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Victor Maphosa Mashonaland East Bureau
Seven blocks of four-storey flats for 110 civil servants are being built by Government at the Mutawatawa business centre in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district, a non-monetary incentive that is meant to further cushion civil servants as they execute their constitutional mandate.
Last week, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe toured the construction site, where already one of the blocks is taking shape.
Minister Garwe said his Ministry was taking a lead in the revitalisation of rural areas and has made inroads into building flats. The UMP district is the first to benefit from the development of the rural building programme, with the blocks of flats at Mutawatawa business centre.
“People should be able to play, work and enjoy the environment regardless of where they are, even if they are in rural areas. They must not feel the difference from staying in urban areas like Harare. National Development Strategy 1 directs the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities to develop rural communities in the same manner that we are developing urban communities.
“So today we are in UMP district at Mutawatawa where President Mnangagwa directed us to start this rural development programme. We are building seven blocks of four-storey flats. These will benefit about 110 families.
“We are also in the process rural industrialisation, setting where industries and factories should be established here. All these people who would be working in these industries will need houses to stay,” he said.
Minister Garwe said plans are also there to build an Early Child Development Centre at the site, as well as recreational facilities area for the children.
“We will consider also a basketball pitch and a tennis court. It’s going to be a concept of a smart city. It’s going to be a gated community with proper and tight security, with all the WiFi systems being enjoyed in the urban areas. This is the concept.
“Rural housing is one of the key deliverables under the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities. Rural areas have been left behind in terms of development which is why there was a high rate of rural-urban migration. Now it should be the opposite.
“This programme is not in UMP alone, but will be done in all the rural districts across the country, this is the Vision of our President.”
Mrs Phylis Fungai Banhwa acting Director Provincial Coordination for Mashonaland East commended Government for the development.
“We are happy because of this development. We want to thank the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities for considering UMP in our province for this pilot project being done here.
“A lot of civil servants are struggling with accommodation issues. So we are impressed. We are optimistic that this programme will be replicated in all our districts,” she said.
Maramba Pfungwe legislator (ZANU PF) Cde Tichaona Karumazondo commended the Government for developments being carried out .
“I am happy with this development. Minister Garwe told us about this programme and we were excited knowing that our President is a man of his word. I was overjoyed. And true to his words, today we are witnessing development.
“These flats are important because they will provide enough good accommodation for civil servants. We will have more civil servants and this will improve service delivery.”
We are also thanking President Mnangagwa, for the construction of a court here at Mutawatawa. This is commendable. We have Murehwa-Madicheche Road, which is being upgraded. To the guests, please, go and thank our President for all the developments in this district,” he said.
Online Reporter