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Belated World Habitat Day celebrations held in Pelandaba West in Bulawayo yesterday

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Government has said 5 000 youths from Matabeleland region have registered for residential stands in Umvutshwa, an extension of Bulawayo.

As part of Government efforts to provide accommodation to its citizens, the Ministry of National Housing Public Works availed about 500 hectares of land for the development of a youth town in Umvutshwa.

There are 8 000 residential stands on the land.

Urban Development Corporation (UDCOR) regional manager Mrs Petronella Nkomazana said youths should move fast to register for the remaining stands.

“The project had been necessitated by a shortage of affordable residential accommodation and the ever increasing rural-urban migration. Over 5 000 people have registered for this project and registration is still ongoing at the Bulawayo UDCORP office in the city centre,” she said.

Mrs Nkomazana was speaking at the belated World Habitat Day commemorations held in Pelandaba West suburb yesterday.

The Umvutshwa housing scheme this year partnered with the Ministry of Local government, Public Works and National Housing on a residential development project during which the Government availed 500 hectares of land for the Umvutshwa B housing project.

“This housing project is a high density residential suburb on a 316 hectare piece of land. It will provide for plus or minus 7 000 households in the form of stands ranging from 200 square metres to 400 square metres and high rise flats,” said Mrs Nkomazana.

“The aim is to create a self-contained town that will decongest our city of Bulawayo. The concept will be replicated in other provinces as well”.

She said the International Development Bank will fund this project through homesaver accounts. Mrs Nkomazana said so far a topographic map has been done and the layout is awaiting approval from physical planning and the Bulawayo City Council has been engaged in terms of water and sewage works development.

She said any person who is over 18 years old and has contractual capacity, is able to pay monthly instalments of $50 towards the servicing of stands and any resident of Matabeleland provinces, is eligible.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, in a speech read on her behalf by her personal assistant Mrs Sichelesile Moyo-Ncube, said the issue of housing must be prioritised.

“Provision of shelter is a number one concern among urban dwellers with the cost of land and stands beyond the reach of many poor families which leave them vulnerable to social ills,” said Cde Moyo.

She said through Zim-Asset, the Government is aiming to provide 15 000 residential stands in Bulawayo.

“In line with this policy thrust the social services and poverty eradication cluster seeks to collectively deliver above 15 000 serviced stands in Bulawayo province,” Cde Moyo said.

She said in an effort to ease the plight of the homeless in Bulawayo, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, launched the Umvutshwa housing scheme project to address the needs of the youths in the province.

The World Habitat Day is commemorated on the first Monday of October annually and was this year held under the theme “Housing at the Centre.”
Government officials, service chiefs, land developers and residents attended the event.

@AuxiliaK