The Sunday Mail
At least 10 000 low-cost houses have been constructed countrywide with 15 000 more units expected to be built by year-end as the authorities move to address accommodation problems mainly affecting low-income earners.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo said President Mugabe was expected to launch the massive housing project in a fortnight.
The construction of the housing units is part of Government’s plan to provide houses to low-income earners in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).
Dr Chombo told The Sunday Mail that the first phase of construction in Harare’s Budiriro suburb was almost complete, with the handover of the homes to beneficiaries set to take place soon. Other projects are underway in Southview Park along the Masvingo-Harare highway and Caledonia in Harare as well as in Mbizo, Kwekwe, and Hertfordshire in Gweru.
The authorities intend to construct 125 000 similar units by 2018 at a rate of 25 000 units per annum. Zimbabwe’s national housing backlog stands at 1,25 million. Most of the beneficiaries are those whose income falls below the poverty datum line, which is pegged at slightly over US$500 as well as those on urban housing waiting lists.
Dr Chombo said under the system, Government provides land for construction to private land developers, banks and insurance companies. Some of the partners include Central Africa Building Society (CABS) and Fidelity Insurance.
“We have allocated swathes of State land to a lot of developers throughout the country in a bid to address shortages of housing and to create a platform for low-cost housing development,” said Dr Chombo.
He added that Government was working on strategies to improve the livelihoods of low-income earners. He criticised some private land developers for swindling home-seekers at the expense of housing delivery.
“Some land developers have been abusing people’s hard-earned cash and this has to stop forthwith,” he said.
“Government is not going to fold its hands and leave genuine home-seekers at the mercy of a few greedy and misguided people.”
Housing problems have stalked Zimbabweans for many years. Cost of building materials remains beyond the reach of many. Rentals and mortgages are also high.
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