Zimpapers Logo

The Rhodesia Herald, 

June 27, 1975

ANOTHER 400 houses for married couples will be built at Dangamvura Township, Umtali. 

The Umtali City Council, which started a $2 000 000 expansion programme there last December, will extend the initial contract to provide these houses. 

“The additional houses will ensure that Umtali maintains its good record in African housing and improves the ratio of married housing units to single units,” said Umtali’s principal officer Mr Less Bloomfield. 

The new houses for married couples will become available at the rate of about 160 a month. 

They are larger than those built by Umtali Municipality in recent years, and they include a kitchen, toilet, and ablution facilities. They are wired for electricity. 

John Sisk and Son (Rhodesia) (Pvt) were awarded the construction contract for 800 married units last year at a cost of $867 765. 

With the first of these houses already being built, the Umtali City Council agreed yesterday to extend the contract at an additional cost of more than $400 000. 

The Umtali Municipality has also serviced township stands on which houses maybe be built by employers or individuals on a long lease basis. 

 LESSONS FOR TODAY 

The demand for decent and affordable housing remains one of the key issues that Governments and nations across the globe, especially those in the third world, are grappling with. The resolution of the challenge requires a holistic approach by all stakeholders. 

In Zimbabwe, the Government has shown it commitment to resolving the housing issue by creating the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities in 2019, whose mandate is to facilitate urban and rural development through the provision of modern housing and social amenities in line with the National Housing Policy. 

To date thousands of houses and flats have been constructed under Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Government is also regularising some settlements such as Epworth with the aim of ensuring that people get title deeds 

 Government and the private sector need to continue building on the momentum created because housing is an important component of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and an essential driver for achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adequate and affordable housing leads to benefits in health, education and economic opportunities.