Zimpapers Logo

Manicaland Bureau
MUTARE City Council has been challenged to revisit its master plan for possible expansion of its boundaries and avail affordable housing land ahead of the World Habitat Day commemorations slated for today.

World Habitat Day, which is set aside to reflect on the state of towns and cities, is commemorated on the first Monday of each October.

This year’s commemorations are running under the theme “Municipal Solid Waste Management”.

President for the Zimbabwe National Association of Housing Cooperatives Mr Mike Duru challenged Mutare to revisit its master plan for possible expansion of its boundaries.

“The local authority has been failing to avail stands for its people who are looking for residential stands,” he said. “What we want council to do is to revisit its master plan and make sure that the issue has been followed up seriously. I understand that the master plan is revisited after every 10 years, but with the rural to urban migration, which is being experienced these days, the demand for residential stands has since increased.”

Mr Duru said council should look into areas adjacent or outside its boundaries and engage central Government.

He said the process should be fast-tracked.

“Instead of sitting and waiting for the 10 years to lapse before they look into the master plan, council should aggressively lobby for land,” he said.

Mr Duru said council should also segment its plan when allocating land considering the economic situations of the areas.

He said segmenting would also afford people equal opportunities of buying residential stands from council.

“Council should also make available land for social and economic amenities in areas where they allocate people stands,” said Mr Duru. “It is not economically sound to allocate people land where there are no such facilities, which are key for development.”