313 000 housing units by 2018 •30 000 houses already completed •Roll-out in line with Zim-Asset Eng Mlilo
Eng Mlilo

Eng Mlilo

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter—
The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has joined other Government portfolios in implementing the 10-point plan enunciated by President Mugabe by rolling out a housing scheme targeting 313 000 units by 2018. The 10-point plan is not a new policy document, but gives the Government political direction in line with the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset.

Zim-Asset provides that Government would have delivered at least 313 000 housing units by 2018. Public works and national housing fall under point number three on the 10-point plan presented to Parliament by President Mugabe during his State of the Nation Address last week. Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Engineer George Mlilo told The Herald yesterday that his ministry was taking the 10-point plan seriously.

He said 30 000 housing units had already been constructed in line with ZimAsset and the 10-point plan. “As of now, we are working on a housing delivery project where we are trying to mobilise players such as contractors,” said Eng Mlilo.

“To get rid of corruption, including illegal allocation of stands by land barons, we are working on a systematic plan to plug those leakages.

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“We are targeting 313 000 housing units by 2018 and so far 30 000 are already complete.” Eng Mlilo said the target was achievable and they were still within the timelines to complete the projects. He said the major stumbling block was lack of servicing equipment for residential stands, but the ministry was in the process of acquiring some.

“We are organising the purchase of equipment for civil works like sewer, water and roads,” he said. “That was the major hindrance that has slowed down the projects. Once we have that equipment in place we can expedite the construction work.” In line with the policy to ensure housing for all, Government has launched a new project called “Own-Your-Own-Home Scheme”. This will deal with the scourge of illegal settlements caused by the activities of the land barons and non-development of land by housing cooperatives and land developers.

The scheme will be anchored on member contributions to leverage finance, while the ministry will provide the land and infrastructure services. Government has since tendered for the supply of plant and equipment for land development. The ministry has also asked local authorities to indicate their land requirements to Government to ensure they meet their targets under Zim-Asset. Other ministries such as Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and ICT have already outlined their plans in line with the 10-point plan and Zim-Asset. The 10-point plan cuts across all the key economic enablers and has set the country on a firm economic recovery trajectory.

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