100 000 new houses in 5 years

Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE Government has set an ambitious target to deliver 100 000 housing units in Manicaland over the next five years under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), positioning the housing sector as a key driver of economic growth and social development.
The programme, which aims to produce 20 000 housing units annually between 2026 and 2030, will be implemented through State land allocation, settlement regularisation, public-private partnerships and enhanced mortgage financing. Priority will be given to low- and middle-income families to improve access to decent accommodation.
The initiative forms part of the Government’s broader national target of constructing one million housing units by 2030.
Permanent Secretary for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Abiot Maronge, said housing development has evolved beyond the provision of shelter and is now a critical catalyst for economic transformation.
“The housing sector has been one of the key drivers of economic growth in Manicaland under NDS1. Housing delivery stimulated economic activity through the servicing of residential, commercial and institutional stands, infrastructure development and construction, creating employment opportunities and supporting local businesses.
“Under NDS2, the province has targeted 20 000 housing units annually for the next five years, giving a cumulative target of 100 000 units. This will contribute towards the national goal of one million housing units by 2030,” he said.
Mr Maronge said Government, in partnership with local authorities and private developers, is implementing several housing projects across major urban centres and growth points to expand access to affordable and sustainable settlements.
Among the flagship developments is Paradise Park in Mutare, which comprises 650 residential stands and is now 98 percent complete, with only tower lighting infrastructure outstanding.
Lot One of Dora Phase Two, also in Mutare, consists of 902 stands and has reached 80 percent completion.
In Makoni District, the Tsanzaguru/Riversdale housing project, comprising 234 stands, is 65 percent complete, while Chipinge’s Manicaland Youth Housing Scheme at Reitvlei Farm, which will provide 3 294 stands, is at the initial stages of development with work standing at five percent completion.
Other notable projects include the Messengers Camp project in Nyanga, which will provide 740 stands, and the Westgate housing development in Mutasa District, comprising 602 stands.
Mr Maronge said Mutare remained the province’s fastest-growing housing market due to sustained population growth, high demand for accommodation and comparatively stronger infrastructure networks.
Mutasa District, benefiting from its proximity to Mutare, has also emerged as a major growth area, with 3 566 residential stands currently under development.
He said the projects are expected to reduce the housing backlog, attract investment, stimulate business activity, expand urban infrastructure and create employment while improving residents’ quality of life.
While significant progress was recorded under the National Development Strategy 1 through stand servicing, housing construction, settlement regularisation and collaborative projects involving the Government, local authorities, private developers and housing cooperatives, some annual targets were missed because of funding constraints and delays in land servicing.
Mr Maronge said Government has incorporated lessons from these challenges into the implementation framework for NDS2.
“Housing development has a strong multiplier effect throughout the economy. Construction creates demand for cement, bricks, steel, timber, roofing materials, plumbing and electrical fittings, thereby supporting manufacturing industries.
“The transport sector benefits from increased movement of construction materials, retailers experience higher demand for hardware and household goods, while financial institutions generate business through mortgage and construction financing. Projects also create employment opportunities for engineers, architects, surveyors, artisans, contractors and informal workers, improving household incomes and living standards,” he said.
Statistics from the Office of the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution highlight the housing sector’s contribution to economic growth.
Provincial Director for Economic Affairs and Investments, Mr Munyaradzi Rubaya, said construction contributed 1,8 percent to Manicaland’s Gross Domestic Product in 2019, before rising to 3,5 percent in 2022. The sector contributed 1,8 percent in 2024.
Although GDP figures for 2025 are not yet available, investment activity in the province has remained robust.
According to the 2026 Investment Realisation Report, US$15 million was invested in the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University Satellite Campus during the first quarter of the year, while a further US$10 million was committed to the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe flats project in Makoni during the second quarter.
Mr Maronge said housing development was also supporting Government’s 40 percent densification policy, which seeks to balance urban expansion with the preservation of agricultural land.
He acknowledged challenges facing the sector, including inadequate infrastructure funding, rising construction costs, shortages of serviced land, lengthy approval procedures and affordability constraints.
However, he said Government was addressing these obstacles through increased infrastructure investment, expanded public-private partnerships, streamlined land administration systems, adoption of alternative building technologies and stronger collaboration with financial institutions.
Mr Maronge also highlighted the growing role of Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
“Many Zimbabweans living abroad continue to invest in residential stands and housing construction, contributing to infrastructure development, employment creation and economic growth. We encourage them to continue investing back home because Government has created an enabling environment, and every investment contributes towards Vision 2030 and national housing targets,” he said.
National Building Society acting managing director, Ms Mukai Mahachi, said housing remains one of the most important drivers of broad-based economic activity.
“Housing is more than a basic human need. It is a foundation for dignity, stability and economic growth. Every home financed activates an extensive value chain that includes construction, manufacturing, logistics, retail and other sectors. One home can move many wheels in the economy,” she said.