Housing
Housing and Community Services
Composition Of The Department
The department of Housing and Community Services headed by the Director of Housing exists to ensure that there is provision and management of affordable housing for the residents of Kwekwe. It provides and manages institutions, promotes local economic developments, mobilise and ensure efficient utilisation of resources, sound local governance and the overall strategy for the provision of housing and social services.
Overall Functions of Housing & Community Services Department
Provision and maintenance of decent and affordable housing for the residents of Kwekwe
Provision of social amenities and management educational and recreational facilities institutions for the residents of Kwekwe
Promotion of local economic development
Mobilisation and monitoring efficient utilization of resources
Promotion of good and sound local governance
Provision of overall strategy for the provision of housing and social services.
Management of recreational parks
Housing Provision
- In line with the departmental mandate to provide decent and affordable housing, the department has over the past 5 years allocated a total of 1290 under various projects in areas of ;
- Mbizo 2 Ext 198
- Mbizo 21 291
- Mbizo 22 392
- Mbizo 19 (PPPs)409
Community services-Social Responsibilities
Provision of;
Child protection & social services to the marginalized groups of the community i.e. the elderly, disabled, the chronically ill,
Rehabilitation of youths with drug problems & children living in the streets.
Youth & Women empowerment in partnership with NGOs.
REFURBISHMENT OF THE SWIMMING POOL & ENGAGING PPPs
- The Public Private Partnership (PPPs) engagement process was carried out and the partners are working on revamping the swimming pool to a state of the art standard
- The revamping process has seen an improved outlook and more people visiting the place.
HOUSING BACKLOG
Due to the increase in population as per the recent census statistics, Kwekwe urban has a total of 119 863 people, as a result housing backlog has escalated to 27250
COMMMUNITY SERVICES
Under the department`s community services area, we have 4 facilities for community based activities dotted around the city in Mbizo, CBD and Amaveni.
Mbizo Youth Centre Hall and Stadia
Mbizo Hall
Kwekwe Theatre
Amaveni Hall and Stadium
REFURBISHMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES FACILITIES
Due to the deterioration of community facilities the department is currently embarking on a massive programme of upgrading, repairing and maintenance of existing facilities to make them user friendly.
LIBRARY SERVICES
As part of community services, the department runs three libraries namely;
City Library
Mbizo library
Amaveni Library
Existing community facilities
Mbizo Hall
Amaveni Hall
SOCIAL HOUSING
As a gesture of corporate social responsibility, departments of housing and works are working on an urban renewal project in Mbizo 7 single houses.
- The exercise which involves demolishment and construction of modern houses is meant to decongest and promote decent living standards for the impoverished groups in our community.
- The project is tipped to be completed by December 2021.
EDUCATION
In line with the need to foster high literacy levels, the city is immensely contributing towards construction and management of primary schools. To date, 5 schools have been built namely
- Chana
- Dambudzo
- Tausngana
- Kushinga
PROMOTION OF ARTS, SPORT AND CULTURE
The department envisage to improve its annual Sport and Cultural Gala by romping in a variety of activities to make the event more entertaining in the coming year
Some of the traditional activities are as depicted in the following pictures :-
VOCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES
As a measure to ease rampant juvenile delinquency bedevilling the contemporary environment, the department is running 3 vocation training institutes towards youth empowerment in areas of :-
Metal work and fabrication- Mhizha VTC
Carpentry and Joinery-Muvezi VCT
Gament Construction –Musoni VCT
The 3 VCTs offer quality & affordable skills training to the youths i.e. Muvezi, Mhizha & Musoni. Enrolment is done annually for $25/term fees.
VCTS CURRENT OBJECTIVES
Muvezi Training Institute is working towards embracing a fully fledged production wing by December 2023.
Engaging former sponsors to avail sponsorship of this wing
- Introduction of Muvaki Training Institute which will do brick work by December 2024
- Introduce the production unit concept to Mhizha & Musoni by December 2024
OPEN SPACES RESUSCITATION
The department under its parks section, is currently undergoing an extensive exercise towards an aesthetic city outlook.
PARKS AND WILDLIFE
- Work on improving the Echo Park to be the hub of Kwekwe`s fishery, wildlife and recreational activities is in progress.
- Snake and game viewing is proving to be a viable source of revenue and continue to be the major attraction luring tourists from in and around Kwekwe.