Four new suburbs in the pipeline

THE government will use various funding mechanisms to develop three new suburbs in Harare and one in Bulawayo, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has said.

In an interview with our Harare Bureau yesterday, Minister Kasukuwere said the government was considering issuing bonds to fund land development and primary contributions from partners.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDCORP) shall enter into partnership with the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe for the funding of on-site and off site infrastructure for the proposed areas.

The government has identified land in Chishawasha (B), Norton and Manyame where three new suburbs would be built. At least 126,000 housing stands will be allocated to residents. Under phase I 6,000 stands will be availed in Norton Knockmalloch, Manyame 80,000 stands, Chishawasha B 40,000 stands.

"We've now expanded the scope by clearly defining which areas are going to be developed. We've identified land in Harare where we'll be setting up three new suburbs." He said planning works were underway.

In Bulawayo stands will be developed under Phase 2 in Umvutcha B.

He said the suburbs will be self-contained towns with a stand-alone local authority capable of providing their own residents with water and sanitation facilities.

Minister Kasukuwere said all the areas will have industrial sites as part of efforts to create an economic base for its residents.

The design of the towns are expected to cater for all classes of the working population while taking cognisance of the existence of the informal sector.

According to the plans, 60 percent of developments shall be average stand sizes of 200 square metres to 300 square metres for high density residential set up while clusters and flats will be set up on 10 percent of the land in all the proposed areas.

A network of trunk roads and internal roads shall be established and funded through IDBZ.

Disposal of the stands shall be done through the Ministry and UDCORP

The government introduced the Own-Your-Own-Home Scheme nationwide that seeks to meet targets set under Zim-Asset. Under the economic blueprint, the government is targeting to provide up to 300,000 residential stands by 2018 nationwide.

Harare province is expected to deliver 105,935 houses by 2018, the Midlands (56,760), Matabeleland North (28,772), Mashonaland West (23,819), Manicaland (21,830), Masvingo (20,269), Mashonaland Central (16,607), Bulawayo (15,100), Matabeleland South (12,500) and 11,776 in Mashonaland East. Last year, the country developed 17,000 housing units and serviced stands under the economic blueprint.

Minister Kasukuwere said in Bulawayo 20,000 stands would be serviced. In Masvingo, the government is targeting between 5,000 and 10,000 stands.

Minister Kasukuwere said the government will give priority to disadvantaged groups and youths.

Zimbabwe is faced with a significant housing backlog. The housing shortage is estimated at 1,25 million units which translate to a national backlog of five million citizens or more than 40 percent of total population.