Treasury provides $1bn for housing

Roads rehab to be accelerated

CONSTRUCTION of 200 000 lowcost houses and flats by 2023 is on course, with Cabinet approving the new building technology being tried out this year in a major Dzivarasekwa complex of 1 400 flats that Treasury has already allocated $1 billion.

Also at yesterday’s meeting, Cabinet gave the green light to the department of roads within the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to take over and repair specific roads falling under urban councils as the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa escalates efforts to enhance service delivery and for the attainment of Vision 2030.

Speaking after the meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet was briefed on the use of new technology in housing construction as part of the strategy to speed up home building as it allows costs to be cut, at times by as much as half.

“Cabinet was informed that the technology, which is already in use in the Dzivarasekwa flats project, involves two options, namely: brick and mortar, and concrete, said Minister Mutsvangwa. The housing designs will involve two and three-bedroomed flats, with social amenities such as water and sewer reticulation and electricity from renewable energy. The designs fit well into the Smart City concept. The alternative technology will expedite works and save costs by up to half, with up to a thousand units being constructed in 15 months.

This should enable Government to deliver 200 000 housing units by