New rural housing model underway

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter

THE Government will soon unveil a model rural housing plan set to change the face of the country’s rural communities and is expected to reduce the effects of natural disasters such as cyclones.

In an interview with the Sunday News, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo, said plans were underway for a new and modern housing plan for rural areas following President Mnangagwa’s visit of Cyclone Idai victims  in Manicaland recently.

Minister Moyo said the new  rural housing model that his ministry was working on was strong and would enable people to experience less impact in the event of natural disasters.

“The new rural housing model is work in progress. Its development is now underway where we are now going to come up with appropriate housing schemes and funds. We are obviously going to start with such affected areas and spread it to other rural communities,” he said.

He said consultations for a standard rural housing model were being done with universities and Government departments on the suitable structure. There is no artistic impression yet. Asked on the cost of such a venture, Cde Moyo said it was work in progress.

“We do not know as yet about the cost of this because we do not know what it entails yet but the Government is working on all that. For now we are in the initial stages. We believe the programme is appropriate. It is only normal that it is rolled out to the rest of the country. But again we cannot say anything at the moment, we cannot say much in regards to this as it is still fresh,” he said.

President Mnangagwa reiterated the need for rural communities to have strong structures in the wake of the massive loss of life and destruction caused by Cyclone Idai in parts of the country especially in Manicaland Province. He said the cyclone could have had less impact had the communities constructed better houses. He said there was a need to have properly constructed housing structures and not the dagga and pole huts without cement structures.