Staff Writer
River Valley Properties Group Chief Executive Professor Smelly Dube continues to strive to ensure that Zimbabwe upholds the National Human Settlements Policy (ZNHSP) by propelling development of Woodlands Park in Gweru which her company developed and handed over to the local authority in 2013.
Recently, River Valley Properties rolled out a major road and drainage rehabilitation programme in Gweru’s Woodlands Phase one suburb with Prof Dube taking time off her busy schedule to personally oversee the civil engineering works.
River Valley Properties technicians and management personel during sewer systems mantainance works in Woodlands recently
The exercise saw the land developer’s team working around the clock for the past three days to clear sewer lines of blockages using heavy earth moving machines from the private company as well as maintain roads in the suburb.
Prof Smelly Dube said that as an organization they will be working hand-in-glove with the community during this exercise.
“We are in the process of rectifying sewer blockage problems. We have now agreed that going forward, we shall work hand in glove with the community to end dumping of foreign objects in sewer lines. We will also put a big tank of water at one strategic area so that when city council water goes under shedding, we have an alternative for sewer reticulation,” she said.
In 2021 President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy (ZNHSP) with a target to deliver 220 000 housing units by 2025 as prescribed under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) aimed at contributing towards realizing Vision 2030.
Woodlands and other suburbs in Gweru developed by River Valley are therefore in sinc with the envisaged policy of President Mnangagwa.
Prof Dube who took time off her busy schedule to be on the ground and oversee the rehabilitation works in person, further highlighted that they will be rehabilitating the drainage systems through installing advanced support systems.
She encouraged Residents are encouraged not to dump or place any foreign objects in storm water drains and also sewer systems as this leads to blockages that at times cause back flows.
Residents who spoke to this publication thanked Prof Dube and her company for the timely intervention.
“These services that River Valley has rendered like sewer and road rehabilitation must ordinarily be the responsibility of our local authority but the private company has shown empathy by using its time and resources to assist us. We are really grateful,” said one resident.
Although River Valley handed over the Woodlands suburb phase one project to Gweru city council in 2013, the company has continued to assist each time residents encounter problems.
In January 2020 the Gweru land developer partnered Vungu RDC on a road and drainage rehabilitation programme to minimise the effects of flash floods that hit the Woodlands Phase one suburb.
Some residential areas in Gweru had been affected by flash floods following incessant rains.
Prof Dube speaks to a resident of Woodlands on need to avoid dropping of foreign objects in sewer lines
At that time Prof Dube said they could not ignore the plight of beneficiaries of the scheme.
“We felt we could not just build houses for people and when they are affected by natural disasters we ignore their plight,” Dube said.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility programme we will endeavor to make sure that beneficiaries of our housing projects are continuously assisted in times of need.
Following the floods, motorists were facing challenges in navigating the roads.
In another gesture of goodwill, the property developer partnered the City of Gweru and Department of Civil Protection to assist families affected by flash floods in 2021.
Following incessant rains that pounded the city, most houses particularly in low-lying areas were flooded with water, destroying property worth thousands of dollars.
Affected families also had to be evacuated and accommodated in temporary shelters.
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