Bulawayo housing backlog surges past 150 000

The City of Bulawayo has revealed a housing backlog of more than 150,000 units, with population growth driving demand as the local authority seeks investment in housing, water and sanitation infrastructure.

Speaking at the recent Bulawayo Investment Indaba, the city's Economic Development Officer, Kholisani Moyo, said the council's housing model was designed to provide decent accommodation for residents across low-, medium- and high-density areas.

"However despite this model the city has a backlog of more than 150 000, with its housing waiting list largely attributed to the city's growing population," Moyo said.

He said the city was particularly seeking investment in affordable and sustainable housing for low-income residents.

Moyo said Bulawayo also needed investment to modernise and redevelop ageing suburbs, some of which are among the oldest residential areas in the country.

Suburbs such as Mzilikazi, Makokoba and Old Pumula have sections where housing infrastructure has deteriorated and requires refurbishment.

"The city is looking for investment in redevelopment of old suburbs. City regeneration projects present a very lucrative opportunity for investors," he said.

Opportunities in the housing sector include low-cost apartment developments, regeneration projects in older suburbs, smart housing developments, high-rise buildings, stand servicing and turnkey housing projects.

Moyo said there was also scope for financial institutions, pension funds and corporate lenders to develop mortgage financing models to support home ownership.

He said residents were seeking affordable completed homes across all density categories, sustainable long-term financing and greater security of tenure through title deeds or lease agreements.

Residents were also seeking tax incentives for employee housing benefits, environmentally sustainable and secure housing, as well as affordable rental accommodation, he said.

Water Infrastructure Also Needs Investment

Moyo said Bulawayo's water challenges remained a major concern, with the city's arid geographical location contributing to recurring shortages.

He said the city's original water and wastewater infrastructure had been well designed and constructed, but maintenance and operational resources had not kept pace with the economic challenges facing the local authority.

"Institutional and cost recovery for water and wastewater services needs to be improved urgently and concurrently with the infrastructural remedies. Most of the city's water infrastructure is in need of rehabilitation, renewal or upgrading," he said.

Investment opportunities in the water sector include bulk water pipelines, reservoirs, treatment works, pump stations, water-reticulation systems and prepaid water meters.

In sanitation, the city is seeking investment in sewage treatment works, outfall sewers, the refurbishment of sewer pump stations, waste-to-energy facilities and recycled-water infrastructure.

Moyo also identified the replacement and rehabilitation of ageing sewer-reticulation networks as another investment opportunity.

The city hopes increased private-sector investment in housing and municipal infrastructure will help address the growing demand for accommodation while improving basic services for Bulawayo residents.