Online Reporter
As housing demand continues to rise across Zimbabwe, the Government is pressing ahead with its goal to deliver one million housing units by 2030. The authorities are rolling out a range of interventions that include crowding in pension funds, commercial banks and multilateral financiers to facilitate accelerated housing development. In an interview with our reporter, DEBRA MATABVU, the Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities, PROFESSOR PAUL MAVIMA, outlines the current housing delivery trajectory, progress on the Presidential Title Deeds Programme and efforts to unlock institutional capital to bridge the national housing deficit.
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Q: Under the National Human Settlements Policy and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1)/NDS2 frameworks, the target was to deliver 1 million housing units by 2030. How close is the ministry to meeting or surpassing this target and what is the new delivery trajectory for the coming years?
A: The target for five years is 1 million, which translates to 200 000 per annum. Therefore, for 2026, 45 percent has been achieved for the first half of the year. We have a balance of 55 percent to achieve by December 2026.
Overall, we have achieved 9,1048 percent of 1 million housing units. We are on track to meet the 1 million target and it is due to the concerted effort from all the stakeholders such as Government, local authorities, the private sector and individuals.
Q: Which provinces have recorded the greatest progress in housing delivery and what lessons can be replicated elsewhere?
A: Mashonaland West has the highest number of housing delivery projects, for example, in Kadoma, Zvimba, Mhondoro-Ngezi, there are some mining companies that are having some housing schemes for their employees.
Private developers are actively involved in housing projects.
Q: A recurring challenge relates to unserviced land — where housing units are built in areas without roads, water or electricity connections. What strict measures are in place to ensure developers do not hand over unserviced land to beneficiaries?
A: Government is strengthening enforcement to ensure that housing delivery is accompanied by the necessary infrastructure and services.
Developers are required to comply with approved planning standards and provide essential onsite infrastructure, including roads, water supply, sewerage system, stormwater drainage and electricity connections, before developments can be approved for occupation or handed over to beneficiaries.
Compliance is being reinforced through regular inspections, adherence to development permit conditions and the withholding of completion certificates or occupation permits where servicing requirements have not been met.
With regard to preventing the emergence of new informal settlements, Government is working closely with local authorities to strengthen development control and spatial planning.
Measures include enhancing monitoring and enforcement against illegal land occupations, improving land administration systems, increasing the supply of planned and serviced residential land and strengthening inter-agency coordination among local authorities, law-enforcement agencies and relevant Government institutions.
At the same time, the regularisation of existing informal settlements is being undertaken in line with approved planning frameworks, ensuring that regularisation does not encourage the proliferation of new unplanned settlements.
Q: The Presidential Title Deeds Programme was launched to unlock dead capital for residents in informal or older municipal townships. How many title deeds have been verified and issued to date and what are the main administrative bottlenecks?
A: We are discussing with Kwangu/Ngakwami and local authorities in terms of clearance of rates arrears by eligible beneficiaries. So far, more than 100 properties have been identified, most of them in Chitungwiza.
For 2026, a total of 753 properties have been cleared by the ministry as its part of facilitation of title transfer. The challenge is that our clients are not paid up.
Q: Civil servants often struggle to compete on the open market. What dedicated, low-interest home ownership schemes are active specifically for public sector workers?
A: Government has the Civil Servants Housing Loan Scheme, which provides eligible civil servants with access to affordable housing loans to purchase, build or complete houses under favourable repayment terms countrywide, for example, in Crownlands, Chinhoyi; and Dombotombo in Marondera.
Q: Is there a targeted strategy to construct institutional housing such as flats for teachers, medical staff and security personnel in rural and peri-urban districts to retain talent?
A: Yes, as per Government commitment and strategy, right now we are wooing partners and institutional investors to partner Government in the provision of institutional housing.
Q: You recently highlighted the resuscitation of the Housing Guarantee Fund and the National Housing Fund. How will these funds de-risk home loans for commercial banks and building societies?
A: The National Housing Fund is being structured to support housing projects for civil servants by providing risk-sharing mechanisms that de-risk home loans issued by commercial banks and building societies.
This is intended to enhance lenders’ confidence and encourage the provision of affordable, long-term mortgage finance to eligible public sector employees.
Government has undertaken extensive stakeholder consultations with commercial banks and building societies to obtain their input on the design and operational framework of the fund.
The feedback received is currently informing the development of the initiative, and Government is at a preliminary stage of engagement with the Treasury to consider the proposals and chart the way forward towards implementation.
Q: How is the Government encouraging pension funds and insurance companies to move capital away from commercial real estate into low-to-middle-income residential housing?
A: Pension funds are already playing an important role in housing delivery. For example, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and Old Mutual have invested in mixed-use developments comprising both residential and commercial components.
Similarly, the Mining Industry Pension Fund and the Public Service Pension Fund have invested in student accommodation projects countrywide, for example, in Crownlands, Chinhoyi, demonstrating how institutional investors are diversifying into residential and accommodation infrastructure.
Q: Zimbabwe increased its shareholding in Shelter Afrique. How soon will local developers and homebuyers start accessing these concessional, long-term financing windows?
A: This is ongoing and so far, in the period between 2012 and 2026, over US$156 million has been accessed, with three quarters being accessed by local financial institutions.
About US$30 million is in the pipeline and is at the appraisal stage at Shelter Afrique. We have accessed close to US$15 million in 2026.
Q: Traditional brick-and-mortar construction remains slow and expensive. What policies or incentives exist to promote alternative building technologies (ABTs), such as prefabricated panels and 3D printing?
A: Current by-laws have a general provision for alternative building technology through instituting variations.
However, the review of 1977 model building by-laws will expedite the implementation of alternative technology and address the need to construct settlements using climate-resilient materials and methods.
Q: Many local authority building codes date back to the 1970s, mandating large plot sizes and expensive material standards. What progress has been made in revising the Model Building By-Laws to lower construction costs?
A: To date, committees have been established and each thematic area has already identified gaps that need review. Stakeholder consultation is targeted for August on identified gaps, with a draft review document set to be available in the coming two to three months.
Q: Suburbs like Mbare (Harare), Makokoba (Bulawayo) and Sakubva (Mutare) feature severely dilapidated infrastructure. What is the status of the urban renewal projects in these older townships?
A: Mbare urban renewal family unit designs have been completed. We have partners sprucing up. Long-term plans for Mbare Urban renewal were completed and Government is now identifying partners to implement those designs.
Q: The Government has prohibited parallel development. Is this ban being strictly enforced, or have exceptions been made given the urgent housing demand? And What legal penalties are being imposed on private land developers who sell stands under the promise of parallel servicing, but abandon projects before basic amenities are put in place?
A: The parallel development policy has been discontinued. The legacy issues are being dealt with by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, as that ministry administers urban State land. As you may be aware, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works published the Urban State Land Policy that gives guidance on how urban State land must be administered.
