Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) has partnered Best Option Properties (BOP) in a nationwide housing initiative to address accommodation challenges among journalists.
The agreement, which was confirmed in an interview with ZUJ President George Maponga and BOP director Mr Irvine Jokoniya, will see union members accessing low-cost residential stands and housing units in areas including Lake City, Spitzkop Park, Norton, Bindura, Marondera and Mapinga.
Maponga said the development marked a major breakthrough in the union’s push to improve the general welfare of its membership.
“As the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, we are profoundly excited by this epochal development in as far as improving the general welfare of journalists is concerned,” said Maponga.
“Behind the byline, there is a human face, and that human face has needs. At a time when journalism faces an existential threat punctuated by poor salaries and wages, we saw it fit to prioritise the welfare of our members.”
He said the union had identified accommodation as a critical starting point and urged members to take advantage of the offer.
“This deal covers the whole of Zimbabwe. We implore our members across all provinces to urgently take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be homeowners,” Maponga said.
“We also encourage journalists to start or resume paying their monthly subscriptions in order to qualify.”
The partnership comes after widespread concerns that many journalists retire without securing decent housing, exposing them to financial vulnerability and poor living conditions.
Mr Jokoniya said the private developer responded to ZUJ’s appeal and committed to offering affordable housing solutions.
“We received a huge outcry from ZUJ showing that most of their members, after retirement, did not have decent housing. So we decided to team up and ensure affordable housing is provided,” he said.
Mr Jokoniya said the project has already registered progress, with 65 ZUJ members served in Harare, 75 in Lake City and 25 in Bindura.
The company is also offering residential stands, 1.6-hectare plots and serviced land with full compliance certificates in various locations.
Current developments include Kippendale Estate in Bindura, Mapinga, Marondera, Norton and Spitzkop.
“Our developments come with title deeds, subdivision and development permits and Environmental Management Angency (EMA) compliance. We are working on full infrastructure rollout including roads, drainage and utility trenching,” he said.
According to BOP, over 50km of road networks have been cleared in some projects, with major infrastructure work underway.
The company targets to deliver homes to over 220 000 families by the end of 2026, in line with government efforts to reduce the national housing backlog.
“This project is not only for journalists. It is open to all Zimbabweans, civil servants and those in the diaspora,” said Mr Jokoniya.
“If this initiative is fully supported, it will go a long way in reducing the housing deficit.”
ZUJ said it will continue to explore more opportunities to support journalists, including access to tools of the trade and other welfare initiatives.
