The government says the rehabilitation of the Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle area will commence in January 2026 with the Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme initiative expected to fund the rehabilitation of infrastructure in the suburb.
Hlalani Kuhle/Garikai, is an initiative of the government having been established in 2005, as a fast-track housing programme aimed at addressing the sprouting of illegal settlement in cities.
The rollout of the programme resulted in the construction of houses without provision of relevant social amenities including roads, sewer and water.
The lack of these services has seen some parts of the suburb experiencing flooding among other related challenges during the rainy season.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in 2009 handed over the Hlalani Kuhle/Garikai project to local authorities across the country with the City of Bulawayo inheriting over 15 000 households lacking basic services.
Council working with development partners connected 99% of the households with potable water while five trunk sewer outfalls that will assist in moving the sewer from the homes to the sewer treatment ponds have been installed.
The city has also partially connected sewer in some segments in Cowdray Park although extensive works still need to be done with US$33 million needed to complete the project. Council at the beginning of the year, partnered Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Programme for the servicing of the area.
Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, said the provision of services in Cowdray Park is expected to commence in January next year.
“Cowdray Park is a well-planned, surveyed, partially serviced settlement,” Ncube said.
“However, more needs to be done in addressing water and sanitation, roads and other attendant social amenities.
“We are, therefore, here to kick start the regularisation and sanitisation process.”
He added: “The offer letters are the first step towards securing title for your properties and the rapid development of Cowdray Park.
“By January 2026, residents of Cowdray Park will see earth moving equipment on the ground for the construction of roads, sewer and water infrastructure works.”
He said while the private sector will provide financial backing for the project, the government through the Finance ministry remains the guarantor of the project.
The residents will be required to make flexible payments.
Ncube added that addressing roads, sewer and water issues was a precursor before the government could provide title deeds to residents.
He said the Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential Title Deeds Program was a consortium of private sector institutions including CBZ Holdings, National Social Security Authority and Pension Funds.
