adminRunesu Gwidi Herald Correspondent
Masvingo City Council has started renovating 384 hostels which were built during the colonial era and are at various stages of dilapidation due to years of neglect.
The local authority said the programme is part of its initiative to improve service delivery and address housing-related challenges.
Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said they had warmed up to the concerns from 384 families occupying the hostels constructed during the colonial era.
“We are gathered here to witness the commissioning of 30 houses which were renovated under Phase 1 of our programme to improve housing and service delivery issues,” said Cllr Fidze.
“These are 384 of hostels which had been literally ignored by many previous mayors and councillors dating back to the colonial era.
“As local authority, we have decided to step in and make these hostels habitable following numerous concerns from our esteemed residents and ratepayers. Some of the challenges here are the outlook of the buildings and poor state of ablution facilities among other amenities.”
Cllr Fidze said they had so far spent $43 000 in renovating the 30 houses under the initial phase of the programme.
He said the hostels had become an eyesore in the city due to effluent spewing from regular pipe bursts and old toilet systems.
He said the city was attending to some challenges associated with maintenance and upgrading of sewer facilities to cater for the growing population.
According to the last population census (2012), the city is home to 76 290 people.
“My term as the mayor of Masvingo will come to an end on July 30 and I hope all of you will continue remembering me and my team of councillors for renovating these long-abandoned houses and providing you with clean potable water,” he said.
It is understood that 384 hostels comprise single quarters, which the then colonial regime had designed to enable regular security inspections.
The situation reportedly worsened over the years because of the growing population where in some instances five families had to share one toilet.
The mayor said after the refurbishment programme, an average of three families will share a single toilet.
“By renovating these houses, we are ploughing back to the community and demonstrating our potential as city fathers to cater for residents.
“However, as residents, you need to complement our efforts by honouring your rates and bills for us to run a viable organisation,” said the Mayor.
He said the local authority was also facing challenges in various areas of service delivery, including inadequate refuse collection vehicles.
Spokesperson for the residents Mr Verenga Takaza commended the local authority for responding to their concerns.
Online Reporter