Future of OGHK housing There is no likelihood of any houses in addition to the existing 700 being built in Bulawayo any time soon. Any money allocated in the foreseeable future will be needed to complete the over 200 incomplete houses, and to provide the sewerage and water services needed before occupancy certificates can be issued. In Bulawayo, council officials told us that the cost of providing sewerage and water to the new housing would cost in excess of Z$ 200 million (billion) at July estimates. Yet in the whole of 2006, the money allocated by central government to OGHK in Bulawayo has so far been Z$ 5 million (billion), or 4% of this one budget line alone! One sewer line, which will eventually service around 100 houses, was laid before money ran out last year - but none of the houses have been connected to this line because of lack of funds. For individuals themselves to pay to connect the service would cost Z$ 500 thousand (million) per person – or a minimum of 10 months gross income for most recipients. As people try and save, the costs keep rising. It was stated a year ago that it would be the responsibility of the IMCs to finance supply of sewerage and water services, but BCC officials expect that this will be revoked and the city will be told it is their responsibility to connect the services. They have no funds to do so; the city battles merely to maintain existing services in the current economic climate. Blair toilets? A health risk Housing Minister Chombo has recently sent a directive that Blair toilets (pit latrines) must be built for each house in the Bulawayo scheme, to make it possible for people to move in. However, the city council is resisting this, as Bulawayo is a water shortage area, and is increasingly relying on boreholes to provide water for the city. They point out that sinking hundreds of Blair toilets, so close to the Nyamandlovu aquifer, will pollute precious and currently pure underground water supplies. Photo 5: Hlalani Kuhle houses in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo 36