Govt, private sector must provide basic housing

achieve the goal.
She said this in a speech read on her behalf by the ministry’s acting director Mr Kenneth Chikura at the seventh annual Zimbabwe National Association of Housing Co-operatives in Kariba on Saturday.

Minister Nyoni said social, political and economic progress could be made if human settlement issues were addressed.
“Human life revolves around habitat issues. Social, political and economic progress is never attainable if human settlement issues are sidelined,” she said.

Minister Nyoni hailed Zinahco for providing decent housing to low income earners through various housing co-operatives around the country.
Zinahco president Mr Mike Duru, who was retained at the AGM, said co-operatives should abide by the Co-operatives Act and by-laws to avoid inconveniences.

Kariba mayor Mr Nicholas Hwindiri said local authorities should partner co-operatives as they have the capacity to develop land for housing through member contributions.

“As local authorities, we have failed to provide housing in recent years and it is only prudent for us to support housing co-operatives because of the work they are doing for our people in terms of housing development,” he said.

Zinahco has a membership of about 120 housing co-operatives and is working on construction of about 870 core houses in towns and cities such as Mutare, Bulawayo, Kariba, Masvingo, Chipinge and Victoria Falls.