Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
An emotional outpouring by the chairperson of Kushinga/Nyerere Housing Cooperative in Highfield dominated an interface meeting between Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Kiven Mutimbanyoka and members of the co-operative.
The meeting was held amid allegations of victimisation, leadership wrangles and an attempted takeover of the women-led housing project.
The fact-finding meeting, held recently in Lusaka, Highfield, exposed deep divisions within the housing scheme, which has developed more than 500 housing units since its establishment in 2014.
Kushinga Housing Trust comprises four women-led cooperatives — Vision Ladies, Living Long, Complete and Mapondera — and has long been regarded as one of the country’s notable examples of women-driven community housing development.
However, tensions have been simmering beneath the project’s success story, with members accusing some male beneficiaries operating under the Mangwende Housing Cooperative banner of attempting to seize control of the scheme.
An emotional scene unfolded when Kushinga Housing Cooperative chairperson Mrs Haruwandi Munyaviri broke down while addressing the Deputy Minister.
Mrs Munyaviri said the women had initially brought the men into the project to assist with administrative processes, paperwork and engagements with the City of Harare because they were more mobile and able to carry out tasks on the cooperative’s behalf.
“We trusted these men and worked with them because they were helping us with documentation and following up issues with council offices,” she said.
“But today we are the ones suffering. They were allocated stands and instead of supporting the women who started this project, they formed another cooperative under Mangwende and now want to take over everything we worked for over many years.”
Fighting back tears, Mrs Munyaviri described the prolonged regularisation process as emotionally exhausting for many members.
“This process has taken too long. Some children who were very young when we started are now parents, yet regularisation is still unresolved,” she said.
“We are now being victimised in a project that women started and nurtured from the beginning.”
Her testimony drew sympathy from residents attending the meeting, with several women echoing concerns over alleged intimidation, double allocations, financial irregularities and interference by land barons.
A Zone Two member accused some male members of systematically sidelining women within the project.
“The men under Mangwende Housing Cooperative are taking advantage of us. They were brought in to support a women’s initiative, but after being allocated stands, they started their own cooperative within another cooperative,” she said.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister Mutimbanyoka said the Government recognised the critical role cooperatives play in national development and women’s empowerment, warning that disorder and poor governance threaten community investments.
“Government values cooperatives because they are an important pillar in achieving Vision 2030 and empowering communities, especially women,” he said.
“However, no cooperative can succeed where there is disorder, lack of transparency and disregard for the law. Leadership wrangles, illegal parcelling of land and financial irregularities weaken confidence and expose members to losses.”
He urged cooperative members to comply fully with the Cooperative Societies Act and strengthen accountability systems.
“Financial management must be above reproach. Cooperatives should use formal banking systems and maintain transparent records. Regular meetings and accountability mechanisms are essential in protecting members and safeguarding investments,” he said.
Cde Mutimbanyoka also sought to calm tensions by directing representatives from Mangwende Housing Cooperative to present their side of the dispute at his offices.
“This matter cannot be resolved through accusations alone. Every party deserves to be heard so that a fair and lasting solution can be found,” he said.
“I have directed Mangwende representatives to come to my offices and present their side so the matter can be properly resolved.”
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting the proper regularisation and sustainable growth of housing cooperatives across the country.
Also attending the meeting was Zimbabwe National Confederation of Cooperatives representative Mr Pardon Murire, who urged members to uphold cooperative principles of unity, collective ownership and accountability.
“Cooperatives are built on trust, collective ownership and accountability. When divisions emerge, members must return to the founding principles and constitutional procedures governing their organisations,” he said.
“No member should feel excluded or threatened within a cooperative structure. Dialogue and lawful processes remain the best way to resolve disputes.”
Mr Murire warned against parallel structures and factionalism, saying ordinary members stood to suffer the most when conflicts escalate.
“When disputes degenerate into factionalism, the real losers are ordinary members who invested their savings and hopes into these projects. We urge all stakeholders to prioritise unity and lawful engagement,” he said.
He added that the Zimbabwe National Confederation of Cooperatives was ready to assist with mediation and governance strengthening measures aimed at restoring confidence within the housing scheme.
The meeting was also attended by Kushinga Housing Trust patron and Council of Elders member Cde Idah Mashonganyika, together with members of the cooperative leadership led by Mrs Munyaviri.
leeroy