News / Local
Council approves construction of Spaza shops in Cowdray Park
10 Nov 2014 at 17:21hrs | Views
Spaza shop Pic:Amanda Hammar
BULAWAYO City Council has allocated land to Cowdray Park residents, under the Hlalani Kuhle housing project, land to construct tuck shops due to a shortage of shopping facilities in the sprawling suburb.
Hlalani Kuhle was built following government's controversial Operation Murambatsvina to accommodate thousands of residents who had been left homeless.
The residents have previously made several written and verbal enquiries about the shopping facilities ton council.
According to a council report, the Director of Engineering Services Simela Dube said due to lack of shopping facilities residents had to get basic goods from shops that were between 2 to 3 km away.
To alleviate their plight, 13 tuck shop stands have been earmarked, but are just a stop gap measure.
Dube said Hlalani Kuhle residential area which had about 11 000 stands with a potential of 44 000 inhabitants using the occupancy rate of 4 people per household had no commercial facilities.
"The lack of shopping facilities means that residents had to get basic goods from shops that were between 2 to 3 km away.
"Although Commercial centre sites had been provided for in the area, no development had taken place as yet due lack of infrastructure. It was not known when the sewerage and water services would be provided in the area. The residents of the area had also made several written and verbal enquiries about the shopping facilities," said Dube.
Dube said the town planning branch has proposed tuck shop sites as a stop gap
measure to alleviate the challenge of shop facilities.
" The sites had been provided for in the entire Hlalani Kuhle area, with each segment having provision for one tuck-shop. There were thirteen segments in the area and hence thirteen tuck-shop sites had been created. The sites would be 10m2 each".
Council has in the past demolished tuck-shop is certain areas saying they are illegal structures.
Hlalani Kuhle was built following government's controversial Operation Murambatsvina to accommodate thousands of residents who had been left homeless.
The residents have previously made several written and verbal enquiries about the shopping facilities ton council.
According to a council report, the Director of Engineering Services Simela Dube said due to lack of shopping facilities residents had to get basic goods from shops that were between 2 to 3 km away.
To alleviate their plight, 13 tuck shop stands have been earmarked, but are just a stop gap measure.
Dube said Hlalani Kuhle residential area which had about 11 000 stands with a potential of 44 000 inhabitants using the occupancy rate of 4 people per household had no commercial facilities.
"The lack of shopping facilities means that residents had to get basic goods from shops that were between 2 to 3 km away.
"Although Commercial centre sites had been provided for in the area, no development had taken place as yet due lack of infrastructure. It was not known when the sewerage and water services would be provided in the area. The residents of the area had also made several written and verbal enquiries about the shopping facilities," said Dube.
Dube said the town planning branch has proposed tuck shop sites as a stop gap
measure to alleviate the challenge of shop facilities.
" The sites had been provided for in the entire Hlalani Kuhle area, with each segment having provision for one tuck-shop. There were thirteen segments in the area and hence thirteen tuck-shop sites had been created. The sites would be 10m2 each".
Council has in the past demolished tuck-shop is certain areas saying they are illegal structures.
Source - Radio Dialogue
