adminHerald Reporter
Government is working on a long-term solution to address the plight of homeless people living and working on the streets countrywide.
This was said by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima while responding to questions during the post Cabinet media briefing yesterday.
This follows Government’s decision to relocate over 200 homeless people to various centres in Harare and Bulawayo as a precautionary measure in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Harare, 163 males were relocated to Mt Hampden, 59 children to Beatrice Rehabilitation Centre, while 14 women and six children are being housed at Jamaica Inn.
In Bulawayo, 28 children were relocated to Jairos Jiri Centre.
Prof Mavima said the policy would be announced soon.
“This is a very good opportunity for the nation to address in a fundamental way issues of people who live and work in the streets,” he said.
“There is a programme we are planning for adults and the ministry would be announcing soon that programme.
“We are also coming up with a livelihoods training programme focusing on agriculture or other vocations, while for children we want to place them in institutions or integrate them in the formal education systems.”
Prof Mavima said his ministry was still compiling a database for vulnerable people that are set to benefit from Government’s cash transfer programme. Government has set aside over $600 million to cover one million vulnerable households under a cash transfer programme for the next three months.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter