The Sunday News
A HOUSING cooperative engaged in construction of a satellite town near Victoria Falls — Indlovu Community Co-operative — has engaged a South African developer, Vukani Property Developers, to construct houses for its members as it moves ahead in taking advantage of the potential that the resort town offers.
The satellite town will be located about 40 kilometres from Victoria Falls.
In an interview, chairman of the co-operative, Mr Raphael Dube, said as part of the developments at the new satellite town, they have engaged the South African developer because of the low cost technology the company uses for construction of houses.
“We have entered into an agreement with Vukani Property Developers as they use cast-in-situ technology which is cost effective and favourable as the houses are resistant to quakes and are generally strong.
“We had the chance of engaging them as they are well-known property developers in the region and they are working to help in most Sadc countries,” said Mr Dube.
The Cast-in-Situ Monolithic Reinforced Concrete Construction System has been defined as an integrated solution to the problem of large-scale residential housing development.
It is widely recognised as one of the most practical, economically and technically feasible solutions to the problem of building cost-effective, decent, durable and earthquake-proof housing on a mass scale, quickly and efficiently.
Four-roomed houses in high-density suburbs will be sold to members for $13 000 while in the medium-density they will be priced at $20 000 and $30 000 in low-density areas.
Mr Dube was speaking after a meeting between Indlovu area stakeholders to resolve disgruntlements that had risen over compensation of villagers to pave way for the development of the satellite town, which is under the jurisdiction of the Hwange Rural District Council.
According to minutes from the meeting, villagers were protesting over the delay in having them resettled, saying the farming season was close and if they are not compensated within that time frame it would be too late to engage them.
“Villagers were complaining that the compensation process is taking too long but after our meeting, it has been agreed that the project will go on and developers will start with the side that does not affect villagers,” said Mr Dube.
Proposed compensation included construction of three-roomed houses, a separate toilet and round kitchen at a different area.
Hwange Rural District Council vice-chairperson, Mr Matthew Muleya said they had engaged their own developer for the project that is responsible for compensating the affected villagers and also agreed to give each person a tonne of maize if they are moved after the farming season.
“We know that there were issues and people were complaining but we explained everything to them and agreed that if there are any delays, provisions will be made,” said Mr Muleya.
The satellite town project is meant to create jobs, develop infrastructure as well as reduce congestion near the world heritage site — Victoria Falls.
