Chronicle Editor
Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub
GOVERNMENT will construct more houses for civil servants in Lupane, the provincial capital of Matabeleland North, to ease the conduct of business, as the majority of workers commute to and from Bulawayo for work.
This commuting situation has led to several impediments in the discharge of official duties, as much time is spent travelling. The good news follows the relocation of civil servants to the Lupane Government Complex in September last year after a deadline was set by Cabinet for the move.
This is part of the Government’s broader efforts to provide accommodation for civil servants nationwide, as promised by President Mnangagwa as part of their non-monetary benefits and for the general public.
Several housing projects are already underway, including in Marondera’s Dombotombo suburb, Chinhoyi, and Kariba. Plans for Mutawatawa and Siakobvu in Mashonaland West are also in progress, while recently commissioned block flats in Dzivaresekwa and Marimba in Mufakose are also part of this initiative.
In an interview with the Zimpapers Politics Hub, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, Soda Zhemu, said the Government has several projects underway, with some already completed.
“Last year, you might have witnessed the commissioning of some flats in Dzivaresekwa. Apart from those flats, we also have four blocks of flats that will be completed soon, with a target completion in the first quarter of 2025 in Marondera, Dombotombo,” Zhemu said.
“We also have some houses that were constructed in Lupane, and we are planning to do much more for Lupane, given that it is the provincial capital of Matabeleland North. People are commuting from Bulawayo, which is costly for the Government. We’ve already built some houses there for civil servants who should be working from Lupane, but we will be doing much more.”
He mentioned plans are underway to construct houses in Siakobvu and Mutawatawa, which will benefit civil servants.
“We have some blocks of flats being constructed for civil servants in Mutawatawa. There’s a project underway to service stands in Chinhoyi, called Crownlands, where more than a thousand stands will be made available through the Government’s efforts to benefit civil servants. We also have another project in Kariba, called Kasese, which will benefit the people there. The list is endless. In Gweru, we are constructing blocks of flats, and in Beitbridge, flats are being built as well. These projects are happening almost everywhere around the country,” he said.
Minister Zhemu added that the Government is also undertaking several other initiatives for the benefit of the general public, alongside the civil servants, to provide non-monetary benefits to them.
Last year, the Government surpassed its target of 220 000 completed houses and fully serviced stands by 2025, achieving about 700 000 housing units and fully serviced stands.
There is optimism that the target of one million houses and stands can be achieved by the end of this year. — @muponderichard
Online Reporter