adminFairness Moyana Hwange Correspondent
THE Hwange Local Board (HLB) is targeting to develop over 3,000 housing stands this year with phase one of the project to provide 150 prime stands already underway.
The development of the stands is being conducted under the Private Public Partnership (PPP) as part of efforts to transform the mining town into a modern city.
In an interview on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour with councillors recently, HLB chief executive officer, Ndumiso Mdlalose said work on the first phase had started with construction of a gravel road network and water systems set for completion this month.
“This tour is meant to give councillors an opportunity to see and appreciate work being done in terms of housing delivery where we strive to ensure easy access to decent accommodation as espoused in the Zim-Asset document,” he said.
“In this regard we’ve embarked on a project to service about 150 prime stands at Baobab extension under the low density category out of 3,000 we’ve targeted this year. Work on the roads, drainage system and water reticulation is set to be completed by end of March into April.”
Mdlalose said the first phase of the project done in conjunction with a private contractor, Aggregate Properties under the Private Public Partnership, was going to cost around $800,000 to complete.
He said the local board was making use of alternative means of meeting demand for housing in anticipation of it being granted city status.
“We’re working with limited funds as we’re yet to receive our share from the treasury hence the need to think outside the box. As part of our arrangement under the PPP project we agreed with the contractor to pay him as per sale of the stands. We were very thorough this time in selecting the contractor as we’ve faced challenges in the past due to failure by a company to complete a project.
“However we’re confident that we’re making progress in fulfilling the aspirations of Zim-Asset as well,” said Mdlalose.
The suburb would use sceptic tanks instead of the conventional reticulated sewer system.
Developing the stands in the planned prime residential area will cost between $4,000 to $5,000 depending on the size.
The local authority has over the years involved private land developers who are working on massive residential stands projects.
Southern Empire Realty, Kotrum Enterprises and Hwange Colliery Company’s Dynamic Fund have together pegged more than two thousand residential stands.
Southern Empire Realty’s layout plan was approved by the Department of Physical Planning and a total of 642 stands under the phase one project have been pegged. Another 1,000 medium density and 500 low density stands from the land area earmarked for Kotrum Enterprises, 1,389 medium and 252 low density stands, have been secured.
Given the huge investments in mining in the district and the expansion of the Zimbabwe Power Company, the demand for accommodation has swelled with landlords demanding up to $300 per month per house.
Last year HLB embarked on a massive $4 million dollar expansion project funded under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) to rehabilitate the sewer system, upgrade the road network and development of stands.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter