Most of the residents still live in plastic shacks donated by the Roman Catholic Church. Some have since built their own homes while others are still in the process of building homes.
The cooperatives have attempted to service the area, but the roads are run down after years of wear and tear, or are impassable after the rains and this requires immediate attention.
The key priority areas for the residents are roads and education.
Roads: The area is inaccessible, so the construction of roads should be a priority. Residents require one main access road constructed immediately. Residents need to be serviced with transport leading in and out of the area e.g. ferrying the sick and the dead to the main road.
Education: There are no formal education facilities in Hatcliffe Extension except for makeshift schools termed “colleges”, staffed with untrained teachers. Residents would require formal schools with trained teachers who are paid by the government.
Colleges/schools in the area are not enjoying benefits from donor organisations like Unicef who give stationery and textbooks to primary and secondary schools. The schools do not have decent classrooms to match the enrolment. The residents are aware that their children are disadvantaged as they cannot all be accommodated in schools in Hatcliffe 1.
Zesa: Residents feel that Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) should come up with a plan that will integrate residents’ plans to have power as early as possible. They are prepared to make contributions for speedy electrification in the area.
Water supply: Dirty water is piped to residents. A redress of the situation is required. Residents used to repair boreholes on their own but now council requires residents to buy fuel for the vehicle that would transport the rods/pipes and the council employees who would repair the boreholes. They get their drinking water from boreholes.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Refuse collection: Although residents complained of poor refuse removal, they bought into the idea of putting refuse in a pit and when the pit is full, they would plant a tree.
Rentals: Residents need clarification on the US$60-120 dollars they pay at Mukwati Building as they claim that land had been paid for by a donor. After this payment, they still have to pay rates.
They therefore would like to know what council is doing for them after the rates have been paid as there is poor refuse removal, sanitation, accessibility and water supply.
Ronia Gwaze is HRT community coordinator
