The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana, Hwange Correspondent
HWANGE Rural District Council is scouting for an investor to service the Ndlovu housing scheme that stalled in 2015 as a result of lack of funds, as it seeks to forge ahead with its plans to establish satellite towns in the district.
Work on the $20 million satellite town which was marred by clashes between villagers and council with the latter refusing to be relocated from the designated area begun in 2012 but stalled sometime in 2015.
An initial 1 650 low and medium density residential stands were earmarked for development.
Only an eight-kilometre road network had been opened up by council before work was stopped.
“We are now looking for a serious investor to ensure that the Ndlovu housing project is finalised since work halted as a result of financial space. We need to provide on/off site infrastructure such as a water reservoir, treatment plant, water and sewer reticulation systems. Our aim target is to reduce the accommodation congestion by creating alternatives,” said the chief executive officer of Hwange Rural District Council, Mr Phindile Ncube.
He said plans to establish satellite towns were at an advanced stage with further sites in Jambezi, Cross Mabale, Cross Dete and 5 Miles having been identified.
“In our long term plans, we have incorporated certain areas for expansion into satellite towns, places such as 5 Miles, Jambezi, Cross Dete and Mabale.
Plans are underway to service these stands for low, medium and high density residential stands. By the end of the first quarter we will be issuing 54 medium density stands in Jambezi targeting civil servants such as teachers, nurses, police officers and locals too,” he said.
According to the plan, Cross Dete and Mabale will each have an initial 200 stands, Jambezi 54 while 188 housing units have been earmarked at 5 Miles.
“These satellite towns are meant to ease demand and pressure for accommodation at Hwange Local Board and Victoria Falls Municipality. As population grows there is a peak in demand for space to build and we believe that this will decongest these urban local authorities. As council we are also targeting developments that are taking place in the district such as the establishment of a solar farm, hydro power station as well as the Gwayi-Shangani dam.”
The local authority said it was working with Zambezi River Authority for the establishment of the Batoka satellite town which will house employees and civil servants.
An initial 1 500 housing units have been proposed for the Batoka satellite town.
Mr Ncube said some of the projects would be implemented through the Public Private Partnership arrangement (PPP).
