Staff Reporter
Construction of the 1 000 housing units dubbed ‘Bulawayo Student City’ is progressing steadily and almost complete.
Speaking after touring the US$17 million facility in Bulawayo, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mtuli Ncube said building projects such as the Bulawayo Students’ City was evidence of Government’s commitment towards infrastructural development.
“It is going to solve accommodation problems for students from all tertiary institutions. I am glad that it is almost done. The project has been financed through the public and private sector partnership. You can see that IDBZ is spreading out and building such infrastructure across our urban cities,” said Prof Ncube.
The Student city which is set to open next year in the first quarter is also going to be a one stop centre which will provide key requirements to students. 60% of the students expected to be housed by this facility will be females whilst males will constitute 40%.
CEO of Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) Thomas Sankala said this facility was called ‘Students Smart City’ because it will provide facilities such as entertainment, supermarkets, banks and laundry facilities under one roof.
“We call it Students City because it will provide all facilities under one roof. There will be entertainment facilities, supermarkets, banks, laundry facilities and fast food. The student does not have to go far. The public is allowed in but there will be security at all points of entry to the students’ hostel,” said Sankala.
This facility comes as a result of a joint partnership between IDBZ, Old Mutual, Zimnat and Mining Industry Pension Funds. Other Students Cities are also expected to be erected in different cities in Zimbabwe so as to ease the residential woes faced by tertiary students.
As the Second Republic came into power, this administration has been seized with matters of infrastructural development. Recently president Mnangagwa was in Beitbridge where he commissioned a modernised Beitbridge border and 220 housing units for Government workers. Other projects by Government include housing project for people who were affected by floods in Binga. Manyame Hospital is currently going through a modernising programme in order to make it a referral hospital for the Zimbabwe military personnel to receive proper health care.
