Public-private partnerships are critical in the delivery of decent accommodation for all Zimbabweans and thousands of houses and flats have since been constructed as part of the 220 000 targeted under the National Development Strategy 1, President Mnangagwa has said.
Zimbabweans need affordable and decent shelter and a lot of the new housing is coming through public-private-partnerships (PPP) between Government and private sector.
In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Daniel Garwe on Wednesday at the belated commemoration of World Habitat Day, where he also commissioned the Southview water supply, the President said the private sector is key in attaining a middle income society by 2030.
“As Government of Zimbabwe we realised that we cannot go it alone. The commissioning of the Southview Park Water Works Project by Fidelity Life Assurance today is testimony to that.
“Through several public-private-partnerships (PPPs) we have achieved milestones in housing delivery where the Government is financing 20 percent of social housing projects for the lower echelons of our society and the private sector is funding 80 percent of these projects,” said President Mnangagwa.
He also warned land barons from occupying and selling unserviced land.
“We forbid occupation of unserviced land, and we have since started the process of regularisation and sanitisation of some settlements. However, there are unscrupulous individuals who would want to manipulate Government’s generosity to regularise as they continue to illegally allocate on unserviced land in anticipation of these being regularised.
“Please be warned that your days are numbered. We have set a yardstick, where all developments that emerged post 2020 will not be regularised. People should not illegally invade open spaces anticipating that the Government will regularise them,” said the President.
The President was delighted with Fidelity Life Assurance’s initiative to build high rise flats in Southview Park.
“I am also informed that there is space for high rise flats in Southview Park. This is in line with the densification policy adopted by the Government. The layout plan was done well before the policy prescription of 40 percent high rise buildings.
“They were so prophetic in their planning that they already shared Government’s vision, which is commendable. As we move towards achieving Vision 2030, it is paramount that we invest in densification to enhance sustainable housing delivery and save on land. Land is a finite resource, hence the need to wisely use it for the benefit of future generations.”
The President further said the Government was working on the development of smart cities that adopt strategies that conform to the digitalised and globalisation of the world.
“Plans to develop smart cities are at an advanced stage. These cities are completely new cities that will be anchored on digitalisation and green energy where people live, work and play. The idea is to develop compact areas with a view to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to citizens, clean and sustainable environment and the application of ICT based solutions. On that note Government put requisite modalities in place to kick start these projects in Melfort, Figtree and Chirundu,” President Mnangagwa said. – The Herald
