125 000 housing stands by 2018

THE Urban Development Corporation plans to deliver at least 125 000 serviced residential stands countrywide by next year, with indications that over 58 000 are ready for construction.

The Sunday Mail has gathered that Udcorp will be rolling out 58 118 serviced housing stands in eight proposed areas: Knockmalloch (Norton), Manyame, Marondera, Chitungwiza, Mazowe, Manyame-Dunnottar and Caledonia.

These areas will have provisions for schools, clinics and recreational facilities.

Another 67 000 sub-serviced stands in Harare South and Hatcliffe will be rolled out upon meeting regulations.

Udcorp general manager Mr Bright Mudzvova said, “This year alone we will be issuing out a total of 125 116 stands to reduce the housing backlog in the country. Over 58 116 stands are regularised and are readily available. The stands will average 200 to 2 000 square metres.

“We have 8 000 serviced stands in Manyame RDC, 3 500 in Marondera, 700 in Chitungwiza, 500 in Mazowe, Knockmalloch has 4 800, Manyame-Dunnottar 11 451 and 29 165 stands in Caledonia.”

Government - through the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry - engaged Udcorp as the official developer to protect home-seekers from land barons.

Mr Mudzvova said regularisation of informal settlements like Caledonia, Harare North and Gimboki South (Mutare) as proceeding, while development of new suburbs in Norton, Manyame, Rangemore and Umvutcha B in Bulawayo was progressing.

Government has launched the National Housing Delivery Programme under Zim-Asset that will see more than 300 000 housing units being built throughout the country by the end of 2018.