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BCC avails stands for Sidojiwe Flats residents

by Staff Reporter
07 May 2014 at 13:39hrs | Views
The Bulawayo City Council has identified land in Cowdray Park to address  squalid living conditions in Sidojiwe Flats and other similar areas within the city.

According to the latest council report, director of Engineering Services Simela Dube reported that following a meeting that was held by The Town Clerk Middleton Nyoni to find ways and means to deal with challenges that faced Sidojiwe residents who live in squalid conditions.

The meeting was aimed at coming up with an answer to provide accommodation to these less privileged members of the society.

 "The Director of Engineering Services was tasked to come up with a high density residential layout to cater for these people although of course if stands were created they would be availed to other less privileged persons that live under the same conditions in other parts of the City.

"A high density residential layout had been created on the remaining extent of stand 619 Cowdray Park. The proposed development was situated in Cowdray Park phase 1 and it lied to the immediate west of Cowdray Park phase 1 commercial centre.

"Stand 619 Cowdray Park was set aside for flats development in terms of the layout covering the area. The proposal to develop this site into high density residential units was freely permitted in terms of Local Development Plan No. 11 covering the area."

The report said the proposed residential stands were meant in general to compliment Council's efforts to reduce the ballooning housing waiting –list, but more so, in particular to cater for the less privileged members of the society now living in many squalid conditions in places like Ngozi Mine, Burombo flats, Sidojiwe flats, Killarney and other areas dotted around the City.

"Because of the targeted group, it was envisaged that the provision of sewerage reticulation, water reticulation and roads infrastructure would be done in conjunction with well-wishers, that was, the government, non-governmental organizations and/or any other organizations or individuals who could be romped in to work with the Municipality in its endeavour to provide decent and affordable houses. No offsite services would be required.

The proposed development consisted of 163 residential units, each with a minimum area of 200 m2, which was considered the average stand size in Cowdray Park. The dimension of the minimum stand size was 10m x 20m.One site had been set aside for open space purposes. Shopping facilities, sporting facilities and other social facilities were provided for in the existing Cowdray Park Phase 1 suburb."

Source - Byo24News