Govt targets One Million Houses by 2025

Govt targets One Million Houses by 2025

Mako Jerera
Government has revised its housing targets from 220 000 houses to a million houses by 2025, the cabinet heard on Tuesday.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet agreed that the target should be revised to a million houses and social amenities by 2025.
Housing delivery is one of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) pillars. The key drive, therefore, is to address the inadequacies pertaining to infrastructure and provide citizens with access to affordable and quality settlements.
“Government resources are being complemented by the private sector and individual developers inclusive of Diasporans. The number of ongoing projects has reached 346, and these have so far yielded a cumulative figure of 49 150 completed houses and 136 850 fully serviced stands,”
“42 706 houses are under construction, while the servicing of 43 605 stands is in progress, the completed housing units and serviced stands currently reflect 86 percent of the set target which has now been surpassed by 23 percent.”
Government has also agreed that under the settlement densification component of the housing delivery programes, high-rise flats are under construction in Dzivarasekwa in Harare Metropolitan Province (72percent of completion), Dombotombo in Marondera (60 percent of completion), Beitbridge (65 percent of completion) and Mutawatawa in Uzumba-Maramba Pfungwe in Mashonaland East Province, (8 percent of completion).
Minister Mutsvangwa added that blocks of flats are also under construction at former Messengers Camps in Highfield in Harare and Senga in Gweru (32 percent of completion).
Meanwhile, 37 housing units being built for households which were affected by floods have reached 76 percent of completion.
“The implementation of the Smart City Concept is gathering momentum; potential investors have been identified for Melfort in Mashonaland East Province where the initial phase will take up 400 hectares.
“Similar plans are being developed for Figtree in Matabeleland South Province, and for Chirundu in Mashonaland West Province where land is being identified.
“The regularisation of informal settlements has reached greater heights following the launch of the issuance of title deeds by His Excellency the President on 22 March 2023 in Epworth.
“Regularisation initiatives are underway in Seke District under Manyame Rural District Council; Caledonia, Harare South and Hatcliff North; Gimboki in Mutare; and Cowdry Park in Bulawayo.
“In all these settlements, an elaborate mortgage system is being designed for beneficiaries to pay for services at reasonable cost upon completion of developer works,” explained Minister Mutsvangwa.
In addition, Zimbabwe as the current Shelter Afrique Bureau Chair, has applied for a US$25 million Sovereign Loan Facility for social housing development.
Project sites have already been identified in all the ten provinces.