Story by Bruce Chahwanda
THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has conducted a fact-finding tour of informal settlements across Greater Harare while assessing progress on urban renewal projects in Mbare.
The committee, chaired by Mazowe Central legislator Honourable Maxmore Njanji, toured several informal settlements on Monday as part of efforts to assess housing challenges and ongoing urban development initiatives.
The delegation was accompanied by officials from the City of Harare, residents’ representatives and other stakeholders.
Honourable Njanji said the tour revealed continued growth of unplanned settlements lacking basic infrastructure while also highlighting progress being made through urban renewal initiatives.
“We are on a fact-finding mission around Harare, and we discovered that people are building where there is no proper infrastructure. We are here in Mbare, where great work is being done to ensure people have decent lives. We thank Engineer Collins Mnangagwa for coming up with such an initiative promoting public-private partnerships,” he said.
City of Harare Acting Town Clerk Mr Nhakairo said rehabilitation works in Mbare are transforming residential infrastructure.
“We have 58 blocks of flats in Mbare, and we are happy with the progress being made at this facility. We believe this is the beginning of urban renewal, which is part of National Development Strategy 1,” he said.
ED AID 1 Projects Manager Mr Tino Pande said work on the current block of flats is nearing completion.
“You have seen the scope of work here, and by Friday we will be done with this block of flats. We are maintaining toilets, water reticulation and giving the flats a new look,” he said.
Residents welcomed the rehabilitation programme, saying it is improving living conditions through the refurbishment of flats, including painting, repairs to ablution facilities, water systems and window panels.
Besides Mbare, the parliamentary committee also visited Epworth, Glen View and Hopley, among other informal settlements, as part of its assessment of housing and urban development challenges in Greater Harare.
