Council gives housing partner more time

HARARE City Council has agreed to give more time to its partner in a housing deal, Nondo Power (Pvt) Ltd which is set to build over 250 residential units following delays in the approval of regulatory processes as well as land invasions.

The company’s Memorandum of Agreement with the city expired in April this year before the completion of the project which will see the two partners building housing units in Malborough, Vainona and Donnybrook/Mabvuku.

Director of Housing and Community Services Mr Edmore Nhekairo recently asked council to extend the term of the Memorandum of Agreement by 12 months to allow for the completion of the project.

Mr Nhekairo told councillors that construction at Chizhanje Flats in Mabvuku was disturbed by illegal land invaders who had occupied part of the sites and eviction procedures to remove the settlers were underway.

“The Marlborough flats site was yet to be surveyed as the change of use process from a public open space to flat site and other related uses was yet to be completed,” read latest minutes of the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee.

Phase One of the project entails the construction of 60 residential flats in Chizhanje as well as rehabilitation of the head offices of the Department of Housing and Community Services.