The rehabilitation of Mbare’s ageing residential infrastructure is gathering pace, with about 150 people, mostly youths, employed under an ED AID 1 refurbishment programme.
The project, being led by Engineer Collins Takunda Mnangagwa, covers the complex’s 14 three-storey residential blocks, involves extensive structural and cosmetic improvements aimed at restoring the ageing accommodation facility and improving living conditions for residents.
During a recent assessment of the project, ED AID 1 Chief Executive, Brian Pande, accompanied by project managers Taurai Pande, Chamunorwa Marufu and Prince Munyaradzi Munangwa, inspected progress on behalf of Eng Mnangagwa.
Assistant project manager, Tino Pande said civil works on blocks seven to 14 had been completed, with the sections now at an advanced stage of refurbishment.
“We have worked on blocks 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. They are now 90% complete, and the beauty of it all is that we have finished all the civil works pertaining to those blocks.
We have installed water systems and, in terms of employment, we have engaged approximately 150 people,” he said.
He said the scope of the project extended beyond cosmetic improvements to include roofing, ceilings, plumbing, glazing, metalwork, flooring, paving, independent water supplies and upgraded sewer reticulation systems.
The rehabilitation has also received the backing of the City of Harare, with Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, commending the pace of work and pledging municipal support towards improving surrounding infrastructure.
“The renovations are taking place at a decent pace, and we are grateful to ED AID 1 for the work they are doing,” he said.
“We have taken note of the developments and integrated them into our plans so that we can also upgrade other infrastructure in the area. Indeed, we have found partners in ED AID 1 with whom we can work to improve living conditions in Mbare.”
Acting Town Clerk, Advocate Warren Chiwawa, also welcomed the intervention, saying the improvements complemented the local authority’s broader efforts to rehabilitate urban infrastructure and improve living standards.
The project has generated optimism among Mbare residents, who have long raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the suburb’s ageing residential flats.
Speaking during a City of Harare pre-budget consultative meeting at Mai Musodzi Hall, last week, Ward 3 Councillor Simbarashe Chanachimwe commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for responding to residents’ concerns and facilitating interventions to rehabilitate the flats.
“We want to thank His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He is a listening President. We told him that our flats were in a bad state. They came to inspect them and work started at Matapi Flats, which has 14 blocks,” he said.
He said the current intervention was expected to pave the way for the rehabilitation of other dilapidated residential blocks in Mbare, which has 58 ageing blocks of flats.
Furthermore, AID 1 is expected to extend similar refurbishment programmes to other deteriorating residential complexes in towns and cities across the country, in a move aimed at supporting urban renewal, creating employment and improving access to decent housing.
