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Municipal Reporter
Chishawasha Mission is set to be developed into an urban residential area as Roman Catholic Jesuits who are the owners of the land are set to create 7 000 high density and medium density residential stands in the area. It was not made clear as to whether the new settlement will become a suburb of Greater Harare or an independent dormitory authority to the capital city.

This comes as the mission which is about 30 kilometres from the city is now being approached by spreading urban residential areas.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo last week met the community leaders in the area at St Ignatius College in Chishawasha and informed them of the Jesuits plans.

“The Jesuits who are the owners of this land said we have co-existed with local people for a long time, but we are now being surrounded by Harare so we need to adapt to fit into the prevailing environment.

“Harare is expanding, there is too much congestion. When the roads were built they were meant to cater for only 2 000 cars but now we have more than 2 million driving through the city. When it was created Harare was to cater for the settler community only,” he said.

Minister Chombo said Harare population was supposed to be 300 000, but over 3,5 million people are in the city during the day with over two million people resident in Harare. The 1,5 million commuters are mostly from Norton, Chitungwiza, Beatrice, Ruwa and Marondera.

He said Jesuits had hired consultants to come up with a layout of the new settlement and that they also wanted to help the local community on issues concerning resettlement.