STAFF WRITER
AS it readies for growth and development Hwange Local Board (HLB) has revealed that it will soon draw up a Master Plan, which will guide it on future infrastructure developmental programmes.
Ndumiso Mdlalose, HLB town secretary, said the local authority has already engaged Urban Development Corporation (UDCORP) on the Master Plan project.
“We have already engaged UDCORP to do the Master Plan project for us and this will guide us on future infrastructural developments,” Mdlalose said.
A Master Plan is a dynamic long-term planning document that provides a conceptual layout to guide future growth and development.
It also includes analysis, recommendations, and proposals for a site’s population, economy, housing, transportation, community facilities, and land use. It is based on public input, surveys, planning initiatives, existing development, physical characteristics, and social and economic conditions.
UDCORP was primarily set up for the purposes of encouraging and assisting Local Authorities to plan and co-ordinate urban growth and development, as well as to improve the standards of living of the general populace of Zimbabwe through the development of proper housing and related infrastructure.
Speaking on the same project Themba Sibanda, HLB town planner, said: “Hwange is fast growing but it doesn’t have any master plan. There is only a draft copy at the provincial government offices, we intend to pick it up soon and see where we are starting from. I will make a proposal to come up with a master plan, but it needs a reasonable budget”.
The Master Plan gives direction of a town’s growth as clearly indicates where commercial and industrial are presently and in future. It gives direction of at least 20 years ahead.
