Dzivarasekwa Extension Slum Upgrading Harare City Council has partnered with the Homeless People’s Federation to build 480 pro-poor houses under the S$5 million slum upgrading project in Dzivarasekwa Extension. Construction of the planned 480 housing units to accommodate families that used to stay in the Dzivarasekwa holding camp. Sixteen demonstration houses are already under occupation with over 150 others at different stages of construction. Women spearhead the project. Deputy director of Housing and Community Services Mr James Chiyangwa says the project addresses the needs of the poor who cannot afford to buy or build houses on their own. The land was donated by Government while the community provides the construction labour as interventions to make the project cheaper. The housing units cost between US$4 000 and US$8 000. Council equipment such as graders, front-end loaders, lorries and excavators are being used also as a way of cutting costs. Mr Chiyangwa said basic infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer reticulation are already in place. He said the project would be electrified using solar power. “The land was donated to the Homeless People’s Federation by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Dr Ignatius Chombo n June 2011. “The donation reduced the cost of the development,” said Mr Chiyangwa. A pilot toilet, the ecological sanitation (ecosan) has been recommended for each of the housing units. The terms describe a form of sanitation that usually involves urine diversion and the recycling of water and nutrients contained in human waste back into the local environment. Mr Chiyangwa revealed that a new funding facility has been put in place to speed up completion of the project. Beneficiaries contribute US$1 each per month with council weighing in with US$120 000. Dialogue on Shelter put in US$25 000 while the Slum Dwellers International invested US$50 000 in the revolving fund. “The fund would be loaned out to beneficiaries. We are also inviting financial institutions o come on board,” he said. A community hall has been built from the US$5 million funding. Community projects such as sewing, knitting, cookery and baking would be done from the hall. A community library is housed in the hall. A total of US$1 900 was used to buy fruit trees and other trees to provide fruits, shade and act as windbreaks. The trees would soon be planted as part of the beautification of the new suburb. Homeless People’s Federation national coordinator Mr Shadreck Tondori said the project was the first to be done by council and the poor. He said the majority of the stands are 150 square metres in line with the National Housing Policy to densify. Through the US$5 million seed fund the project has bought a seven tonne lorry, two kombis, bins and a project vehicle. “We are the first community in Harare to own our own transport. We use the transport to carry our members to meetings, hospital and to carry building materials to our site,” he said.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 04:40:57 +0000
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