By Takudzwa Changadeya
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed concern over unplanned urban settlements without proper sewers, water supply, roads and social amenities saying they are totally not fit for human habitation.
Writing in his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said the government will soon have to intervene in the at-risk local authorities.
“Broken and dysfunctional municipalities have cost us greatly, including creating chaotic settlements which do not have even the most rudimentary amenities. Central Government might have to intervene to ameliorate this sorry situation.
“The hazards to public health are enormous, and require very urgent preventive interventions,” he said.
Mnangagwa said his administration will step up efforts in dealing with the informal settlements.
“We have to deal with the problem of informalisation of human settlements, which has a direct bearing on the construction industry, principally the residential subsector.
“All unplanned settlements need to be regularised after proper geo-spatial surveys and proper land-use plans which protect our delicate environment, principally our wetlands and water sources. Fourth, we have to find a formulae for delivering basic amenities and services at all settlements,” he said.
He also added that local councils have been allowing land barons to simply settle people without going through the proper planning and development processes settlement.
“Under the law, municipalities have a lot of self-government when it comes to planning and building but the Government can intervene under other laws when there are major health issues, environmental issues and, since urban roads were declared a state of national disaster, on roads,” he added.
Mnangagwa indicated that all urban settlement have to increase residential densities as well as commercial and industrial density, using all such land optimally since land was finite. The densification policy was now being implemented, said Mnangagwa.
“I am happy this is beginning to happen, including at rural growth points where blocks of flats for Government workers are now being piloted, Mutawatawa in Uzumba-Maramba Pfungwe being a case in point.
“Our human settlement plan requires that 40 percent of allocated land should go towards construction of flats,” he said.
