adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government has approved plans by the Bulawayo City Council to modernise Makokoba, Iminyela and Mabuthweni suburbs in a bid to alleviate accommodation woes in the city.
The city council announced the ambitious plan to redevelop Makokoba suburb in May this year in a massive project that will see 17,000 people being accommodated in an area that is currently accommodating 1,700 people through high rise buildings.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, George Mlilo, said the Ministry had also ordered other urban local authorities to seek partners to embark on the same projects.
He said the Bulawayo City Council was already in the process of engaging investors and developers interested in the project.
“This is a concept that we’ve decided to introduce in our cities to address the serious accommodation challenges that we’re facing in the country. It’s a cost effective concept because the roads, the sewer and the water reticulation systems are already there and all we have to do is put up more structures,” said Mlilo.
“As the government we’ve realised that it’s cheaper to modernise the existing infrastructure than to start from scratch. In Bulawayo we’ve identified Makokoba, Iminyela and Mabuthweni suburbs because they’re old and need rehabilitation. “After the project, where we have 1,700 people, we will now be able to accommodate about 17,000 people.”
He said the new system will also improve access to water which is currently provided communally and the project will be done in phases.
“We will also make sure that each household has its own water and sewer systems and improve facilities. We’ll also do it in phases so that we don’t inconvenience residents.
“The flats in Iminyela have two floors and we have recommended two more floors. These will be high rise buildings with no elevators.
“The Bulawayo City Council has already started discussing with stakeholders to see how much money is required for the project and how it can be done,” said Mlilo.
“The good thing with this project is that clinics, hospitals, shops and other essential facilities are already there. We don’t need money to construct new facilities. All we need is money to expand the existing infrastructure.”
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