Matabeleland teachers benefit from Zimta’s housing scheme

Michelle Musandinyoze, Zimpapers Writer

THE Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has allocated 55 residential stands to its members as part of its housing scheme and it handed over the stands in Vulindlela Township under Umguza District on Saturday.

Teachers from Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South benefited from the scheme.

The initiative is part of Zimta’s empowerment efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of life for educators. The township, which is being developed by private land developer GG Private Properties, has been serviced and as such now has roads as well as sewer and water reticulation infrastructure.

Speaking during the handover, Zimta Provincial Executive Officer for Matabeleland South, Mr Dumisani Mafikizela Ndlovu, said the programme is part of their five-year strategic planning, where they want to empower teachers by not only negotiating for their salaries but also ensure they have houses.

“We are a first-choice teachers’ organisation and have dedicated our services to offering lifetime benefits which ensure that teachers have houses. This is not our first exercise, we did the same two years back in Matabeleland South and decided to extend the venture to Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North as well”, said Mr Ndlovu

He encouraged non-members of Zimta, especially young people, to also register with their housing scheme, stating that they should not listen to negative propaganda against his organisation.

GG Property Developers’ Project Director, Mr Dumezweni Sandi, said as an organisation, they promise quality services to the residents.

He said they have already covered a lot of ground in servicing the new suburb.

“It has only been six months since we began our operations here, and we have already completed part of the expected works,” he said.

Beneficiaries have been advised to start constructing their houses in September after the completion of servicing of the suburb.

The beneficiaries expressed excitement on the project, revealing that some of them were victims of bogus land developers and housing cooperatives.

Mrs Mboneni Sebata, one of the beneficiaries, said that it is a dream come true to finally own a stand after having lost money to a bogus developer.

“I paid US$25 every month for three years and the man who claimed to be a leader of a housing cooperative then disappeared with our money,” she said.

Zimta provincial chairperson for Bulawayo, Mrs Sehlile Thebe, said the association had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), with GG Private Developers.

“A house is an investment and as such we are empowering our members through this scheme which is meant to benefit many teachers,” she said.