MARONDERA Municipality has started renovating its long-condemned Rusike flats in a bid to ease the town’s accommodation crisis which has seen most of its residents remain on the waiting list for the past six years. REPORT BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The flats, located in Dombotombo suburb, were condemned 10 years ago and have become a haven for prostitutes and robbers. Recently, the flats caused a storm after top Zanu PF and MDC-T officials accused each other of controversially registering their members as potential voters citing the flats as their places of residence.
Marondera mayor Farai Nyandoro yesterday said a Harare-based engineering firm — Suveerz — had been contracted to carry out the renovations.
“We engaged a Harare company called Suveerz which said they will be through by August. Since 2003, the flats have been condemned and we resolved this year as council to take a steps towards renovating the flats,” Nyandoro said.
“The hostels triggered a lot of controversy politically and socially and I believe all will come to an end.”
An estimated 18 000 residents were on the council housing waiting list and recently, council availed 1 258 residential stands to ease accommodation shortage.
The stands, which range between 200 and 300 square metres, are in Chitepo Phase Two area.
