Harare City has partnered with Henan Guoji Industry and Development Company from China for the development of housing structures in the city. Authority was given to Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi to structure the deal with the Chinese. The company has a strategic partnership with the China Import and Export Bank.

Reporting to the finance committee on December 17 last year, the director of housing and community services, Mr Justin Chivavaya, said the company would provide finances, technologies and management skills.

He said the company has 36 branches in China and has 11 overseas. In Southern Africa the company has done housing projects in Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa.

Meanwhile, the city has turned down requests by Dzivaresekwa residents renting council houses to be allowed to buy the properties. Harare has 14 000 properties it leases out to individuals and private companies.

In 1980 and 1988 it sold out some of its properties to sitting tenants but the sales, according to officials, did not yield anticipated results as the council was unable to replace the properties.