Government has set a target to build at least 100 000
houses every year, while at the same time intensifying the war against land
barons.
Plans are afoot to introduce a new rule under which both
the land baron and the one who buys fraudulently acquired land will be
prosecuted.
To achieve the target of 100 000 houses, Government says it
plans to avail land to private businesses with the necessary financial
resources who will service the stands under a public private partnership.
Again, the Government will set minimum standards for the
houses and flats in line with President Mnangwagwa’s vision for Zimbabwe to
attain middle income economy status by 2030.
Yesterday, during a tour of Mabvazuva Housing Scheme under
Goromonzi Rural District Council, Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel
Garwe said the council’s partnership with Exodus and Company was an example of
how public private partnerships can work.
“They (Exodus and Company) are basically developing land
which we availed to them, providing on-site and off-site infrastructure, roads,
water and sewer reticulation. We have actually added another requirement,
renewable energy. Going to 2030 we need at least modernity in terms of design
and modernity in terms of materials that are being used.
“We also need houses or structures that stand the effects
of climate change and we have a standard design that we have agreed on with
developers.
“The target that we were given by Government is 100 000 per
year, but because of other challenges, if we achieve between 20 000 to 30 000
per year we would have done well.”
Minister Garwe said land barons will be tracked and
prosecuted.
“Gone are the days where people are going to be buying
stands from illegal dealers or land barons; that is a thing of the past.
“Anyone who is going to be seen or if we hear that there is
a transaction between a home-seeker and an illegal land developer, both of them
will go to jail because the home-seeker would have participated in an illegal
deal knowing very well that he or she is being fleeced.
“We do not want to continue aiding the enemy or land baron
in fleecing the home-seekers of their hard earned money. Caledonia is a classic
example of how people have been fleeced of their hard-earned money,” he said.
Minister Garwe said the issue of land barons requires a
collective approach.
“One of the issues we must address collectively is this
issue of land barons. We know they were created a couple of years back.
“They are causing confusion, fleecing money from desperate
home-seekers. That is going to be a thing of the past.
“We are aware of the settlements where land barons have
been championing developments which are illegal right now, where there is no
development, no roads, no sewers. There is absolutely nothing,” he said.
Minister Garwe said people who have already built houses
will not have these demolished, but Government will chip in to assist in
regularisation, specifically in the provision of the required services like
roads and water network systems.
“Where there is need to provide such facilities (roads), we
may need to demolish a house or two because there must be a road. In such cases
people will be compensated,” he said.
Exodus and Company yesterday handed over 180 commonage
residential stands to the Government which were received by Minister Garwe, who
said civil servants will be accorded top priority in getting them. Herald
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