Major housing development projects take shape
THREE major Government-funded housing projects currently under development in Dzivaresekwa, Marondera and Binga are nearing completion and the houses will be ready for occupation by dozens of families during the second half of the year.
In Harare, construction of four blocks of two-bedroomed residential flats in Dzivaresekwa is presently 85 percent complete.
In Binga, 37 houses being developed for families displaced by floods in 2020 have been roofed and now await occupation.
Construction of four blocks of flats in Marondera is also being finalised.
The projects, which are part of Government’s plan to cut the national housing backlog, will also include regularisation of informal settlements. Housing and Social Amenities Permanent Secretary Engineer Joy Makumbe said the Dzivaresekwa housing project will be complete by mid-year.
“With regards to the Dzivaresekwa flats, I can say we are at 70 to 85 percent,” she said.
“Two blocks of flats have already been roofed. We are plastering the inside and hope to be done by July.
“For the other two blocks, roofing is in progress and we are hoping that after roofing, the plastering and the internal finishes will be done by August.”
The houses, she said, will be ready for occupation soon. “We have another project in Marondera, where four blocks of flats are being constructed, and the contractor has also promised that by mid-year, they will hand over the flats to us so that we house more people.”
Families that were displaced by floods in Binga will begin occupying their new homes in July.
“We have a project in Binga which is set to house 37 families that were displaced by the floods that occurred there some time ago.“Those houses have been roofed and we are just doing the final touches. “I am also hoping that by mid-year, we should have those houses allocated to the displaced families.”
Eng Makumbe said Government has identified land for development of more residential flats using the US$25 million loan facility from Pan-African housing development consortium Shelter Afrique.
“My team has been to the various sites that we have identified throughout Zimbabwe, where we intend to construct flats using that loan,” she added.
“So, we have identified pieces of land and we have already tendered an invitation to contractors interested in bidding for the projects.”
Going forward, she said, Government was facilitating housing development through public-private partnerships.
“This year, we received about $10 million for housing, which is not adequate for us.
“We have other projects in the pipeline, where we have engaged the private sector, including banks and pension funds.
“That is something which is in the pipeline and soon we should also see the private sector partnering with Government in delivering housing, because funding appropriated from Treasury is inadequate.