Home seekers urged to join Umvutsha Housing Scheme

REGISTRATION for the Umvutsha Housing Scheme is progressing well in Bulawayo with home seekers urged to take advantage of the Government-driven initiative to secure affordable accommodation.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDCorp) is spearheading the project under the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

The Government has already availed 5,000ha of land for the project, which will result in the creation of a satellite town with more opportunities for the youth.

A registration office has since been opened in the city centre at No 87 Westborne Flats along Josiah Tongogara Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.

Bulawayo project manager Mrs Petronella Nkomazana said significant progress has been made since the project launch recently.

"The plan is to have a self contained or satellite town. We are now working on a pilot stage on developing housing on a 316ha of land with a target of 7,000 stands of minimum 200 square metres each," she said.

"These stands are meant for all home seekers and people from Matabeleland, not Bulawayo alone."

Mrs Nkomazana said UDCorp was working jointly with the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) to ensure the success of the project.

She said the bank would facilitate the opening of home saver accounts to beneficiaries, whose savings would be used to service the stands.

"The stands cost $3,000 and the beneficiary has to pay a minimum of $50 deposit towards servicing the stand.

"For registration one needs to have an identity card, a valid passport or driver's licence, proof of residence or affidavit for those who are renting, two passport size photos in colour," said Mrs Nkomazana.

"With these particulars anyone qualifies to register and should bring a $5 non-refundable fee."

She said UDCorp has already done a topographic survey of the land, which lies on the outskirts of Bulawayo between Trenance and the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.

"The site map is there and we are working on layout plan after which we will start allocating stands. The response is good so far and we are seeing an improvement each day on people coming here to register.

"We, however, appeal for more people to take advantage of this scheme and secure accommodation. This is a real project and we do not want to have people regretting lost opportunity or coming at the last minute."

Housing development is a major thrust of the Government's economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.