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Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
All is set for the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Government and the National Building Society today on the roll out of the $60 million housing facility programme, mainly for civil servants.

This comes as housing directors from all urban local authorities are set to meet next month to deliberate on the construction of low-cost houses across the country under another Government housing programme worth $150 million.

The $60 million housing programme, which will be launched today, is part of Government’s commitment to provide decent and affordable housing to the people, mostly civil servants.

The facility was also part of President Mnangagwa’s interventions to alleviate hardships among citizens. The MOA would be signed by the chairman of Civil Service Commission and the National Building Society (NBS) managing director.

The event will also be attended by commissioners, secretaries from the commission, Finance and Economic Development officials, Local Government officials and NBS senior officials.An official from the commission yesterday said the $60 million facility was for civil servants who had been allocated between 250 to 300 square metres and flats in Glaudina and Dzivarasekwa.

“In Dzivarasekwa, there are facilities for one, two and three bedroomed houses and these are already complete,” he said.

The official said civil servants outside Harare would also benefit. “Some can also be assisted to construct houses in the rural areas or at growth points as a retirement package,” said the official.

“NBS can facilitate to do the construction. We have engaged Local Government to avail State land for civil servants.

“The facility is secure as the payments would be made through deductions by the Salary Service Bureau.”

Meanwhile, Metbank’s director of group corporate affairs and marketing Ms Shingai Koti yesterday said there were several financial institutions that would be allowed to participate in the development of nearly half a million low-cost housing units at a cost of nearly $12 billion over the next 10 years.