The government of Zimbabwe
embarked on a housing scheme dubbed Operation Garikai predecessing the much
publicised Operation Murambatsvina.
The Operation Garikai in the case of
Bulawayo saw nearly 2 000 housing stands
being distributed. The people that were settled in these areas were encouraged
to join a consortium that will be influencial in servicing their stands.
Shocking enough, despite people making their monthly subscription for the past
4 years, the area still faces serious under-development.
Added to that there has been some
tussle between the Bulawayo city council, the government and the Consortium.
Such contestations have generally made people suspicious of the proposed
development.
According to a report made by the
Consortium, people in Cowdraw Park new stands do not have access to “electricity
and have been forced therefore to resort to the use of Generators and Solar
energy. However, this survival strategy is not enough and there is need for immediate
action”. The report further went on to state that people have been forced to
use Blair toilets for ablution and few homes have managed to have build septic
tanks. Such state of affairs has further contributed to the a health threat
looming in the area.
No doubt this delayed action by
the city council has been a cause for concern for the residents, and it can be
summed as delayed development that seems to not to be forthcoming.