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“Some have already benefited from the same facility under the National Housing Loan Development facility. A total of $6 million will be channelled towards recapitalising the National Housing Fund and the $12 million will be meant for the civil service housing loan facility. All these efforts are designed to leverage enough resources for low cost housing,” he said.
Minister Mutsekwa said beneficiaries would be those who already own stands and they would access the money through applying for loans at the financial institutions.
The minister also said a National Housing policy document from the 2009 Zilga housing convention had been presented to Cabinet, adding that soon, it will be availed to everyone for implementation.
“The major thrust of the policy document is to create a sustainable housing finance base which has an indigenous flavour. It appeals to Government to recapitalise both public and private housing finance institutions which were affected by the economic challenges of the past few years,” he said.
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“In addition, the policy also looks at how best we can leverage resources from private land developers, community-based organisations and micro institutions.
“It is in the same vein that my ministry officially launched Zimhabitat to co-ordinate the housing sector.
“It came from the same stakeholders, some of whom are in attendance here today and let us embrace this opportunity and make use of Zimhabitat to have a co-ordinated and integrated housing sector.”
Minister Mutsekwa also told the delegates that his ministry was in discussions with the Ministry of Labour and Social Services on the issue involving NSSA in a bigger way in funding workers’ housing programmes.
“Development packages that involve institutions such as NSSA can be crafted in conjunction with private developers to provide housing for the majority of the low-income people,” he said.
Minister Mutsekwa said contemporary best practices on pro-poor housing strategies have proved that maximum achievement could be made through mobilising beneficiaries’ resources.
“The proposed National Housing Policy provides enabling strategies for community-based organisations to participate in housing development,” he said.
“I am grateful to local authorities for supporting this initiative by allocating pieces of land to community-based organisations such as co-operatives.”
He said the $39 million provided for local authorities for off-site infrastructure and $22,4 million to small towns and rural communities in the 2012 budget for water and sewerage would
enable partners to participate effectively in housing development.
“At this juncture I would like to commend those local authorities which submitted their project proposals for joint venture projects with my ministry under the National Housing Loan Facility.
“Servicing of stands has now been completed at Marondera Paradise Park and Chikanga in Mutare. Preparatory work is underway at Nemanwa project in Masvingo, Spitzkop in Gwanda, Mahatshula in Bulawayo, Checheche in Chipinge and Tshovani Extension in Chiredzi. Other proposals are being appraised for prioritisation and I urge remaining local authorities to submit their proposals,” said Minister Mutsekwa.
Online Reporter