Govt keen to end housing backlog

Luthando Mapepa Post Correspondent
DEPUTY Minister for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde Biggie Matiza has said Government will clear the country’s 1,2 million housing backlog by 2018.Addressing residents at Chipinge Primary School last Friday, Cde Matiza said Government was targeting to construct 25 000 houses a year throughout the country, starting from next year.

The development will see hundreds of people from different local authorities across the country benefitting.

Cde Matiza said the projects would not only benefit urban dwellers but were also targeting growth points and rural set-ups.

“The Ministry of Local Government is set to partner various stakeholders to commence the housing delivering project which will construct 25 000 houses in the country yearly for four years. This is being done in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation cluster of social services and poverty eradication to deliver housing units and serviced stands against a backlog of an estimated of 1,2 million people on housing waiting lists across the country.

“Banks have been roped in to mobilise resources for potential beneficiaries and there will be a standing committee which will oversee that houses and serviced stands are distributed in a more transparent way,” he said.

Cde Matiza took a swipe at land barons masquerading as Zanu-PF officials who are grabbing stands.

He said one of the major factors affecting local authorities was corruption especially during the inclusive Government era.

“The party is there to enforce laws of the land and all those found on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted. Recently, the ministry sacked a Chitungwiza councillor who abused Zanu-PF’s name to dupe unsuspecting residents.

“Residents should know that they can play a role in fighting corruption by swiftly reporting these matters to the police. There is gross improper planning of towns because of corruption where some officials are giving undesignated portions of lands for housing and this cancer mushroomed during the inclusive Government,” he said.

The event was attended by Member of National Assembly for Chipinge Central Cde Ray Machingura, Chipinge East legislator Dr Win Mlambo and other district Government heads of department.