Big dent on Bulawayo housing backlog

RADAR Properties is servicing 10 000 stands in Umguza on the outskirts of Bulawayo where low-density and high-rise buildings will be constructed in conformity with Government standards.

Government crafted the National Human Settlement Policy which governs how property developers should develop new housing stands.

Under the new policy, property developers are expected to provide water, sewer and roads before home seekers can start building houses.

The new stands should also be connected to a power source and Government has said in addition to that there has to be internet connectivity.

Radar Properties, under its King City project, is undertaking the project that feeds into Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s masterplan.

While the project is in the neighbouring Umguza District, Bulawayo residents are also expected to be major beneficiaries of the project.

Officials from Radar Properties yesterday took National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, senior Government officials, and BCC and Umguza Rural District Council representatives on a tour of the massive project.

Radar Properties chief executive officer Mr Elias Hwenga said the company will build low-density and high-density homes in the area where at least 40 000 people would be accommodated.

“We are playing our part in the provision of housing and amenities in Zimbabwe. This project King City has 10 000 homes which will accommodate at least 40 000 people. This is very significant in reducing the housing backlog in this country. Our key objective is to provide affordable quality accommodation for Zimbabweans,” he said.

Mr Hwenga said their stands are serviced in line with international standards with tarred roads and also connected to water and sewer systems.

He said they will also install a solar power plant. Mr Hwenga said their project falls within the national target of providing 200 000 housing units by the end of this year.

“We are part of the housing delivery system. We are aware of the President’s Vision 2030. We are playing our part towards fulfilling that vision,” said Mr Hwenga.

He said the company wants to be connected to BCC’s water and sewer infrastructure.

National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe with Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Judith Ncube during the tour of Kings City in Umguza yesterday

Minister Garwe commended the company for rolling out a project that addresses national housing challenges.

“What I have seen here is a positive response to the National Human Settlement Policy that directs us to provide on-site and off-site services first before any superstructure or houses are constructed. This is evidenced by the road construction network that we have seen, water supplies, sewer, and electricity,” he said.

Minister Garwe said in addition to those services, there should be internet services, which is now a requirement.

“The younger generation cannot survive in a world outside the internet so it must be one of the key services to be provided. We also discussed that we must also have alternative energy sources and I’m told that this development has got a solar farm,” he said.

“We also want to include the provision of gas as an alternative way of heating. This is the direction that the President wants the country to go. We need to look at alternative sources of energy and we are happy that alternative sources of energy are part of the project.

The minister said through partnerships with the private sector Government intends to provide more than 200 000 housing units by year-end.

“We were at 181 000 housing units, which means now we are at 191 000. If we add the flats that you are going to construct here it is going to be 200 000. Our target is that by the end of 2023, we would have beaten that target of 200 000,” he said.

“It’s a combination of physical structures and developed stands and we are happy that the private sector has taken heed of the clarion call from His Excellency that the Government cannot do it alone.”

Minister Garwe said if the property developer sticks to agreed timelines he would extend an invitation to President Mnangagwa to commission the stands by mid-year.

He said under the project, Radar Properties has come up with a design of a specific standard of houses that should be constructed in the area.

Minister Garwe said Government wants property developers and urban local authorities to provide title deeds for properties.

He said through the provision of title deeds, the country will address the issue of land barons.

“We must ensure that people are buying sold property and serviced stands that have got title deeds. His Excellency pronounced in Epworth last year in April that we want every piece of land in urban areas to have title deeds,” said Minister Garwe. We know that most high-density suburbs in every town and city have got an agreement of sale, all the services have been provided, but they do not have title deeds. This ministry and other ministries that are in the cluster of housing delivery are seized with that matter.” The project is conforming to the BCC masterplan which will result in some parts of Umguza being annexed into the city. —chronicle.co.zw