The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
THERE are 26 active projects at various stages of completion that are underway in Bulawayo as part of the city council’s contribution to the call by the Government to improve ease of doing business and increase employment and business opportunities for the locals.
According to the latest council report, a majority of the projects are located in the city centre and include an exhibition hall, warehouses, private clinic and schools, to mention a few.
“These major building projects being undertaken around the city will impact positively within the wards they are in existence and the neighbourhood.
The positive impact will be both in the present and future in the form of employment and business opportunities for the locals,” reads the report.
According to the list of the projects the most lucrative include an exhibition hall being constructed at the ZITF grounds by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development (slab level), a warehouse by Karasons Footwear (foundation level), hotel and conference hall by Duly and Company, a warehouse by Muller Brothers in Ward Six and a fuel garage and shop in Emakhandeni which is partially complete.
The projects also include six town houses being constructed by Coerburn Investments, Matare Properties, Magaya Family Trust, Ms Noanatsei Julius, Condut Creek Land Developer and E Pekema. Three primary schools are being constructed by Charleton Trust, Vital Angels and Zaoga Church which is constructing a private primary school.
Greens Supermarkets is constructing a supermarket in the Central Business District, with other supermarkets being constructed by Mr T Moyo (Ward 16), G Ngwenya (Ward 26) and a hardware shop being constructed by Mr D Sibanda in Ward 25.
Million Memory Projects Zimbabwe Trust is constructing two office blocks in Wards 20 and 22 while Hlabani Brothers is constructing a sports centre in Emganwini, Dr Chakanyuka a private clinic in Cowdray Park and Anchors Christ Ministry is constructing a church hall.
To end the list are shopping complexes being constructed in Cowdray Park by Sai Enterprises and PSM Wholesalers.
Commenting on the developments, the local authority’s spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said this was a step in the right direction as it showed the confidence investors now had in the city, which she said will go a long way in reviving the city’s status as the country’s industrial hub. She said when the city adopted the ease of doing business strategy they mainly wanted to reduce bureaucracy and make it smoother for potential investors to do business.
“The City of Bulawayo has been interrogating procedures and processes since the introduction of the programme by Government in 2015. To date, we have managed to achieve a number of milestones such as reducing the period for approval of building plans to two weeks, submission of building plans online, and setting up of an inter-departmental committee to look at investment proposals in the city among others.
“We note that the reduction of bureaucracy is key in managing investments into the city. The City of Bulawayo appreciates the companies who are investing in Bulawayo noting that the setting up of various businesses is key for employment creation,” said Mrs Mpofu.
A couple of years ago the local authority set up an inter-departmental committee to look at improving the ease of doing business in the city in line with the Government’s thrust to lure investors.
