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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is working on redeveloping and modernising old townships while creating satellite towns as part of its Command Housing programme, a Cabinet Minister has said.

In an interview, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the Government cannot achieve a middle income economy with its citizens living in squalid conditions.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has set a 12-year target for the country to attain a middle income status.

Minister Moyo said the Government was committed to improving citizens’ living conditions, starting with old townships.

“In our Command Housing as enunciated by the President, there are three levels and each level includes your residential, commercial and industrial housing.
The first level involves all old townships. We are saying instead of continuing building on arable land, we should embark on an urban areas regeneration,” he said.

“We cannot attain middle income status and still have the likes of Makokoba townships, the likes of Mbare, Mucheke, Rimuka and Sakubva townships among others. We have to look at them and see how we can upgrade them.

“At the moment the old townships have serious dilapidated infrastructure and are overcrowded increasing their residents’ risks of contracting diseases.”

Minister Moyo said Government has engaged property developers who are committed to improving living conditions for the people.

“There are proposals from developers who are saying we are willing to go into Makokoba Township, for instance. They have given us the concepts in broad terms.

“We agreed and they have gone to talk to the people who live in those townships to say if we do this and regenerate it, spruce it up so that it can become a modern area, is that acceptable to residents? This is the concept that is part of our Command Housing,” he said.

Minister Moyo said his Ministry was also considering constructing flats in Central Business Districts to accommodate particularly the youths.

He said as new suburbs are expanding beyond the existing urban centres, Government is considering establishing satellite towns to ease pressure in existing central business districts.

“In Bulawayo, for example, we have areas like Emganwini. We want to build small town centres for such areas,” said Minister Moyo. — @nqotshili.