Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has bemoaned the slow pace of servicing of stands by local authorities which it said has seen the provision of housing to the uniformed forces moving at a snail’s pace. A ZDF Benefit Fund was formed to help enhance the welfare and financial well-being of ZDF members.
Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff General Staff, Major General Trust Mugoba said they expected to build at least 600 houses every year under the ZDF fund.
“Our major concern at the moment is the acquisition of stands. These stands are developed by municipalities and the speed with which they are developing these stands is very slow but we have covered ground to ensure our members have decent accommodation.”
“However, we still have a shortfall of accommodation at individual level of 25 000 members and if we speed up the process we should be able to be constructing an average of 600 houses every year under the ZDF fund,” he said. Major Gen Mugoba said there was also need for Government to construct new army barracks in the country as up to 50 percent of soldiers stay outside army barracks.
“At least 50 percent of our members do not stay in barracks and that is not a healthy situation. If you have emergencies your reaction time is reduced that is why we have barracks like these and we would want every member of ZDF to be accommodated is such places, We have got shortfalls in the greater Harare area, in the greater Bulawayo area and we hope projects that have been outstanding for a long time will resume,” added Major Gen Mugoba