700 000 houses built in five years

In a pointed statement last night, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda expressed grave concern over the remarks, labelling them a misrepresentation of the country’s present landscape and a desperate attempt to undermine recent diplomatic and economic progress. “The Republic of Zimbabwe has taken note of a statement delivered in Geneva by an individual purporting to speak on the state of human rights and the rule of law in our country,” he said.

Remember Deketeke

Herald Correspondent

Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda has revealed that 70 percent of the revised one million housing units have already been built nationwide, with the Government confident of surpassing the ambitious target set under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

Minister Soda made the remarks yesterday, while addressing stakeholders at the Zimbabwe Construction Industry Association (ZCIA) Annual Conference in Harare, where he praised the construction sector’s indelible contribution to national development.

“The initial target was 220 000 housing units, which we surpassed by the 2023 mid-term review. Cabinet later revised the target to one million units and I am proud to say we have reached at least 70 percent of that goal,” he said.

The conference, held under the theme “Breaking Silos, Building a Collaborative Built Environment,” focused on the critical role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in driving the country’s infrastructure development and housing delivery efforts.

“MSMEs are no longer fringe players in the construction industry. They are the heartbeat of infrastructure development, housing delivery and service provision.

“They are building schools in remote areas, renovating community clinics, and turning our national vision of leaving no one and no place behind into brick and mortar.”

Minister Soda also outlined the Government’s ongoing efforts to empower MSMEs through policy support, skills development, and access to resources.

“We are streamlining licencing and compliance processes, facilitating access to capital and equipment and creating inclusive procurement policies to enable MSMEs to compete fairly,” he said.

He called on stakeholders to provide feedback that will help shape the forthcoming National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), emphasising that housing and social amenities should increasingly support economic empowerment and sustainable development.

“MSMEs are not temporary fixers, they are permanent builders of this country. Their success is our collective success,” he said.