Govt to launch revised housing policy

Harare Bureau
GOVERNMENT will today launch a revised National Housing Policy that seeks to address the challenges facing housing developers in the country.
The policy seeks to widen the housing implementation base by taking on board other players such as multi-national companies, community based organisations and employers.

Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities Secretary Mr David Munyoro told ZBC News last week  that the revised housing policy was  expected to ease housing challenges in the country.

He said the housing delivery process in the country was mainly dominated by Central Government, local authorities and building societies.

“So the policy is dealing with bottle necks that were impeding growth in the housing sector,” Mr Munyoro said.

More than two million people are on the housing waiting list.

In August last year, Cabinet approved the National Housing Policy, as it sought to address the challenges faced in housing development such as housing finance, promotion of housing cooperatives as well as coordinating the housing sector, among others.

Mr Munyoro said the policy is critical as it reviews the policies adopted by Government in 1999 in line with new trends that are emerging in the housing sector.

Cooperatives are also acknowledged in the new policy and proposals are to the effect that Government assists in the servicing of land which is expensive.

Housing cooperatives recently said they hoped the policy would be implemented fully so that the community-based organisation could continue performing its complementary role of provision of housing to the low income earners.

The National Housing Convention in 2009 aimed at providing a framework for funding of housing development and coordination in the housing sector.

Due to sanctions induced economic challenges in the country, the Government and local authorities have failed to embark on any major construction projects.
However, with the improving economic performance, banks are expected to also provide funding through mortgage finance cooperatives.