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Charleen Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council will on Tuesday meet with bidders who submitted proposals to partner the council for the Makokoba Re-development Project that is anticipated to see the redevelopment of the city’s oldest suburb.
The Makokoba Re-development Project was initiated in May 2015 by the Bulawayo City Council after noticing the problem of shared accommodation within the suburb where in some instances four families are sharing a single room. The project was later approved by the Government in the same year. Population in Makokoba is estimated at between 2 000 to 2 500 people.
Out of 4 802 households in the suburb, 500 are under the shared accommodation scheme where people are still living in squalid conditions. BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu confirmed the development.
“It is true, the project has been in the pipeline for quite some time now. BCC has evaluated proposals submitted by those that have shown interest in the ambitious project and will further engage the bidders next Tuesday on the way forward,” said Mrs Mpofu
The project was initially declared cost effective as infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and sewer and water reticulation systems already existed hence the suburb would only be revamped.
The re-development of Makokoba has been welcomed as the area already has clinics, recreational centre essential areas.
“As for the total cost of the project, bidders have come up with different financing models and cost estimates and once a winning bidder has been selected will be able to know the total cost of the project,” said Mrs Mpofu.
“Implementation strategies differ from bidder to bidder and ambitious bidders have submitted proposals showing different time frames hence we will only be in a position to know when the project will kick off after concluding the selection process.”
derick.khumalo