The ManicaPost
The launch by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week of the Sakubva Urban Renewal project, which focuses on the redevelopment of Mutare city’s oldest suburb in line with the new dispensation’s Vision 2030 Agenda, is a major positive step aimed at improving the standard of life of ordinary people.
What is most commendable is that fact that this project is a result of a win-win partnership between the Government of Zimbabwe, Mutare City Council, BancABC and Plan Infrastructure Development Pvt Ltd.
In essence, the project is aimed at uplifting the living conditions of Sakubva suburb and its residents through phased demolition of old and dilapidated houses, market stalls and flats to pave way for high-rise modern flats and state-of-the-art flea and farm markets.
The houses and flats were built by the white minority administration under the then Umtali Municipality.
Some of the houses and flats which will be demolished were constructed during the colonial times in the 1920s and have a sad history that many of our young generation is not aware of. It is a fact that the houses and flats were built for men only who worked for the municipality and in the light and heavy industries.
It was not permissible for African married men and to live with their wives and families in the houses and flats before independence due to restrictive and discriminatory housing policies.
The colonial authorities used to conduct sporadic inspections in each house and flat to ensure that no women lived with the men.
Women were not allowed to live in the houses, and largely lived in the rural areas with their children.
The men were expected to work and earn money in order to be able to pay their taxes in their rural areas where their families lived.
At the end of their work contracts the men were expected to vacate the houses and flats and pave way for other men while they went back to their rural areas.
The condition of their accommodation was that at retirement, termination of work contract or at the end of the contracted period, the occupant of the house or flat had to vacate.
However, all this changed soon after independence as the men were allowed to live with their wives and children.
But the challenge has been that these are one-roomed flats and houses not meant for families. Each housing unit or flat now contains an average of eight occupants.
Overpopulation by its very nature fuels anti-social behaviour and a lot of cultural beliefs and principles are eroded.
This is the situation in the old Sakubva houses and flats.
They are overcrowded beyond their original intended use, thereby overburdening the existing infrastructure.
The water and sewerage pipes are overwhelmed and obsolete.
It is against this that we view the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project as a welcome development approved by the Government in the provision of decent accommodation to the majority poor people who live in squalid conditions.
However, this urban renewal project should be holistic in approach and reflect a careful consideration of environmental management and land usage.
In addition, it should also include the replacement of dilapidated water and sewer infrastructure.
We expect that once the redevelopment of Sakubva is completed, the City of Mutare will compile a new occupancy list and draft new conditions of occupation.
This will enable the local authority to control the system in a transparent manner.
We are confident that the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project, will not only improve the living standards of the poor in that part of Mutare but it is important to realise that a beautiful city will also attracts investors and tourists and is also boon for business.
It is therefore our hope and trust that the project will be implemented soon and never to remain on the drawing board as has been the case with many such big projects over the past years.
