By Lerato Ndlovu
Cabinet yesterday announced an update on the program to provide housing for families facing displacement and rehabilitate the country’s roads which were damaged by the rains.
This was revealed yesterday by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during yesterday’s post cabinet briefing.
This followed a countrywide assessment by joint Ministerial team which stated that a total of 21 852 households are facing displacements.
“The number of households facing displacement stands at 21852, with Harare topping the list with 15 713, Mashonaland East 1 947, Manicaland 1 683, Mashonaland Central 622, Masvingo 575 Bulawayo 549, Matabeleland South 532, Matabeleland North and Midlands at 105 each, and Mashonaland West 21.
“An identification of relocation areas is said to be underway with a provision of relief to the distressed households across all the provinces and production of appropriate housing plans and designs so as to promote settlement densification.
“Plans and designs have now been produced through collaboration between the Ministries of National Housing and Social Amenities; and Local Government and Public Works to promote settlement densification through high-rise structures as a prerequisite for the provision of housing to families faced with relocation.
“The designs will accommodate public facilities at the ground floor, and include WIFI centers, a community hall with ablutions, an amusement area, a play centre, and a pre-school” she said.
Other amenities mentioned included shops, a pharmacy, a surgery, and a hair salon. Liquor outlets and activities that require bulk storage and haulage are excluded.
In regards to road rehabilitation Cabinet noted that significant action is now evident on the implementation front.
“The respite from the incessant rains has allowed space for attending to the daunting task at hand, the planning team has compiled a compendium of all road projects to be implemented by each Road Authority, province by province.
“Similarly, the selection of roads to be taken over from Local Authorities by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has started with a selection of contractors for Harare and other cities and towns” she said.
CMED (Pvt) Ltd Civil Construction Unit will be funded by Treasury funding under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program to use its equipment as soon as Treasury fulfils its pledge and releases the financial resources.
The entity will be expected to soon deploy its teams on road rehabilitation, starting with Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces while taking up other roads across the provinces.
For immediate emergencies in Headlands (Manicaland), Musavezi Bridge along the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe road (Midlands), and bridges in Siakobvu (Mashonaland West) are being addressed through the necessary restorative works, and the contractors are already on site.