Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Patrick Chitumba, Patrick.chitumba@chronicle.co.zw
GWERU City Council has taken a significant step toward addressing the city’s persistent housing crisis by unveiling 700 residential stands in Mkoba 21 suburb.
The city has over 35 000 people on its housing waiting list.
The stands, purchased by beneficiaries in 2014, had faced delays in servicing, prompting frustration among home seekers. In 2018, some buyers threatened to withdraw from the scheme due to the slow pace of progress. However, during the tenure of the then-acting town clerk, Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe, the local authority eventually engaged local companies—Sheasham, Wackdrive, and Casas — to expedite the servicing of the stands.
The local authority sold housing stands to 3 300 home seekers of which 2 000 stands were availed to the general public while 1 300 stands were sold to council employees.
In an interview, Gweru mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko said the new development represents a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to address its housing backlog.
“The Mkoba 21 suburb housing project aims to tackle the city’s accommodation shortage, providing residents with much-needed housing options. With 700 stands ready for construction, some of which are already being developed by their owners, the city is making meaningful strides in its housing development,” he said.
The mayor acknowledged the enormity of the housing challenge, with 35 000 potential homeowners still on the waiting list. However, he said the council is taking a step-by-step approach to resolve the crisis.
“We are seeking additional land to meet the growing demand for residential and commercial development. Collaboration with private land developers in and around the city is also helping to make more stands available,” Cllr Chivhoko added.
Gweru Residents Trust (GRT) chairperson, Mr Anthony Madzivanyika, commended the council for its efforts, which align with Vision 2030. This vision seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, with adequate housing being a cornerstone of this ambitious plan.
“We are happy with what the local authority is doing to address housing shortages. The Government’s efforts to provide decent and affordable housing for all citizens are in line with Vision 2030. Various initiatives are underway to clear the housing backlog and ensure that every individual has access to a safe and comfortable living space,” he said.
In 2018, Government announced an ambitious programme to rehabilitate and upgrade some of the country’s oldest residential suburbs to world-class standards by 2030. High-density areas such as Mtapa in Gweru, Mbare in Harare, Makokoba in Bulawayo, and Sakubva in Mutare have been earmarked for this transformation.
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