Bulawayo goes full steam on housing

The Bulawayo City Council has set its sights on increasing the housing stock during the year. At least 150 new units are set to be built this year, while about 300 residential stands are also expected to be made available.

The council is also considering refurbishing Burombo Hostels and upgrading Mabutweni houses.

According to the council, a $8.3 billion allocation received through the central bank’s productive sector facility would also be applied towards the servicing of 119 and 189 residential stands in Parklands and Mahatshula.

The balance from the allocation would be used for the construction of 70 houses under the municipality’s “millennium housing scheme”.

Phil Lamola, the chairman of the council’s finance and development committee, said: “As I speak now, most of the servicing has been completed.”

About $28 billion has been budgeted for the housing account for 2005. A total of $25 billion has been provided for the construction of housing units under the millennium housing scheme.

The health and community services capital expenditure account has been budgeted for at $47.9 billion.

The council hopes to begin the building of three new primary schools this year at a cost of $18.9 billion and the ongoing construction of two other primary schools has been allocated $5.3 billion.

The council also hopes to upgrade White City Stadium at a cost of $3 billion.

The sewage account has been allocated the largest budgeted capital expenditure of $127 billion. Of this amount, $35 billion is for the upgrading of sewerage ponds at Cowdray Park while $15 billion has been provided for rehabilitation of Unit 2 at the Southern Areas Sewerage Treatment Works.

“This project will take into account the approved master plan that will see the city expanding northwards. Any further housing development can only commence after the construction of the Northern Areas Sewerage Treatment Works or the current Cowdray Park ponds being increased in numbers,” said Lamola.

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