The Sunday News
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has started the construction of houses at Empumalanga suburb in Hwange for the relocation of more than 600 families from Ingagula who have been exposed to pollution due to the suburb’s proximity to the massive power plant, which is undergoing expansion works.
THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC)
The relocation which requires a budget of US$87 million is ZPC’s internal initiative and has the support of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).
A total of 636 housing units will be built according to the scope of the housing project with 144 housing units under engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) Contractor and overall completion stands at 76 percent with 31 August being the expected date of completion.
Zesa General Manager responsible for Stakeholder Relations, Communications and Welfare Dr George Manyaya confirmed the commencement of the construction works which he said is being done in phases.
“Zimbabwe Power Company has commenced the construction of houses at Empumalanga suburb in Hwange for the relocation of more than 600 families from Ingagula.
The Ingagula suburb which has been in existence for decades, has been exposed to coal dust due to its proximity to Hwange Power Station.
The housing project therefore seeks to evacuate residents from the effects of the dust.
Construction works are being conducted in different phases with the setting out, excavations, and concrete footings having been completed,” said Dr Manyaya.
He further revealed that the project was being done in line with environmentally friendly initiatives that do not cause harm to people the environment.
“The Project is part of ZPC’s Relocation Action Plan (RAP) which upholds environmentally friendly initiatives with zero harm to people, plant and environment.
Apart from building houses for the Ingagula residents, ZPC is also constructing houses for families that were displaced due to the new transmission and distribution line for Hwange 7 and 8 expansion project,” said Dr Manyaya.
The project is expected to create more jobs for the coal mining town which has already benefited from more than 3 000 jobs created during the expansion exercise.
It is also in line with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy. – @nyeve14.
