Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE mining town of Zvishavane is experiencing swift transformation, thanks to a surge of infrastructure development driven by public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the housing sector.
Through the facilitation of the Government, which has provided land and created a robust policy framework, the private sector is increasingly playing a pivotal role in housing delivery. One of the notable milestones is the completion of 100 housing units and the servicing of 1 800 residential stands by FBC Holdings Limited Group.
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda, who recently toured the housing developments in the town, commended the collaboration between the Government and private sector players in addressing the housing backlog.
“The private sector’s involvement is crucial in complementing our efforts to meet the housing demand. We initially planned for 220 000 housing units under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), but with more real estate partners coming on board, we have adjusted our target to one million housing units by 2030,” said Minister Soda.
He reiterated that housing is a basic need, and under the Second Republic, the Government has made access to modern and affordable accommodation a key developmental priority.
FBC Holdings Group chief executive officer, Mr Trynos Kufazvinei, said their efforts were aligned with Government’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
“It is in this vein that we complement Government efforts of leaving no one and no place behind. Our mandate as the private sector is to ensure that Vision 2030 is achieved. We have 100 housing units that have been developed in Zvishavane and we are servicing 1 800 residential stands, “he said.
Mr Kufazvinei implored other private players to invest in similar initiatives to accelerate national housing development targets.
Zvishavane mayor Councillor Takarangana Keta said the town faces a housing backlog, with over 13 000 residents on the waiting list.
“It’s common cause that council on its own cannot service land adequately. We only have a single pair of each earthmover, which makes it hard to balance routine road maintenance, plant breakdowns, and land servicing,” he said.
To address this, the local authority partnered with reputable developers such as FBC Holdings.
“FBC has been fair to us and our residents by servicing stands and constructing housing units. These will directly benefit residents. Council is also benefiting from the intrinsic land value, revenue from land sales, and affordable pricing for end users,” said Clr Keta.
He added that the council had issued a certificate of partial completion for the completed phase, with some units already earmarked for lease to the public.
The mayor highlighted a surge in investment interest due to growing business activity fuelled by mining.
“Council is expeditiously processing project proposals and investment ventures. By doing so, we are actively contributing to President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of achieving an upper-middle-income economy,” he said.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, attributed Zvishavane’s progress to the bold and strategic policy decisions implemented by the Second Republic since November 2017.
He said the Second Republic adopted a Whole of Government, economy and society approach, coupled with results-based management and sound corporate governance to improve service delivery that addresses community needs.
