Govt committed to SMART cities

Mary Mutamiri

THE GOVERNMENT is committed towards the implementation and financing of smart cities, a Cabinet Minister has said.

In his address, at the launch of the initiative, Housing and Social Amenities Minister, Dr Daniel Garwe, said:

“The emphasis is on sustainable and inclusive development, and the idea is focused on compact areas with a view to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to their citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of the smart solution,” he said.

“It is the Government’s expectation that more players and stakeholders should come on board in order to spread risk and lessen the burden of implementing smart cities.

“The proposed SMART City development helps to solve developmental challenges affecting the country in terms of housing, infrastructure development, improving the residents’ social status, including economic opportunities. 

“It will also help to decongest the big cities and address the 17 sustainable development goals and foster inclusive development, which leaves no place and no one behind, as espoused in the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy, the National Development Strategy 1 and the Vision 2030.”

The Minister said there were some communities in peri-urban areas that meet their requirements for this initiative.

“It is worthy of note that Melfort, Figtree and Chirundu maintain peri-urban characteristics associated with both urban and rural settings.

“And, the development of SMART Cities will significantly reduce the rural-urban divide in keeping with the Ministry’s Rural Transformation Programme that is anchored on rural waste management.

“It is focused on the introduction of flushable toilets at rural schools and clinics.”

He added:

“In the 2022 financial year, treasury has made available $284,5 million for the programme targeted at schools and clinics in the eight rural provinces and involving the provision of 3 334 flushable toilet units.

“The Melfort SMART City development is a pilot project being championed by Zimbabwe Electricity Pension Fund and ZESA Staff Pension Fund, who have also approached other potential funders, to come on board.

“The SMART City development will be implemented through an SPV or Real Estates Investment Trust (REIT).”