Affordable houses for civil servants

THE Government has taken a significant step towards its goal of providing affordable housing for all citizens by launching a new housing project in Emthunzini Township, Matabeleland North Province.

The initiative is part of a broader plan to construct 220 000 housing units by 2025 and create modern living spaces for all Zimbabweans by 2030.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities, the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, the National Social Security Authority (Nssa), and the National Building Society (NBS). Hawkflight Construction and Marhaber Construction are responsible for developing the project, which aims to build 4 000 housing units at a rapid pace of 118 units every 60 days.

At a colourful ceremony yesterday, it was revealed that 236 units are nearing completion. The houses are designed specifically for public service employees and offer affordable mortgage options starting from US$148 to US$198 per month (or the ZiG equivalent). The repayment period is 10 years, and the available options include two-roomed and four-roomed units. The four-roomed houses feature two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a combined bathroom and toilet.

The Minister of Public Service and Social Welfare, July Moyo, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasising the importance of mortgages in building personal wealth. He encouraged workers to invest in their homes, drawing inspiration from successful entities like the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), which have thrived through building investments.

“I have always advised pension funds and individuals alike that they should invest their income in properties. NRZ is one entity that heeded that advice and they invested in properties. That is why, even though the company is not doing very well in terms of its core business, they are still standing through investments like the Holiday Inn hotel and many other buildings as far as London. Our public service employees and pension funds should really invest in wealth creation and for that, I want to commend Nssa and NBS for this project,” he said.

Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde July Moyo (centre), Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial Chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda (second from right), Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Musa Ncube and other dignitaries tour Marhaber properties during the Accelerated Presidential housing scheme for civil servants groundbreaking programme held in Emthunzini yesterday. Pictures by Allen Ndebele

The initiative represents a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s journey towards providing affordable housing for its citizens. With a special focus on public service employees, it aims to enhance the quality of life for those dedicated to serving the nation.

One of the developers, Hawkflight Construction proprietor Mngane Ncube, highlighted the programme’s commitment to offering non-monetary benefits to civil servants.

He noted that Hawkflight has nearly 300 four-roomed houses ready for occupation, while Marhaber has constructed 12 four-roomed houses and 50 two-roomed houses, with more in various stages of development.

“The goal is to ensure that most civil servants can benefit from this initiative. Previously, most construction projects have been out of reach for most public service employees and we are glad that they can now proudly be homeowners,” he said.

NBS managing director, Sifiso Mahlangu, affirmed their dedication to innovative financing solutions.

“We have signature schemes across the country to fulfil our mandate of providing funding. Our innovative mortgage structures, including pension-backed schemes, empower many pension members to enjoy the fruits of their contributions in their prime,” he said.

The Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho South, Musa Ncube, expressed pride in the recognition of Matabeleland North Province in this transformative programme. She emphasised the vision of creating settlements where people can live, work, shop, and play, while also focusing on socio-economic empowerment within the community.

Among the beneficiaries, Margaret Thebe, a dedicated teacher, shared her joy.

“We are thrilled to finally have something to call our own. We will work hard to make our homes truly ours. We know it is not going to be easy because our finances are constrained, but working for something that is yours gives you peace of mind,” she said.

Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, applauded the collective efforts of all stakeholders involved in bringing the project to life.