Online Reporter
For families in Cowdray Park’s Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle section, home ownership has not translated into decent living conditions.
While many residents proudly hold houses built through years of hardwork and sacrifice, the absence of proper roads, sewer reticulation and other basic infrastructure continues to undermine the very essence of urban living.
Although water infrastructure is now almost complete, sewer reticulation remains only a third complete while road construction has barely begun, as we highlight elsewhere today. Consequently, some households continue to rely on
Blair toilets, refuse collection remains erratic and vehicles struggle to access parts of the suburb.
The biggest obstacle is funding. The Bulawayo City Council inherited the project as a self-financing scheme, with residents expected to contribute towards infrastructure development. Unfortunately, those contributions virtually stopped in 2019, depriving the project of the financial resources needed to sustain progress.
While the difficult economic environment partly explains residents’ inability to continue paying development fees, it also highlights the need for a more practical and collaborative financing model. Expecting residents alone to shoulder a nearly US$39 million infrastructure bill is a bit unrealistic. Equally, expecting residents to enjoy full municipal services without contributing towards their provision is unsustainable.
The solution lies in shared responsibility.
Residents should appreciate that development levies are investments in their own communities. Roads, sewer systems and stormwater drainage directly enhance property values, improve public health and create safer neighbourhoods. Those with the capacity to contribute should resume payments under flexible arrangements that recognise prevailing economic realities.
The Bulawayo City Council, on its part, must continue engaging residents transparently, regularly accounting for every dollar collected and demonstrating measurable progress. Confidence grows when communities can see tangible results from their contributions.
Government intervention through the Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme presents an important opportunity to unlock fresh investment.
The private sector also has a role to play. Banks, construction companies and infrastructure investors can partner local authorities through structured public-private partnerships to finance roads, sewer reticulation and public lighting, while development partners can provide concessional financing, technical expertise and support for climate-resilient urban infrastructure.
What should never be allowed to happen is for another generation of residents to grow accustomed to living in a suburb where passable roads, functioning sewer systems and reliable municipal services remain aspirations rather than realities. Every year that servicing is delayed raises costs, eats away at infrastructure already in place and diminishes the quality of life for Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle residents.
The time for assigning blame has long passed. Residents must play their part by honouring their obligations, council must strengthen accountability and project execution, Government must facilitate innovative financing, while the private sector and development partners should seize the opportunity to invest in a project with immense social and economic returns. Working in isolation, none of these stakeholders can complete Cowdray Park’s Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle.
