Mash West housing backlog soars

THE housing backlog in various urban centres in Mashonaland West has soared to 40 000, and desperate home seekers are increasingly becoming victims of predatory property developers.

In his welcome remarks during the IBDZ-Kariba Housing Project ground-breaking ceremony in Kariba on Monday this week, Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Webster Shamu said people had high hopes that Government would bring normalcy to the dysfunctional housing market by making housing affordable and accessible.

“There is a real sense of desperation by those in need of housing to the extent that many have fallen victim to housing scams run by unscrupulous and bogus housing developers.

“The desperation is exacerbated by the lack of houses within manageable price range for themselves, their children and those who provide essential community services such as teachers, nurses, doctors and social workers,” said Minister Shamu.

“There is (however) also hope that bogus housing developers will be brought to book and capacitate local authorities to take over failing housing projects,” he said.

According to Minister Shamu, the housing backlog in Kadoma currently stands at 12 000, Norton (10 000) and Chinhoyi (9 000).

In Chegutu it stands at 5 000, while in Karoi and Kariba it is 8 000 and 6 000, respectively.

Minister Shamu, however, applauded efforts by institutions such as the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe and its partners for prioritising housing delivery projects to communities.

“I would like to take this opportunity to publicly extol the team at IDBZ as well as the project partners and other stakeholders in the Kariba housing projects to remain focused and deliver on this and other similar projects that the bank is embarking on nationwide,” he said.

Government, Minister Shamu said, envisions a population with access to affordable and comfortable accommodation in line with its vision of an empowered society and growing economy.

“The projects being implemented here in Kariba by the IDBZ in collaboration with the Municipality of Kariba are a sign that our institutions are responding positively to the call by the Government, under Zim-Asset, to reduce the national housing backlog,” he said.

The IBDZ-Kariba Housing Project, with three housing sites, will deliver 1 557 high-, medium- and low-density residential stands at Boabab Ridge Extension, Batonga, Kasese Main and Kasese Extension.

Part of the Kasese Extension suburb will be allocated to the 391 families to be relocated from Mahombekombe Township.