Youths partner SA investor to construct 500 houses

A GWERU-based youth construction company, Youth Empowerment and Zim Asset Initiative has partnered a South African investor, Lwandisele Trading (Pvt) Ltd to construct 555 housing units for youths and other home seekers in and around the city after being allocated residential stands by the local authority.

Youth Empowerment and Zim Asset Initiative is a company formed by a group of youths and members have embarked on a multi-million dollar housing project to mitigate the housing backlog in Gweru. Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya said the Government was supportive of the youth initiative which intends to create jobs as well as providing accommodation.

“As Government and the party (Zanu-PF), we are very supportive of this initiative by the youths in terms of availing stands to them. We would have loved to assist them to build houses because stands only are not enough. We have assisted Youth Empowerment and Zim Asset Initiative acquire residential stands from the city council. I am informed that they have engaged a South African partner, Lwandisele Trading (Pvt) Ltd, who would service the stands and construct houses. I am quite confident that the owner of the company, Mr Phineas Makombe has the capacity to do the project. He is very dynamic and there is no doubt that the project will be a success,” he said.

Cde Machaya said the province was sitting on a housing backlog of over 500 000 and the project would reduce the burden.

“We have a backlog of about 500 000 people who want houses as a province. As you are aware we were allocated 50 000 stands under the Zim Asset and we have done quite a lot in that respect,” he said.

Cde Machaya said the province has identified land to develop stands that would be allocated to the youths.

“We are in the process of coming up with designs. In the province we have set aside land enough to accommodate more than 4 500 stands for the youths,” he said.

Mr Makombe, the company owner, said the project would see the construction of 200 housing units under the first phase.

He said the stands would be sold to youths and other home seekers on relaxed terms.

“We realised that most youths had no capacity to construct houses even after receiving stands. We felt it was more prudent to construct the houses and people would occupy and start paying while staying in their houses. We are hoping that by January we would start developing the land as well as constructing the houses,” he said.