The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
INVESTORS undertaking the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project in Mutare have begun fencing off the sites and positioning their construction equipment as they prepare to commence work.
The project is expected to be completed within eight months.
The scheme seeks to upgrade Sakubva’s old infrastructure to modern standards in line with Government’s Vision 2030.
The Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, said all is set for the commencement of construction work.
She said the Urban Renewal Project will have far reaching social and economic benefits as it will upgrade the quality of life for Sakubva residents while enhancing the province’s Gross Domestic Product.
“While it appeared like nothing was going on since the project was commissioned, a lot was going on behind the scenes so that the actual construction work could begin,” she said.
“The registration of a special purpose vehicle which will run the renewal project — the Sakubva Infrastructure Development Company (Pvt) Ltd — has been done. The board of directors for that company in now in place.
“This company is a partnership between the City of Mutare and Plan Infrastructure Development (PID) (Pvt) Ltd, with BancABC being the project financial advisor,” said Dr Gwaradzimba.
She went on to highlight that all technical drawings for the project are now in place.
“These include technical drawings for the flats at Coronation Park, flea markets, the green market and the vegetable market,” said the minister.
Dr Gwaradzimba said land evaluation has already been done while the fencing of Coronation Park began on Wednesday in preparation for Shelter Zimbabwe’s commencement of construction work in the next two weeks.
“PID is moulding bricks for the project and we expect another investor — ABC capital — to be onsite by early September. They will be constructing three blocks of flats.
The minister called on all stakeholders to play ball to ensure the success of the project.
“My office, through the Provincial Development Coordinator’s office, will oversee everything to ensure speedy completion in line with the time frameworks,” said Dr Gwaradzimba.
Dr Gwaradzimba said the civil works of the project will be funded by the City of Mutare, which will secure borrowing powers or bonds from the Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
She stressed that resources to be used in the project, including human resources, will be sourced locally.
“This project must benefit the local community. Resources that are available here will be sourced locally. We will only go outside to look for things that we don’t have. In addition, there will be employment creation, especially for the youths and women,” she said. In December last year, President Mnangagwa commissioned the Sakubva Urban Renewal Project before it was accorded National Project Status.
The project will see the construction of high rise flats, revamping of the Sakubva flea market, the Sakubva long distance bus terminus, Sakubva Stadium, Sakubva Beithall and Sakubva vegetable market.
Mutare City Council is the first local authority in the country to embark on an urban renewal initiative.
Speaking at the commissioning of the project last year, President Mnangagwa said, “When we talk of Zimbabwe becoming a middle-income economy by 2030, these are some of the achievements we want to see. It cannot be a middle income economy when people are crammed in one room.”
He pledged to monitor the project’s progress through Dr Gwaradzimba’s office.
Meanwhile, Mutare Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa has said the construction of the Dangamvura water pipeline will commence soon as council is finalising the recruitment of general hands and technical staff for the project.
He said council has since flighted tenders for the procurement of locally produced accessories that are needed for the construction work.
“We have received the second batch of water pipes for the Christmass Pass-Dangamvura reservoir water transmission line. These were procured under the African Development Bank (AfDB) administered ZimFund project.
“This brings to five the number of truckloads that have been delivered so far.
“The remaining two trucks are expected soon,” said Mr Maligwa.
