US$11m for low-cost housing released
Shelter Afrique, a Pan-African banking institution, has released US$11 million for the construction of low cost houses and is also funding about 10 000 houses to be distributed across the country, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said yesterday.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has since engaged local authorities to provide the required land for construction works to begin.
Some land would be provided to Shelter Afrique for a new building technology plant, which will be set up in Harare.
The development is in line with the aspirations of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa of undertaking a massive infrastructure development and social investment programme aimed at transforming Zimbabwe into an empowered upper middle income society by 2030.
“Cabinet further wishes to inform the nation that Shelter Afrique, a Pan-African banking institution, has already released US$11 million to BancABC for the construction of social housing.
“Shelter Afrique is also funding a minimum of 3 000 and a maximum of 10 000 houses dedicated to His Excellency the President, and the houses will be distributed equitably across the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe.
“Local authorities are therefore being engaged to provide the land required for housing construction to commence. Land will be provided for Shelter Afrique’s SADC Regional Office in Zimbabwe, and for a new building technology plant which Shelter Afrique will set up in Harare,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Shelter Afrique exclusively supports the development of affordable housing and real estate sector development in Africa.
Government is constructing new roads and repairing existing ones under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme 2 (ERRP2), as enunciated under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet received an update on the ERRP2, which was presented by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as Chairman of the Enhanced Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa It was noted that the programme continues to register significant progress as evidenced by increased activity around the country.
“Cabinet noted the progress and directed that the Emergency Road Rehabilitation be intensified in order to improve the state of roads and thereby facilitate the movement of essential supplies as well as ease of travel by ordinary road users,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet also received an update on the identification and quantification of irregular and dysfunctional settlements presented by VP Chiwenga.
It was noted that the number of families in wetlands/irregular settlements stood at 31 257.
“The provision of relief to distressed households at the Budiriro Hall Holding Camp in Harare and other sites is ongoing. Government intends to provide alternative accommodation for the households before the end of 2021, since the construction of flat apartments for the relocation exercise is now underway at various sites,” she said.
Cabinet was also briefed on several housing projects being undertaken across the country like in Dzivaresekwa, Highfield (both in Harare), Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, Senga in Gweru, Masvingo, Cross Dete, among other areas, and various amounts set aside by Treasury.
With regards to settlements on land that was not officially acquired, Minister Mutsvangwa said a nationwide verification exercise is being undertaken by a team constituted by the Ministries of Local Government and Public Works; National Housing and Social Amenities; and Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.
The initial 10 farms that had so far been identified in this regard are Highwood, Rockwood, Umzi and Sussex under Mazowe District; Glen Forest, Gletywn, Lot 1 of Eyecourt, Remainder of Carrick Creagh of Borrowdale Estate, and Remainder of Churu Farm under Harare, among others.
“Government is also examining the possibility of regularising Caledonia and Marydown Estate under Goromonzi District, through provision of modern human settlement infrastructure. The Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency will use drones to identify places where plans were not followed, and beneficiaries found to be compliant
will be issued with title.
“Under the Smart City concept, the model adopted for Melfort under Mashonaland East Province will be replicated in Figtree in Matabeleland South Province, and Chirundu in Mashonaland West Province,” she said.
Meanwhile, the adjudication process is now starting for the firms offering new technologies to speed up construction and reduce costs of the 470 000 houses and flats planned in the public housing programmes by 2030.
In an interview on Tuesday, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said Government has floated tenders and the response from a lot of both local and foreign companies was positive.
“The firms are now going through adjudication and by the end of September, we will have shortlisted those that qualify so that by 2022, we start the actual construction. We are on target.
“The target that the Government has set in terms of the National Development Strategy 1 is to deliver 220 000 units by year 2025 then take that up to 470 000 units by year 2030.
“Those are the targets that we are working on. This is very possible by way of applying new technologies in housing delivery,” he said.
Minister Garwe said the technologies that have since been adopted in other countries were very cost effective.
“A company that is applying technology can produce 100 blocks of flats in a month, 100 blocks of flats of 16 units each which means in a month it builds 1 600.
“In 10 months, we will have delivered 160 000 units. By the time we reach 2025, we will have surpassed the target of 220 000 units but we are now working towards bringing those technologies into Zimbabwe,” he said.-herald.cl.zw
