INCREASED urban rural migration over the years has resulted in more than 15 000 people in Gwanda going for 10 years without houses, resulting in large numbers of people being cramped up in small unhygienic quarters.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Speaking in Parliament, Matebeleland South legislator, Honourable Sipho Mokone posed a question to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works asking when the people of Gwanda would be given the residential stands they have been looking forward to for over 10 years.
Hon. Mokone had previously asked what the Local Government Ministry was doing to avail residential stands to the 15 000 people seeking housing.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would want to thank the Minister for such a wonderful response. If it pleases her, in terms of the timelines, when are they likely to complete the modalities that they are working on because the people in Gwanda community need accommodation?” she said.
However, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon Marian Chombo said they had two farms they intended to use for the provision of accommodation for the 15 000 people.
“Thank you Madam Speaker. The Ministry had acquired two farms Jarz and Dolfontein farms from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement for urban expansion for Gwanda Municipality. The Ministry, Gwanda Municipality and other stakeholders are now working on the planning modalities. I thank you,” she said.
Minister Chombo could not give a timeline stating it was a multiministerial issue assuring that they had prioritized the Gwanda over population issue.
With Gwanda being a gold town, it attracts people from different provinces who want to settle there, thus contributing to overpopulation in the town, according to the Mat South parliamentarian.
