Good News: More houses for Zimbabweans
By Ronny Zikhali

THE Ministry of National Housing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Old Mutual that will see more than 10 000 houses being built this year countrywide, a cabinet minister has said.
The deal comes after the ministry has crafted its five-year strategic plan that is aimed at constructing 1.5 million houses.
The Minister of National Housing, Fidelis Mhashu said the deal was a major boost to the five-year strategic plan which is expected to go a long way in creating valuable accommodation nationwide.
Minister Mhashu said years 2010 to 2015 was a period of reducing housing backlog in the country.
“I can tell you that two weeks back we signed an MOU with Old Mutual. In this deal some of the agreements were that the company will embark on a process of building houses in order to ease accommodation as well as providing standardised houses,” he said.
Minister Mhashu. said his ministry realised that a shortage of cash was hindering people from developing and completing their acquired stands and therefore decided to look for partners who will assist them build houses.
“Many people have approached us and requested that the Government instead of allocating stands should build houses. As such we have sought partners and we are still looking for more in order for us to speed up this process. What we are merely doing is to consolidate Operation Hlalani Kuhle/ Garikai which was initiated by the former Government.
“This move will also ensure that proper houses are built in big cities and towns with all necessary sewer facilities and water connections,” he said.
Minister Mhashu said civil servants were also their priority in this new housing project a move which was initiated by various ministries in bid to cushion and also improve their living.
He said civil servants were also given first preference because Government felt they have been neglected for a long time.
“You will realise that in all the phases 20 percent of number of houses constructed will be allocated to civil servants. I am confident that by the end of this five-year plan the state of housing would be far better,” he said.
He said in the first phase, 3 000 houses would be built for civil servants across the country.
Minister Mhashu said peri-urban farms were going to be acquired in most large cities and towns for settlement purposes.
“We have had three important meetings this year (2009) and resolved that land should be acquired in urban areas where it is lying idle. Our aim is to ensure that come 2015 all citizens should be in possession of a house at least,” he said.
Last year in October there was a national housing Convention held in Victoria Falls which had some resolutions concerning the housing situation in the country.
Some of the resolutions include, acquiring land for settlement, mobilisation of funds to build more houses, review of all legislation governing housing policy among others.
He said Government was committed to building houses in rural areas mainly in growth points and resettlement.
“We intend to build suitable houses for our farmers who are producing for us. A survey has shown that in most farms, farmers have no decent shelter therefore it is our mandate that we provide good shelter for them so that they can produce under favourable conditions,” said Minister Mhashu.
He however said Government was facing challenges of funding which he said was slowing the pace at which they intended to build houses in the country.