the current phase of work as trenching for pipeworks that will service the new tent lodges planned for the property, with an emphasis on preserving the surrounding ecology at every stage of construction.

The post framed the project as an “eco-first” development, positioning Pachena Retreat as a getaway built around sustainability rather than one that disrupts its natural setting to make way for tourist infrastructure. Ndhlukula’s message ended with a simple line encouraging followers to “keep watching the space,” suggesting further updates on the retreat’s progress are expected in the weeks ahead.

Ndhlukula is one of Zimbabwe’s most recognised businesswomen. Born in Gutu in 1960, she is the founder and Managing Director of DDNS Security Operations, the holding company behind Securico Security Services, one of the country’s largest private security firms. She holds an Executive MBA from Midlands State University as well as a second MBA from the Women’s University in Africa, which also conferred on her a PhD in Business Leadership in recognition of her work in business and gender equality. She previously served as president of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the organisation’s Women’s Desk.

Her move into hospitality with the Pachena Retreat project reflects a broader pattern among established Zimbabwean entrepreneurs diversifying beyond their core industries into tourism and leisure developments. Tented lodges, of the kind referenced in the update, have become an increasingly popular format for boutique retreats across the region, offering guests a closer connection to nature while limiting the physical footprint of permanent buildings on sensitive land.

While full details on the retreat’s location, opening date and planned amenities have not yet been made public, the emphasis on trenching for pipe infrastructure suggests the project has moved past early planning and land preparation into more substantial groundwork. Utilities such as water and drainage systems are typically among the first major installations on a site before lodge structures themselves are built.

For now, Ndhlukula and her team appear focused on getting the underlying infrastructure right before construction on the visible guest facilities accelerates. Followers of the project have been told to expect more updates as work continues, with the eco-conscious approach set to remain a central theme as the retreat takes shape.