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Blessings Chidakwa, Herald Reporter
The Urban Development Corporation (Udcorp) has been revitalised by the Second Republic, reviving projects that have been lying idle such as the 3 000 stands under the Knockmalloch project in Norton.
Udcorp is jointly administered by the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
Speaking at the Udcorp 2024 annual general meeting in Harare yesterday, National Housing and Social Amenities Deputy Minister Musa Ncube said the corporation is now back and expected to contribute significantly to the attainment of the National Development Strategy 1.
Deputy Minister Ncube said the ministries expect Udcorp to be one of the leading players in the delivery of housing and related infrastructure.
“We are also pleased to note that the corporation has finally managed to resuscitate the Knockmalloch housing project, which will yield around 3 000 stands,” she said.
“The Knockmalloch project has been stalled since December 2019 and the recommencement is indeed a key milestone.
“We are aware of the resource constraints that Udcorp is facing and we are working in the background to recapitalise it, whilst as the shareholders, we pledge to support Udcorp in recapitalisation.”
Deputy Minister Ncube said the ministries had given Udcorp the challenge to facilitate housing development through accelerating construction projects.
“Udcorp must lead as a developer of choice and manage large-scale housing projects, focusing on the construction of affordable housing units to meet the growing demand.
“We also expect the corporation to be the Government’s conduit for private sector investment into housing and related infrastructure. We are pleased with the progress made in improving governance at Udcorp,” she said.
The corporation had not held an annual general meeting for four years, but that backlog has since been cleared. A combined AGM that covered 2020, 2021 and 2022 was held on March 27 last year. Yesterday, Udcorp held the 2023 AGM.
Going forward, Government expects Udcorp to hold AGMs when they fall due, in line with the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act.
On public-private partnerships, Deputy Minister Ncube said through collaborating with private developers, Udcorp must leverage additional resources and technical expertise to enhance housing delivery.
Turning to resource mobilisation from the private sector, Government expects Udcorp to play a key role in attracting private sector investment into housing and related infrastructure.
Government also expected Udcorp to ensure that housing developments are accompanied by essential infrastructure, including water, roads and sanitation facilities.
With concerns over the impact of climate change on developing countries, Udcorp was challenged to implement effective urban planning strategies that promoted sustainable growth and efficient land use, in line with NDS1 objectives.
Deputy Minister Ncube said on town planning, the Government’s call to action, pronounced by President Mnangagwa, directs all local authorities to transform the way they operate.
“We expect Udcorp to play a leading role in the capacity building of local authorities on town planning and other technical areas, including capacity building to the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).
“The Government is expecting all public sector entities and local authorities to be full-fledged and compliant to IPSAS accounting by the end of 2025,” she said.
Udcorp was praised for taking a leading role in capacity building for local authorities in IPSAS finance, audits and related fields.
The corporation was called upon to reposition itself to be a capacity building partner of choice for local authorities.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter