Building a place to call home

Debra Matabvu
2015 saw a robust drive by Government to deliver on its 2013 election promises as guided by the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset, with tangible results recorded in the sphere of availing affordable and decent accommodation.
At least $100 million was set aside this year alone to finance construction of over 160 000 housing units.
Notable projects Government launched include the national Own Your Own Home scheme, which targets low and middle-income earners.
The programme started in Harare with Government planning high rise flats in Dzivaresekwa, Prospect and Tafara.
The multimillion dollar project is financed by the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe and $60 million worth of bonds have been floated to fund land servicing and actual construction. At least $50 million will be used to build flats for 640 households in Dzivaresekwa, 525 in Tafara and 880 in Prospect, with the remainder being used to service stands in Pomona.
Revenue from sale of the flats will be used to fund land development in high-density areas, targeting 1 500 stands in Kuwadzana and 10 000 in Manyame.
Zim-Asset seeks to avail 313 368 housing units or serviced stands by 2018. An estimated 1,2 million people are on the national housing waiting list.
Harare is estimated to be sitting on a housing backlog of 500 000, while Bulawayo has 100 with 59 000 being reported in Mutare, 18 000 for Marondera, 17 000 in Gweru and 6 000 waiting to get houses in Masvingo.
It is such statistics that prompted Government to come up with strategies to avail land for housing.
To date more than 10 farms have been identified for construction of houses units around the country.
In Harare, seven farms were identified near Manyame for 100 000 units, with Government already starting off-site infrastructure such as dams, water and sewer services.
Government is also identifying underutilised land in other provinces to service and build houses.
Land is being repossessed from housing co-operatives that have failed to service it to pave way for serious construction. The move is also meant to rid urban areas of barons who were fleecing home-seekers of millions of dollars.
In April, Government handed over Caledonia Farm to Harare City Council for administration after barons there parcelled out State land, raking in more than $50 million from home-seekers.
Government also repossessed land from housing co-operatives in Harare South where Hopley Farm is situated.
The handovers will regularise structures to ensure buildings meet council and international housing standards.
In Harare, the local authority has gone a step further by engaging foreign investors.
In the first quarter of the year, the Harare City Council secured$5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to build 480 low-cost housing units in Dzivaresekwa.
The programme will also see the upgrading of all the documented 63 Harare slums into organised settlements.
Local authorities have also partnered CBZ Bank and Homelink to avail over 40 000 housing units around the country. Homelink availed $50 million for 30 000 housing units in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo.
Zimbabweans living outside the country have been encouraged to take advantage of the Homelink facility.
While commissioning earth moving equipment worth $3 million at a ground breaking ceremony for the Macsherp Housing Scheme in Kadoma in July, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe said Zim-Asset’s goals were attainable.
“We can reach that point. The private sector, like we’re witnessing today, is key to the development of this country. We develop things on our own and we don’t look up to foreigners because if you see them coming, they are coming to loot our resources,” she said.
“It’s now a dream come true to many households to own a property in town, a rare phenomenon for the black majority during the colonial era. Such milestone achievements in our lifetime are worth celebrating.”
The Macsherp Housing Scheme will benefit about 3 000 low-income earners and equipment supplied by XGMA Zimbabwe will be used to service the stands.