Redcliff gets $500k for houses rehab

GOVERNMENT has given Redcliff Municipality half a million dollars under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) for the rehabilitation of about 400 dilapidated houses in the satellite town.

Redcliff Mayor Freddy Kapuya said on Tuesday the money was a lifeline to former Ziscosteel employees who were now living in squalid conditions as they were failing to upgrade their homes.

“We had initially planned to upgrade 800 housing units at a cost of $1 million.

“We, however, managed to receive $500 000 from Government under the Public Sector Investment Programme and we are going to refurbish 400 units,” said Clr Kapuya.

He said the local authority was now going to float a tender to choose a company that would upgrade the houses.

Clr Kapuya said the local authority and the former employees were at loggerheads over the occupation of the houses, which were handed over to council by Ziscosteel over two decades ago.

“The housing units, which were built during the colonial period, were mostly semi-detached and were failing to meet approved standards as people were still sharing communal wash rooms, toilets and ablution facilities. So we have gone to tender so that they are upgraded,” said Clr Kapuya.

Meanwhile, Clr Kapuya said his council was negotiating with Kwekwe City Council for a payment plan towards the settling of the $2 million water debt.

Kwekwe city last week disconnected water supplies to Redcliff over the $2 million debt.

“We are working towards settling of the water debt (owed) to Kwekwe City Council.

“The problem, which is known is that we rely on the defunct Ziscosteel and that’s why we are hopeful of its revival as it is still our lifeline.

“We are committed to settling the Kwekwe debt and we will honour it in due course so that our people have constant supply of water,” he said.