Bulawayo – Member of Parliament for Binga South, Hon. Fanuel Cumanzala, has called for urgent government intervention to transform the deteriorating Burombo Flats in Bulawayo, describing them as “a painful monument to colonial injustice that has been allowed to survive for far too long.”

In an interview, Hon. Cumanzala said the condition of the flats was not merely a housing issue but a matter of historical justice and human dignity.

“For many people, Burombo Flats are just old buildings. For the people of the Zambezi Valley, especially the Tonga community, they represent a painful chapter of our history.

Many of the original residents were Tonga men recruited as cheap labour from Binga and other parts of the Zambezi Valley to work in Bulawayo’s industries under the colonial system. They lived in overcrowded hostels with little dignity, separated from their families and treated as temporary labour rather than full citizens.”

He said it was deeply disappointing that more than four decades after Independence, many residents continued to live in conditions that reflected colonial planning rather than the aspirations of an independent Zimbabwe.

“Independence was meant to restore dignity to every Zimbabwean. It is difficult to explain why thousands of our people are still living in infrastructure designed during colonial rule to accommodate African labourers under discriminatory policies. We cannot continue to preserve this legacy through neglect.”

Hon. Cumanzala noted that while responsibility for urban housing rests with several authorities, the nation has a collective obligation to address historical inequalities affecting communities that contributed immensely to Zimbabwe’s economic development.

“The Tonga people helped build Bulawayo, Hwange, Kariba and many other parts of Zimbabwe through their labour. They deserve decent housing, safe sanitation and a healthy environment. This is not a favour; it is a matter of justice.”

He proposed an urgent national renewal programme for Burombo Flats, including a comprehensive structural assessment of the buildings, the immediate rehabilitation of water, sewer and electricity systems and decongestion through the construction of modern, affordable family housing.

Cumanzala also proposed embarking on a joint Government–Bulawayo City Council urban renewal programme, public-private partnerships to finance redevelopment and the formal recognition of Burombo Flats as a site reflecting the history of migrant labour, ensuring that future generations understand the sacrifices made by workers from the Zambezi Valley and other communities.

Hon. Cumanzala said redevelopment should not result in the displacement of long-term residents.

“The people who have endured these conditions for decades must be the first beneficiaries of any redevelopment programme. Urban renewal must improve their lives, not push them aside.”

He concluded by urging leaders across political divides to act with urgency.

“This is not a partisan issue. It is about restoring human dignity. Burombo Flats should no longer stand as a symbol of poverty and neglect.

They should become a symbol of national renewal and our commitment to ensuring that no Zimbabwean continues to live under the shadow of colonial inequality.