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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
THE Zanu-PF Parliamentary candidate for Makokoba Constituency in Bulawayo, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, has pledged to improve the living conditions of residents through spearheading the demolishing of the old houses to pave way for the construction of modern flats and houses.
Rtd Col Dube said improving the livelihoods of people in the constituency has always been his major priority over the years and would endeavour to see his dream turning into reality.
“I have over the years been involved in a number of developmental projects in my constituency. I have done that without being an MP and continued to do that in the three years I was MP. However, I pray that people in my constituency take cognisance of this and vote for me, so that I represent them for a full term, which is five years. People have to understand that as much as I will always initiate developmental projects, I won’t be able to implement some of them if I’m not in Parliament to influence some of the decisions,” he said.
Rtd Col Dube said he was at the forefront of ensuring that the re-development of one of the city and country’s oldest townships, Makokoba becomes a reality. Bulawayo City Council announced the ambitious plan to re-develop Makokoba suburb in 2015 in a massive project that would see 17 000 people being accommodated in an area that is currently accommodating 1 700 people through high rise buildings.
“The demolishing of these shanty looking structures of the 1900s in Makokoba to be replaced with modern flats is real, it’s not imaginary or a far fetched dream. As I speak the architect of the superstructure was in Makokoba on a feasibility study tour.
Plans to kick start the project are already at an advanced stage, the designs were made some time back and the demolishing work will start on 11th Street,” said Rtd Col Dube.
He said the continued living of Makokoba people in squalid conditions was more of celebrating the colonial legacy.
“Surely we can’t have our own people living in such settlement of improvised housing, it will seem like we are glorifying the inhumane treatment, which the imperialists subjected us to during the colonial area. The situation is heart-rending while at the same time uncultured because you can’t have a situation where the entire family, the father, mother, children and in-laws are cramped in one room,” said Rtd Col Dube.
The population of 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. Rtd Col Dube said the local authority was in the process of identifying an investor to carry out construction activities.
“I am glad that Makokoba is now regarded by the Environmental Management Agency as one of the city’s cleanliest areas after being graded as the dirtiest only a year ago,” said Rtd Col Dube. —@DNsingo
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