The Sunday Mail
Tanyaradzwa Rusike recently in Victoria Falls
GOVERNMENT will deploy the US$25 million sovereign credit facility secured from pan-African housing development financier Shelter Afrique towards the construction of 3 000 housing units countrywide.
At least 300 units will be developed in each of the 10 provinces starting this year.
In an interview on the margins of last week’s 41st Shelter Afrique annual general meeting and symposium in Victoria Falls, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said “the money is already there.”
“Instead of focusing on funding through private companies, Shelter Afrique is now targeting to provide funding through governments and Zimbabwe is one of the first beneficiaries of that facility,” said Minister Garwe.
“We have already put in place development plans throughout our ten provinces.
“We think the money that we have applied for will assist us in developing our construction plant for alternative materials and construct 3 000 units throughout the country.
“We have said every province must get at least 300 units.” He said development of the houses will have commenced by year end.
The initiative, said Minister Garwe, will run concurrently with other housing development programmes being implemented under the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1).
Government plans to facilitate development of 200 000 housing units by 2025.
Minister Garwe said the loan facility operates as a revolving fund with civil servants being prioritised.
“We have NDS1 which will deliver 200 000 units by 2025, so within that programme, we will make sure that all these Shelter Afrique projects are delivered.
“We will, however, bear in mind that the housing backlog is a moving target and delivery tracks the backlog,” he said.
The new properties, he said, will have security of tenure and owners will get title deeds.
“Informal settlements or slums are proving to be a major challenge for most cities across the globe,” he added.
“Let us rethink the way we shape the outlook of such communities in a way which affords them better-living conditions.
“We are saying goodbye to all informal settlements and land barons according to the new housing policy.”Shelter Afrique managing director and chief executive Mr Kingsley Muwowo said scaling up funding will help reduce national housing backlogs on the continent. “Shelter Afrique has so far released at least US$63 million through lines of credit to Zimbabwe,” he said. “The model of approach was mainly through lines of credit and they give mortgages.However, most beneficiaries of these funds are the capital cities.
About 25 African Ministers responsible for housing in the region attended the meeting.
“Development has to spread and the best way to do that is through governments as sovereign borrowers because now they can say each province gets 300 units.”
The conference, which ran under the theme, “Climate Change and the Built Environment”, ended on Friday with Zimbabwe assuming chair of Shelter Afrique Bureau.
