Online Reporter
Fungai Lupande
Mashonaland Central Bureau
GOVERNMENT has acknowledged the deteriorating state of its housing stock, with National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Professor Paul Mavima outlining an urgent plan to rehabilitate ageing properties while introducing new funding and delivery models to sustain the sector.
Speaking during a tour of the Mbizi medium-density housing project in Mvurwi last week, Prof Mavima said years of underfunding had left many units in disrepair, amid competing national priorities that have limited budget allocations to housing maintenance.
“Our biggest challenge has been resources. For a long time, the Ministry has not had adequate funding to repair and maintain Government houses, resulting in their current dilapidated state,” he said.
He explained that the National Consolidated Revenue Fund, which finances key national programmes, has had to prioritise critical sectors such as health, infrastructure and road development, leaving housing maintenance underfunded.
“As the Government, we cannot say housing maintenance is the top priority when there are pressing demands like road construction and other essential services. However, this is a gap we must now address,” he said.
To tackle the crisis, the Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval to retain a portion of revenue generated from Government housing so that it can be reinvested into maintenance and refurbishment.
“We are engaging Cabinet to allow retention of funds so that what we collect can go directly towards maintaining these properties. This will create a sustainable cycle,” said Prof Mavima.
Beyond maintenance, Government is also rethinking its housing delivery approach, shifting towards partnerships with the private sector to unlock investment and improve service delivery.
Prof Mavima said public-private partnerships (PPPs) will play a central role in redeveloping prime but underutilised Government land and housing estates, including areas such as Victoria Falls, where some properties have fallen into disrepair despite high land value.
“We have valuable land that is lying idle or dilapidated. Through PPP arrangements, we can bring in private capital to redevelop these areas while ensuring the Government and citizens benefit,” he said.
The minister noted that in the past, the Government relied on a limited number of contractors for housing delivery, but the new approach seeks to broaden participation and improve efficiency through competitive partnerships.
“We need models that allow us to recover investments while delivering more housing units. The private sector has a key role to play in this regard,” he said
At the same time, local authorities have been challenged to take a more proactive role in land identification and servicing, ensuring that housing developments are backed by adequate infrastructure.
Prof Mavima emphasised the need for densification and efficient land use, urging councils to maximise available space while maintaining standards for liveable communities.
“On one hectare, we must be able to provide more housing units without compromising on quality. This requires proper planning and innovative approaches,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to integrate housing development with accommodation for civil servants, particularly in growth points and emerging urban centres, to support service delivery.
“As we build houses for the general population, we must also ensure that our civil servants have decent accommodation. This is critical for effective governance,” he said.
The renewed focus on housing comes as the Government intensifies efforts to modernise settlements and improve living standards in line with Vision 2030 Zimbabwe.
Prof Mavima said collaboration between the central Government, local authorities and private investors will be crucial in overcoming current challenges and scaling up housing delivery.
The intervention is expected not only to improve living conditions in existing Government properties but also to stimulate broader investment in housing infrastructure, positioning the sector as a key driver of economic growth.
Prof Mavima was responding to Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland Central, Mr Timothy Maregere, who appealed for urgent funding to revive stalled housing projects and address a growing accommodation backlog in the province.
Speaking during a familiarisation tour, Mr Maregere said the province requires immediate financial support to accelerate the construction of residential flats and ease pressure on civil servants struggling to secure accommodation.
