Zimpapers Logo

Peter Matika, [email protected]

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC), in partnership with Natwecraft Investments (Pvt) Limited, a private land developer, yesterday commissioned 141 high-density stands in Luveve North suburb as part of the first phase of a housing project aimed at alleviating the city’s housing backlog.

The commissioning of the stands marks a significant milestone in addressing the city’s housing needs and enhancing sustainable urban development in the province.
The stands will be commissioned in two phases, with the second phase expected to be completed in the next two months.

Acting Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, stated that the partnership between BCC and Natwecraft Investments has delivered quality housing solutions to residents, playing a vital role in providing safe, affordable, and quality housing that will improve living conditions.

“We are always happy when we partner with private developers to commission housing stands, as they are a testament that the city’s initiative of public-private partnerships in housing development is yielding good results. The stands here have been serviced with basic social amenities such as water, sewer, roads, and public lighting in the form of tower lights, which will be installed in the near future,” Ndlovu said.

He noted that the partnership has so far serviced 141 stands out of 453. Ndlovu said that the city’s vision is to provide quality housing to its citizens and ensure satisfaction with their living conditions.

He said a key aspect of the city’s green initiative is the use of design solutions and innovative technologies that not only maintain the aesthetics of housing design but also balance sustainability. The focus is now on developing green building norms and regulations that guarantee the sustainability of housing throughout its lifecycle, from design to construction and operation.

Councillor Edwin Ndlovu

He also pointed out that housing provision and the financial sector have a symbiotic relationship, contributing to economic growth and helping the financial sector grow. Addressing the ballooning housing waiting list, Ndlovu said all residents registered on the housing waiting list can benefit from stand projects, provided they meet the sale conditions of the development partner.

Natwecraft Investments chief executive and director, Mr Nkululeko Moyo, said despite a few challenges such as blasting rock formations and sand pits caused by sand poachers, the project was progressing smoothly. He said the project was launched nine months ago, with the smallest stand measuring 266 square metres and priced at US$11 000.

The massive construction works in the suburb are part of BCC’s efforts to service various residential stands in the city, targeting at least 5 000 stands to clear a housing backlog of 125 000.

In 2022, the council availed more than 1 600 housing stands across the city, as part of its strategy to reduce the housing backlog.

The housing backlog has been a cause for concern over the past few years, exacerbated by private developers abandoning their projects, leaving the local authority to complete them. This has led to conflicts between beneficiaries and the city council, with the latter demanding that the former pay for the completion of projects in cash.

Council awarded several stands in the city to private developers following the success of a housing development strategy, where developers submitted expressions of interest and were required to use their own funds to develop areas of interest. Among the companies that submitted papers for consideration was Stelix Civils Private Limited, which failed to develop 502 stands in Emhlangeni Phase 2, leaving beneficiaries at odds with the local authority.

About 118 high-density residential stands were awarded in Emganwini to TCI International, while 460 more high-density residential stands in the same suburb were under Heavenview Properties.

Additionally, 650 medium-density residential stands in Mahatshula East were under Enock Construction, while Natwecraft Private Limited is servicing 453 high-density residential stands in Luveve. TCI International and Natwecraft last year managed to commission stands developed under a similar scheme in Emganwini.

According to a report, BCC is now mandated to enter into a service agreement with prospective developers. Developers must not collect or receive any payments from purchasers before the stands are fully serviced, and any violation of this clause will lead to the cancellation of the agreement. Developers are required to deduct and remit to the council the cost of the intrinsic land value and town planning charges per stand. All developers are also expected to title survey and fully service the stands with roads, sewer, and water, with an environmental impact assessment to be carried out and submitted to the Environmental Management Agency for approval before any works commence.