Online Reporter
Judith Phiri [email protected]
THE City of Bulawayo has revealed a housing backlog of more than 150 000 units, with the growing waiting list driven largely by population growth, as the local authority seeks increased investment in housing, water and sanitation infrastructure.
Speaking during the recent Bulawayo Investment Indaba, City of Bulawayo Economic Development Officer Mr Kholisani Moyo said the city’s housing model seeks to provide decent accommodation for residents across all income groups through low, medium and high-density developments.
“However despite this model the city has a backlog of more than 150 000, with its housing waiting list largely attributed to the city’s growing population.
“As such we are looking to invest in low cost sustainable housing for the city’s low income demographic so as to ensure everyone is covered,” said Mr Moyo.
He said that despite the backlog, the city was also seeking investment to modernise and redevelop its ageing suburbs.
Mr Moyo said Bulawayo is home to some of the country’s oldest suburbs, including Mzilikazi, Makokoba and Old Pumula, where parts of the housing stock have deteriorated and require refurbishment.
“The city is looking for investment in redevelopment of old suburbs. City regeneration projects presents a very lucrative opportunity of our investors. Housing sector investment opportunities include development of low-cost housing for our low income earners in the form of apartments complexes and regeneration projects for our old suburbs such as the Makokoba and Mzilikazi, among others,” said Mr Moyo.
He said additional opportunities existed in smart housing developments, high-rise buildings, stand servicing, turnkey housing projects and the provision of mortgage finance through the financial sector, pension funds and corporate lenders.
Mr Moyo said residents were demanding affordable completed housing units across high, medium and low-density areas, sustainable long-term financing models and security of tenure through title deeds or lease agreements.
“They also need tax incentives for reduced taxation on deeded benefits for stands and houses given to employees, safety through strong and environmentally friendly housing and affordable rentals,” he said.
On water and sanitation, Mr Moyo said Bulawayo has for years battled water shortages due to its arid geographical location.
He said while the city’s original water and wastewater infrastructure was well designed and constructed, maintenance and operational resources had failed to keep pace with prevailing economic challenges.
“Institutional and cost recovery for water and wastewater services needs to be improved urgently and concurrently with the infrastructural remedies. Most of the city’s water infrastructure is in need rehabilitation, renewal or upgrading,” he said.
Mr Moyo said investment opportunities in the water sector included bulk pipelines, reservoirs, water treatment works, pump stations, water reticulation systems and prepaid water meters.
He said sanitation-related opportunities included sewage treatment works, outfall sewers, refurbishment of sewer pump stations, waste-to-energy plants, recycled water supply infrastructure and replacement of ageing sewer reticulation systems.
