The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities has received an allocation of ZWL$27,7 billion in the 2023 National Budget and support towards institutional housing will receive ZWL$10,9 billion, targeted at completion of outstanding works at Lupane Composite Offices, among other key projects.
Presenting the 2023 National Budget Statement, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the completion of outstanding works at Lupane Composite Offices will enable occupation of the offices.
“Government has also completed the construction of four-storey blocks of composite offices at Lupane, to house various Government Ministries and Departments, currently operating from Bulawayo and Hwange.
The 2023 National Budget support towards institutional housing of ZWL$10,9 billion, targets completion of outstanding works at Lupane Composite Offices to enable occupation of the offices, as well as sustain ongoing works at Mutoko and Siakobvu District Composite Offices, among others,” said Prof Ncube.
According to the Treasury chief, the amount will also sustain housing construction works at the Air Force and Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and Immigration department, among other key Government departments.
Zimra
In line with the Zimbabwe National Human Settlement Policy, Government is targeting to construct 450 000 new housing units by 2025, from both the public and private sectors, with the housing development programme gaining momentum across the country with various accommodation projects at different levels of implementation.
This entails densification of settlements, creation of smart cities, adoption of cost-effective and affordable housing units, as well as use of alternative building technologies and designs resilient to climatic change shocks. The minister said interventions will also focus on sanitisation and regularisation of informal settlements, without on-site and off-site infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads and lighting.
He said: “The 2023 Budget allocation for the sector of ZWL$49,9 billion will focus on completion of ongoing housing projects, as well as addressing infrastructure bottlenecks within informal settlements.”
Commenting on the new Parliament Building, financed through a grant from the People’s Republic of China, Prof Ncube said construction has since been completed save for enabling works such as construction of parking bays, parking slope protection, landscaping, permanent water tank, dedicated powerline and ICT connectivity to the building.
Among other key projects, the minister said the construction of the Museum of African Liberation, which commenced in July 2022, will be sustained during 2023, with focus on the superstructure of the building, roofing, mechanical and electrical installation, among other works.
He added: “To ensure that public servants acquire decent accommodation, Government will further capitalise the Housing Loan Schemes for both senior and junior officials to the tune of ZWL$7,5 billion during 2023, which will be lent to deserving beneficiaries.”
Zim dollars
The Treasury chief said in order to ensure sustainability of the loan schemes, Government will be strengthening the implementation framework, in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Meanwhile, with an allocation of ZWL$27,7 billion to the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities for the provision of affordable and decent housing in the 2023 National Budget, ZWL$2.9 billion will go towards salaries, ZWL$3,1 will cater for operations, while ZWL$21,6 billion will be capital.
