Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister, Professor Paul Mavima, will this week rally private sector players and development partners to support the Government’s ambitious plan to deliver one million housing units under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The high-level engagement, to be held on Wednesday, is expected to bring together captains of industry, policymakers and civic leaders to mobilise investment and strengthen partnerships in the housing sector.
The inaugural stakeholders’ dinner, to run under the theme “Building Together: Operationalising NDS2 for Housing and Social Amenities,” comes at a time when the Government is accelerating efforts to address the country’s housing backlog, currently estimated at over 1,5 million units.
In an interview ahead of the event, Prof Mavima said the gathering marks a critical step in translating policy into action.
“This platform is about mobilising all stakeholders to play their part in delivering housing at the scale required under NDS2,” he said.
“We cannot achieve the one million housing target alone as the Government. It requires strong collaboration with the private sector, financial institutions and development partners.”
Prof Mavima said NDS2, which runs from 2026 to 2030, provides a clear framework for accelerating infrastructure development and improving access to decent and affordable housing.
“NDS2 identifies infrastructure development and housing as one of the key national priorities. Our focus now is on operationalising that vision through practical partnerships and innovative financing models,” he said.
He said lessons from the first phase of the national development agenda had demonstrated the importance of coordinated implementation.
“During the NDS1 period, the Second Republic delivered one million housing units, and that achievement gives us confidence that the next target is attainable,” said Prof Mavima.
“What we now need is to scale up delivery, improve efficiency and ensure sustainability in how we develop human settlements.”
The minister said Zimbabwe had also reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable housing development on the international stage.
“At the recent UN-Habitat Executive Board session in Nairobi, we reiterated our commitment to inclusive and sustainable housing delivery,” he said.
“We made it clear that Zimbabwe is open for partnerships that will help us meet our national goals.”
Prof Mavima emphasised that housing development is a key enabler of broader economic growth.
“Housing is not just about shelter; it is about dignity, livelihoods and economic transformation. When we build houses, we are also creating jobs, stimulating industries and improving the quality of life for our people,” he said.
He added that the Government is actively pursuing public-private partnerships to unlock investment into the sector.
“We are creating an enabling environment for investors and developers. The opportunities are there, and we want stakeholders to come on board and be part of this national programme,” he said.
The NDS2 framework builds on gains realised under NDS1 and is anchored on achieving Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy.
Under NDS2, the Government has prioritised infrastructure development, including housing, as a catalyst for economic growth, with a strong emphasis on planned urban settlements, modern service delivery systems and inclusive development.
President Mnangagwa has consistently underscored the importance of orderly human settlements, noting that well-planned housing is central to sustainable urbanisation and national development.
