by Grace Chekai

Government in partnership with the private sector is working tirelessly to make sure that every citizen has a roof above their heads in line with vision 2030 of attaining an upper middle income society, a Government official has said.

Addressing residents in Bulawayo at a national housing regularisation and sanitation program today, Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Daniel Garwe said his Ministry will be working with other Ministries and the private sector, to clear the national housing backlog which has a waiting list of up to two million people.

The Minister said that his Ministry had spoken with financial institutions like NBS, ZB Bank, CABS and FBC who are willing to provide funding. Minister Garwe said the Government had land and banks had funding, so the two will partner and work together to come to achieve the set objective of providing housing to Zimbabweans.

“Government does not have all the money that is required to ensure these programmes become a success. But it has got land and we have said to the private sector, Why don’t you bring your financial resources and we will avail the land?” he said.

The Minister also said proper housing facilities should be availed in rural areas to curb rural urban migration, adding that civil servants also need to be given land.

“Civil servants also need places to stay. To avoid rural urban migration we want to provide facilities in rural areas with infrastructure which resembles urban architecture,” said the Minister.

He said the Ministry of Housing will build blocks of flats in urban areas so as to decongest the urban infrastructure adding that the urban systems cannot accommodate the increase in population anymore.

Minister Garwe said that he was aware of the informal settlements around the country. He urged people not to build houses without following proper procedures as they may end up using land meant for agricultural use.

“I am aware of the informal settlements doted around the country. Zimbabwe is dependent on Agriculture and if we continue building houses the way we are doing it, Agriculture projects will be assassinated,” said Minister Garwe.

He said land barons must be brought to book or kicked out so as to sanitise the informal sectors, adding that his Ministry will work with responsible Ministries and Engineers to regularise the informal sectors.

Minister Garwe also said he was aware of the land problems created by the previous Government, which the New Dispensation unfortunately inherited and was trying to solve so that Zimbabwe achieves its vision 2030.

The provision of accommodation to Zimbabweans will go a long way in uplifting their standards of living. Infrastructure remains key to unlocking economic growth potential, increase competiveness and productivity, whilst equipping public services to meet demand.