Andrew
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
Zimbabwe has opened discussions with international financiers to invest in the development of smart cities in the country, with Government determined to develop ultra-modern metropolises by 2030.
A high-powered Zimbabwean delegation was in Katowice, Poland, recently attending the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) where Government made overtures to investors and development partners to facilitate accelerated sustainable urban development in the country.
Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo and National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe led the Zimbabwean delegation.
In an interview, Minister Garwe said the conference was a major boost to Government’s drive to develop smart cities in the country. He said models to finance smart urban development were at the centre of discussions at the conference.
“As we interrogate the affordable financing models, we also want to look at the affordable designs because it speaks to cost,” said Minister Garwe.
“We want our architects and engineers to design models that speak to green technology. I am aware that new technology has almost cut the cost of provision of settlements by about 40 percent.
“I am also aware that you cut the construction time by almost 50 percent, with Dubai having been built at the backdrop of technology, but if it was brick and mortar it would take about centuries to be where they are now.”
He said building smart cities helps mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
A smart city is a municipality that uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public and improve both the quality of Government services and citizen welfare.
“So we discussed the issue of financing housing projects, how we are going to be financing those programmes, how we are going to attract green funding, how we are going to be attracting affordable finance and how we are going to locally finance some of the projects,” he said.
“We are aware of the impact of climate change on the environment let alone on infrastructure.
“Smart cities, therefore, encourage people to work, play and live within the same community.”
Minister Garwe said people living in smart cities use mass public transport 80 percent less than those in the average metropolitan “because you can walk to the nearest hospital or school.”
“This is a way or measure to deal with the impact of climate change.”
He said the conference also discussed regularisation of informal settlements.
“We are aware that in certain parts of Africa there are slums and in other parts, there are irregular settlements. These have become eyesores in every country and there is now an urgent need to regularise these informal settlements, provide services that are required and provide title deeds at the end of the day,” said Minister Garwe.
The Minister also held a bilateral meeting with UN-Habitat executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
WUF, a premier global conference on sustainable urbanisation, was established in 2001 by the United Nations (UN) to examine rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
This year’s event, which ran under the theme: “Transforming our cities for a better urban future”, was co-organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Poland’s ministry of development funds and regional policy.
Four local authorities exhibited at the forum, showcasing investment opportunities available in their jurisdictions in areas of urban regeneration, mass public transportation and establishment of smart cities.
This year’s edition comprised 400 events featuring 700 speakers from government, civil society, communities, academia and the private sector.
It was attended by over 17 00 people from 155 countries. There are reports that the world’s richest man, Elon Musk plans to build a multi-billion-dollar smart city in Gabarone, Botswana. Reports say the maverick billionaire wants to make the city a shining example of a smart city in Africa which can be used as a template elsewhere.
Online Reporter