The government says it is open to partnerships with the private sector in the provision of infrastructure and key services in new urban settlements.
Local Government and Public Works ministry chief director for spatial planning Shingirai Mashamba on Thursday said that the majority of new settlements lacked social services such as roads, water, power and health facilities.
He made the remarks while addressing delegates during the ground-breaking ceremony for the AfreximBank trade centre in Harare. Mashumba said:
We also have opportunities right now. When we took over the land reform programme, quite some processes happened and there was some appropriation of urban land so we have significant settlements that are fairly planned but lack services.
There are huge opportunities for captains of industry and commerce for us to partner as we regularise those settlements and we begin to provide onsite and offsite bulk infrastructure in terms of sewer, roads and water facilities, street lighting, health and water and sanitation facilities.
Mashumba added that the government plans to regularise informal settlements as well as identify old parts of the cities that require renewal. | NewsDay