REGIS CHINGAWO IN MASVINGO
The City of Masvingo is planning to expand its central business district as part of efforts to lure investors, Business Times can report.
The Masvingo City Council said the expansion drive will see new commercial buildings near Charumbira Street along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway.
Confirming the development, the local authority said the move was triggered by the need to broaden land delivery options to accommodate emerging land requirements consistent with the contemporary investment drive of the city.
“The proposed Masvingo City commercial business district expansion project is located on a piece of land defined by Charumbira Road and Masvingo-Beitbridge national road to the east and south respectively.
“This makes the site highly accessible to residents of Masvingo as well as passing traffic.
“The existing CBD and the extension are linked by Kernen Recreational Park (under development). The said park and green belt of Mucheke River will help break the monotony of built form as well as be the green lungs of the CBD,” reads part of the statement.
Business Times has established that over 26 hectares of land has been set aside and will accommodate 63 commercial stands, two shopping malls, a hotel, a cluster flats stands and two parking bays under Section 205 of the Urban Council Act Chapter 29:15.
The statement adds that the cluster flats will provide accommodation to the residents, clearing the city’s residential backlog.
“Cluster/flats stand is meant to accommodate the development of townhouses and gated residential communities to provide residential space for various groups of the city To cite the current predicament wherein most corporates have to sustain hotel bills upon transfer of new members to Masvingo.
“If there had been cluster (gated communities) housing provisions, corporations would own or rent out these clusters at charges consistent with the facilities. Moreso, diasporans from Masvingo have had to build big houses which trouble them with security concerns because the Council had not reserved land for cluster housing.
“Horizontal development is least preferable considering that land is finite, worse off this prime land. Overly this development should produce a functional modern upmarket centre of high architectural value which at the same time resonates well with the needs of corporates / property developers and users (customers). People shape/construct spaces, thereafter spaces shape people’s life by facilitating and restricting human activity.
“Masvingo City Council hopes it will attract the correct investors who will develop functional and user friendly urban facilities.”
The business community in Masvingo has welcomed the development saying it will go a long way in promoting investment in the city.
“We are welcoming the development which is sweet news. This will see investors flock to Masvingo, creating more business opportunities and employment. This will also assist in decongesting the city,” the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chairperson for Masvingo Province, Andrew Chekani said.
