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The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), Old Mutual, Zimnat, and Mining Industry Pension Fund, have come together heeding Government’s call for increased investment in the learning space, accommodation facilities, recreational and other supporting facilities for Zimbabwean Universities starting with the country’s top-notch National University of Science and Technology ( NUST).
The IDBZ chief executive officer Thomas Sakala said the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions resulted in delays in construction works.
“Construction is virtually done and the complex is ready for occupation. We are just doing minor things like cleaning the area and other minor things,” he said.
Government last year indicated about 100 000 university students in the country were struggling for accommodation with Nust being the worst affected institution in the country.
Professor Amon Murwira, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development said out of 10 000 students at Nust, only 120 are staying on campus which is a very pathetic dire situation now being addressed by this construction at the Science and Technology institution.
Initially, the Bulawayo City Council had rejected the proposal to build the hostels claiming the land had already been earmarked for townhouses.This after residents from the suburb had objected to the students’ accommodation complex being built off-campus, arguing that the development would downgrade the status of the up-market residential area.
Nevertheless, IDBZ a Government-owned development bank mandated to provide long and medium-term funding for key infrastructure projects which was primarily set up as a vehicle for the promotion of economic development and growth, and improvement of the living standards of Zimbabweans through the development of infrastructure, which includes but, is not limited to roads, dams, water reticulation, housing, sewerage, technology, amenities and utilities pushed through this deal.
The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe was established through the IDBZ Act (Chapter 24:14) to champion sustainable infrastructure development in Zimbabwe through mobilisation of resources, capacity building, knowledge generation and sharing in support of national efforts for inclusive socio-economic development.
Bulawayo Students City, is situated at Riverside, and was first mooted in 2016 under a programme called the University Students and Staff Accommodation Programme (USSAP), whose complex, is a joint venture project comprising the IDBZ, Old Mutual, Zimnat, and Mining Industry Pension Fund, and expected to be replicated in cities where there are universities, with Lupane anticipated to be the second beneficiary of such a facility.
Increased enrolment figures at State universities, has seen only 15 percent of students having accommodation at the campus halls of residence while the rest rely on lodgings in areas surrounding the universities.
In the last two decades a surge in the number of enrolments at universities and the current number estimated to be more than 70 000 with only 11 000 having accommodation provided by the institutions has been recorded.
Sakala said under the USSAP, IDBZ will spearhead the construction of accommodation facilities for students and staff at universities and other tertiary institutions across the country.
The IDBZ CEO added that the programme is a critical intervention in complementing Government efforts towards alleviating the plight of students and staff by providing secure and affordable accommodation facilities which are conducive to effective teaching and learning.
The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe CEO ensured besides residential accommodation, there is a canteen, laundry facility as well as shop space for big retail shops with leading retailer OK Zimbabwe having already taken up space. It has fast-food outlets space, salon as well as sporting facilities.
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