Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
LOCAL authorities in Harare Metropolitan Province will get an opportunity to engage the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development on transport and utilities through the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution to discuss plans for the province.
Speaking at a workshop to present master plans for Harare, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa today at Harare Town House, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Charles Tawengwa said the meeting was meant to look at the plan for this year and next year.
“Chairpersons and mayors, we will have an opportunity to meet the Ministry of Transport as they have bigger plans for this province, so that we see what the plans are for this year and next year,” he said.
Sen Tawengwa said a lump sum will be given to the City of Harare for the speedy completion of their master plan.
He said roads such as Delport will also be looked into to see when they will be repaired.
Sen Tawengwa said the province has a target to build two million houses and thanked local authorities for participating in the consultation process.
“And I hope we will be able to come back for the final master plan and we know how we are moving as Harare Metropolitan Province,” he said.
Chitungwiza Mayor Rosaria Mangoma said her town did not have a master plan for 46 years.
“For Chitungwiza, the draft marks a milestone after 46 years without a master plan,” she said.
“We appreciate this workshop and look forward to Government approval of our master plans as we embrace sustainable growth and improved service delivery”.
Epworth Local Board Mayor Mrs Nyarai Rutsito said she hopes their master plan will be approved to deal with illegal settlements.
“There is no land for schools as it is occupied by squatters and there are no sewer systems,” she said.
“And right now we have a regularisation programme so that residents are settled legally. We have people who will not have a place to stay after regularisation.
“So the master plan will help resettle them. It will also see Epworth having an industrial area”.
