Cooperatives build 100k houses countrywide

Midlands Correspondent
HOUSING co-operatives across the country have built about 100 000 houses since 2009, contributing significantly to the reduction of the housing backlog, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni told Business Chronicle that local authorities need to avail land for residential development to co-operatives that are properly constituted to increase housing development.

She said: “Well organised co-operatives have proved that they are the only ones which have provided decent houses to the poor and low income learners over the last decade.

“Statistics in my ministry show that since 2009, housing co-operatives have provided almost 100 000 houses for themselves nationwide.

“This comes as local authorities have failed to provide decent housing for the poor and low income earners.

“I am in constant discussions with Local Government Minister (Saviour Kasukuwere) and I am sure very soon he will provide stands for houses for co-operatives.”

The Government has pledged to build at least 150 000 houses every year to reduce the national housing waiting list, which stands at about one million.

Meanwhile, Minister Nyoni said her ministry will facilitate SMEs’ participation at international exhibitions as part of efforts to link them with regional and international markets.

“The Government facilitates and you have to aggressively find your own market and time and again our ministry gets invited to trade fairs.

“For instance next month we have been invited by Portugal and we would like to see SMEs with quality products who should come through their organisation being part of the delegation so that they go and exhibit their products,” she said.

“In that way they are marketing their products and at the same time they link up with investors who would want to inject capital in their businesses, which will make them grow.”

According to a report released by the World Bank in 2012 the informal sector contributes 80 percent of private sector employment and 60 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.