Civil servants set to benefit in housing program

Debra Matabvu
Representatives of civil servants under the Apex Council will tomorrow draft a list of Government workers interested in a housing program introduced as part of their non-monetary incentives. The Apex Council will then meet officials from the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry on Tuesday to discuss the residential stands program that is set to benefit about 100 000 civil servants.Members of 17 civil servants unions drawn from the teaching, health, uniformed forces, and agriculture sectors have been submitting names to their respective unions since last week. Government has already roped in Urdcorp to service the land that will be paid for by the National Building Society (NBS).

Apex Council president, Mrs Cecilia Alexander said, “The initiative is already at an advanced stage. We have a technical committee made up of representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, unions, Urdcorp, the Public Service Ministry and the Public Service Commission.

“The response has been overwhelming with unions from the Auditor General’s office, National Prosecuting Authority, police and army being among the applicants. “On Tuesday we are meeting the Permanent Secretary for Local Government (Engineer George Mlilo) and other representatives from the ministry to submit the list of home-seekers. “We hope this initiative will be different in that home-seekers won’t be duped by land barons. “Other modalities such as payments for the stands will be finalised once the list has been approved.” The project is a culmination of a three-day engagement between workers and Government representatives last month.

ZimAsset targets providing 300 000 housing units by 2018. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou lauded the Government for the initiative.

“Teachers have not had a salary increase in years because Government is facing challenges so the housing scheme is a welcome move. The program has to be monitored and implemented to make sure teachers benefit,” he said.