The ManicaPost
Dorcas Mhungu Post Correspondent
The Mutare City Council has almost exhausted land for high density housing, council spokesperson, Mr Spren Mutiwi has said. He said there is a housing backlog of 50 000 and 10 000 for the high and low density areas respectively and the municipality had drafted a master plan that has been approved by the local authority and councillors and has been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for approval.
“Once approved, it will change the face of the existing boundaries. Institutions that will fall within the new boundaries will then fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Mutare. It is not true that we are buying land for housing. Institutions that will be affected will depend on areas that are approved on the master plan.
“All the land belongs to the government and we are not buying land from Mutare Rural District Council as alleged,” Mr Mutiwi said adding that the land acquisition process the municipality is following is consistent with laid down land acquisition procedures.
If the master plan is approved, Mr Mutiwi added, the face of Mutare will change and it will assist in meeting housing demands for medium, low and high density areas.
“The Beira Corridor phase for example is low density and we still have land for low density and industrial stands. The Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) will assist significantly to reduce housing backlogs. Mutare has received a very good response from land developers and an indication that our conditions are good for developers.
“There are quite a number of development programmes such as Aloe Enterprises in Dangamvura which has 1 000 stands that are almost ready, Destiny of Africa Network and Mushamukadzi whose contributions will reduce the housing backlog,” said Mr Mutiwi.
