New city on the horizon
MUTARE City Council has transferred title deeds of the land it availed for the Sakubva Renewal Project to the consultants, thereby paving way for the start of the first phase of the much-awaited US$8 million project,
The Manica Post has established. However, the release of the first tranche of the project’s funds, which was supposed to have happened this week, at least according to the project developers, was stalled by the Covid19 pandemic as the country adopted regulations to contain the virus.
The developers, Plan Infrastructure Development (PID), this week confirmed that project financiers — BancABC — are ready to release the funds for the project.
A series of meetings had been scheduled between co-promoters Mutare City Council, PID and BancABC.
But following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s announcement of various measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, including the call to decongest workplaces, the meetings were placed on hold.
The concerned parties are now planning on teleconferencing.
President Mnangagwa launched the Sakubva Renewal Project early this year.
Projects in the first phase include the construction of a new Sakubva Flea Market, revamping of Murahwa People’s Green Market and construction of five blocks of flats in Mazhambe area — the oldest and most populace high-density suburb in Mutare.
Construction of the Sakubva Flea Market and Murahwa Green Market have timelines of eight months, while the Mazhambe block of flats are expected to be completed in 12 months.
PID architecture and infrastructure planner, Mr Hillary Mukaratirwa, said the co-promoters are supposed to open a joint account with BancABC. The project’s funds will be released into that account.
“As you know, measures have been put in place in order to minimise the spread of the disease, so the meeting we were supposed to have with BancBC has been put on hold. We will be teleconferencing to come up with ways around this.
“In the meantime, PID and Mutare City have to open a joint bank account, where the funds will be deposited. We cannot physically go to the Mutare branch to do this so we are working on modalities on how we can do everything electronically, with guidance from the bank to avoid meeting bank employees,” Mr Mukaratirwa said.
BancABC chief executive officer Dr Lance Mambondiani was not readily available for a comment as he was said to be in a meeting.
The Sakubva Urban Renewal initiative, which holds national project status, seeks to modernise the old suburb and turn Mutare into a Smart City in line Government’s Vision 2030.
With most building materials expected to come from local suppliers, PID recently took local businesses through an e-procurement process to ensure that no delays will be encountered in the payment of the material.
“We have an e-procurement system, which we came up with Mutare City Council. Service providers have been provided with information on how to access it and register. This system was designed to curb corruption in the tendering process since it will automatically select the contractor who would have won the tender based on the information supplied.
“However, contractors from Mutare will have an advantage over everyone else when they register,” he said.
He hailed the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, which has since assured them of uninterrupted power supplies in Sakubva during construction.
Mr Mukaratirwa said: “Everything was on course but the major setback now is the outbreak of the Covid-19. This is a big project, many
◆ From Page 1 construction workers will converge at the three sites during the first phase of the project.
“Once the coronavirus pandemic gets under control, we will move on site. Once we start working, it will be non-stop. We will be working 24 hours a day through shifts.
“This project has national project status and therefore it will be used as a benchmark for future similar projects to be rolled out in other cities. The best should come out of this project,” said Mr Mukaratirwa.
Mr Mukaratirwa said the people of Manicaland will also benefit from the project through employment creation.
Government has said Mutare residents will be prioritised in the supply of construction material that can be procured locally to ensure that they are part of the development.
Minister of State for Manicaland Province Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said there was need to engage the people who are supposed to be moved in time to ensure that there will be no resistance when the time to move them comes.
Seventy-two families are expected to move from the Coronation block of flats in Sakubva, which will be the first to be demolished and pave way for the new and modern buildings.
“We have to come up with modalities on how to move the people without alienating them. We want to move with them all the way,” said Dr Gwaradzimba.
Mutare City Council Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said:
“We are excited about the progress that has been made so far. As part of meeting our end of the bargain, we had ordered 10 truckloads of steel from South Africa, through the Sakubva Urban Renewal Company, but the closure of our borders because of the coronavirus pandemic will result in delays in the deliveries.
“We expect to hit the ground running as soon as the situation improves. We will be in constant touch with all the stakeholders, including the financiers and consultants, through teleconferencing,” he said.
Mr Maligwa told The Manica Post that several investors are interested in the project, especially the constreuction of the flats.
“We are having a lot of enquiries from investors. Modalities are being worked out to ensure a win-win situation. We are also encouraging them to consider investing in the flea market and green market,” said Mr Maligwa.